North Vancouver short-term rental rules (Airbnb, Vrbo)

Can I rent out my home or a room on Airbnb in North Vancouver?

North Vancouver, British ColumbiaChecked against official textSources read 2026-11-05

Short answer

Yes, but only in your principal residence, plus one other rental unit on the same property such as an authorized suite or coach house. The City of North Vancouver requires a business licence, and the Province requires registration. Annual fees are $254.25 for a room or $559.35 for a whole home, plus $52.07 to apply.

Key facts

Allowed	Yes, only in your principal residence (where you live at least 183 days per 12-month licensing period), plus one other rental unit on the same property, such as an authorized secondary suite or coach house. Not allowed in unauthorized suites, non-market rental housing, or premises with a child care facility. Tenants and strata owners need written authorization.Short-Term Rentals, How to Qualify; FAQ; Business Licence Bylaw, 2018, No. 8640 (PDF, consolidated June 15, 2026), s. 505E(1) · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06 Official wording STRs can only be operated in your own residence, plus one additional rental unit (e.g., an authorized secondary suite, or a coach house) on the same property. you live there for at least 183 days per 12-month licensing period STRs cannot be operated in an unauthorized secondary suite or unauthorized coach house. STRs are prohibited in a non-market rental housing unit. STRs are prohibited in residential premises with a child care facility. If you are a tenant, you have the written authorization from the property owner to operate an STR. Only carry on the Business in their Principal Residence or Dwelling Unit on the
Business licence	Yes, a City business licence is required before listing or renting. Annual fees: Residential Rental – Short Term $559.35; Accessory Boarding – Short Term $254.25; Bed and Breakfast $19.79 per room. A non-refundable application fee of $52.07 also applies.Sources differ: The City's STR page lists the fees twice: $250, $550 and $19.46 per room in one place and $254.25, $559.35 and $19.79 per room in the application steps; the 2025 Fees and Charges Bylaw matches the second set and is followed here. The $52.07 application fee is also in Schedule F (Table X).Fees and Charges Bylaw, 2024, No. 9000 (PDF, consolidated December 8, 2025), Schedule F, Schedule F, Business Licences; Short-Term Rentals, Apply for an STR Business Licence · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06 Official wording Residential Rental – Short Term $ 559.35 Accessory Boarding – Short Term $ 254.25 Bed & Breakfast for each room $ 19.79 Non-refundable application fee (for new licences for The City will only grant a business licence if you meet the eligibility requirements. The applicant pays a $52.07 non-refundable application fee.
Provincial registration	Yes. Hosts must register with the Province's short-term rental registry and renew each year. Without registration, listings are removed, bookings cancelled and new bookings blocked. The Province's list of places where the principal residence requirement applies includes North Vancouver (City).Short-term rental registration, Province of BC, Short-term rental registration (gov.bc.ca) · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06 Official wording Short-term rental hosts, platforms and strata hotel platforms in B.C. must register and pay annual registration fees. If you have a short-term rental registration, you must renew it each year to continue operating. Your listings will no longer be advertised,
Operating rules	Operate only in your principal residence; keep a 24/7 contact for complaints; keep a record of booking dates, length and group size for the City; have a 5-lb ABC fire extinguisher in the kitchen, a posted evacuation plan and interconnected smoke alarms. Boarding: at most two boarders, no cooking facilities. Bed and breakfast: at most 2 bedrooms, 1 parking space per bedroom.Business Licence Bylaw, 2018, No. 8640 (PDF, consolidated June 15, 2026), ss. 505, 505C, 505E; Zoning Bylaw, 1995, No. 6700, s. 507(9), (10), s. 507(9), 507(10) · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06 Official wording Install and maintain in good working order a fire extinguisher of not less than a five Post an evacuation plan in a visible area at the main entry/ exit Maintain and provide to the City on request a list of the dates, duration, and group Provide to the City the contact information for a person who must be able to shall accommodate not more than two boarders; shall occupy not more than 2 bedrooms in the dwelling, and not shall provide one Accessory Off-Street Parking Space per bedroom
Fine	$400 for operating without a business licence ($350 if paid early, $500 if paid late); $450 for operating contrary to the licence terms or conditions. The Operator's Handbook says the $400 penalty can be issued daily.Bylaw Notice Enforcement Bylaw, 2018, No. 8675 (PDF, consolidated June 15, 2026), Schedule A, Business Licence Bylaw, 2018, No. 8640; STR Operator's Handbook (PDF, September 2024), s. 11 Compliance and Enforcement · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06 Official wording No Business Licence 407 Yes $400 $350 $500 $100 Operating Contrary to Terms or Conditions 418 (2) No $450 $400 $500 operating an STR without a valid Business Licence may result in a penalty of This penalty can be issued daily until the bylaw contravention is resolved.
Bylaw	Business Licence Bylaw, 2018, No. 8640 (ss. 505, 505A-505E); Zoning Bylaw, 1995, No. 6700 (s. 507(9), (10)); Fees and Charges Bylaw, 2024, No. 9000, Schedule FBusiness Licence Bylaw, 2018, No. 8640 (PDF, consolidated June 15, 2026), title page; Zoning Bylaw, 1995, No. 6700, s. 507(9), (10) · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06 Official wording Business Licence Bylaw, 2018, No. 8640 Short-Term Rentals and Other Residential Bylaw; (c) Accessory Boarding Use, subject to Section 507(9) of this Bylaw; (d) Accessory Home Occupation Use, subject to Sections 507(6), (7) THE CORPORATION OF THE CITY OF NORTH VANCOUVER "Zoning Bylaw, 1995, No. 6700" CONSOLIDATED FOR CONVENIENCE - MARCH 2, 2026

How it works

The City of North Vancouver allows short-term rentals only in your principal residence (where you live at least 183 days per 12-month licensing period), plus one other rental unit on the same property, such as an authorized secondary suite or coach house. You need a City business licence under the Business Licence Bylaw before you list or rent, and you must also register with the Province's short-term rental registry and renew each year. Without registration, listings are removed and new bookings blocked.

Steps

Pick the type: Accessory Boarding – Short Term (rooms), Residential Rental – Short Term (whole home), or Bed and Breakfast.
Complete the matching application form and send it to licence@cnv.org or City Hall, and pay the $52.07 application fee.
The City reviews your eligibility and the Zoning Bylaw. If you qualify, it invoices the annual fee.
Register with the Province and keep your registration current.
The City inspects within 90 days of issuing the licence.

Good to know

Not allowed: unauthorized suites, non-market rental housing, or premises with a child care facility. Tenants and strata owners need written authorization.
Rules include a 24/7 contact for complaints, a 5-lb ABC fire extinguisher in the kitchen, a posted evacuation plan and interconnected smoke alarms.
Boarding: at most two boarders and no cooking facilities. Bed and breakfast: at most 2 bedrooms (3 for some heritage-inventory dwellings) and 1 parking space per bedroom. The City sets no guest limit for a whole-home rental.
Operating without a licence: a $400 ticket ($350 if paid early, $500 if paid late). Breaking licence conditions: $450.
The City's web page lists older amounts ($250, $550 and $19.46 per room) in one place; the bylaw amounts above apply. Confirm with Business Licences.

What you'll need

Proof you live there at least 183 days in the 12-month licensing period
Written authorization from the owner if you are a tenant, or from the strata corporation if you are in a strata
Written consent from the neighbouring owner if you live in a stratified duplex
A record of booking dates, length of stay and group size, kept for the City

Official forms and pages

The same question in other places

District of North Vancouver · Belcarra · Port Moody · Vancouver · Burnaby · Richmond

Short-term rental rules in British Columbia, by municipality →

Sources

Short-Term Rentals, City of North Vancouver (read 2026-11-05)
STR Operator's Handbook (PDF, September 2024) (read 2026-11-05)
Business Licence Bylaw, 2018, No. 8640 (PDF, consolidated June 15, 2026) (read 2026-11-05)
Fees and Charges Bylaw, 2024, No. 9000 (PDF, consolidated December 8, 2025), Schedule F (read 2026-11-05)
Zoning Bylaw, 1995, No. 6700 (PDF), s. 507(9), (10) (read 2026-11-05)
Bylaw Notice Enforcement Bylaw, 2018, No. 8675 (PDF, consolidated June 15, 2026) (read 2026-11-05)
Short-term rental registration, Province of BC (read 2026-11-05)

Checked by script, not yet by a person: the official wording behind 6 of 6 facts was matched to the official text. How answers are checked.