Airbnb vs Long-Term Rental in BC: Rules and the Real Math
Last verified:
In brief — Yes. BC requires provincial registration, and the number must appear on every listing. Platforms remove unregistered listings.
British Columbia has the toughest STR framework in Canada. Start with the law before the revenue.
The law first: provincial + municipal
Under BC's Short-Term Rental Accommodations Act:
- Provincial registration is required; the registration number must be displayed on every listing, and platforms remove unregistered listings.
- A principal-residence requirement applies in communities over 10,000 people (in effect since May 1, 2024): you can rent only your principal residence plus one secondary suite or accessory dwelling unit on the same property.
- Secondary/investment properties generally cannot be used for STR in those communities.
- STR is defined as accommodation for under 90 consecutive days. This sharply limits pure-investment STR in most BC urban markets — check your community's status first.
How much short-term rental earns
Gross revenue = average nightly rate (ADR) × 365 × occupancy. But gross is misleading: platform, cleaning, management, furnishing and seasonal vacancy costs are far heavier than long-term renting. The real question: what occupancy do you need to beat long-term once all costs are out? That is your break-even.
Long-term: less revenue, more stability
Long-term renting offers predictable income, low costs and little management, with no STR registration. In return, rents are regulated. For many investors it is the stable core; STR only pays on specific assets and locations.
Compare before you commit
The verdict depends on zoning, seasonality and management cost. DeedWorth compares short-term and long-term for the same property — revenue, costs, STR premium, break-even occupancy and a verdict. Compare short-term vs long-term with DeedWorth →
FAQ
Do I need to register a short-term rental in BC? Yes. BC requires provincial registration, and the number must appear on every listing. Platforms remove unregistered listings.
Can I run an Airbnb in a BC investment property? In communities over 10,000 people, generally no: the principal-residence requirement limits STR to your principal residence plus one secondary suite or accessory dwelling unit, in effect since May 1, 2024.
What counts as short-term in BC? Accommodation provided for under 90 consecutive days.
Is short-term more profitable than long-term in BC? Where it is even allowed, only at high occupancy after heavy platform, cleaning, management and vacancy costs. In most urban BC markets the rules now favour long-term.
Related guides
- Short-term rental rules in Alberta
- Short-term rental rules in Ontario
- Short-term rental rules in Quebec
For information only. STR rules vary by municipality and change; verify zoning and requirements with your city and province. Last verified: July 2026.