BC short-term rental registry: how to register, step by step

Quick answers

What the provincial registry is

The registry was created under British Columbia's Short-Term Rental Accommodations Act (SRTAA). It sits on top of the principal residence requirement: the Province uses it to check that each listed rental is eligible, and booking platforms use it to confirm that each BC listing shows a valid number. Hosts, platforms and strata hotel platforms all register with the Province.

Hosts have had to show a valid registration number on their listings since May 1, 2025. The registry does not replace city rules: where a local government requires a short-term rental business licence, you need that licence as well, and you upload it as part of your registration.

Who needs to register, and who does not

A short-term rental is accommodation offered for stays of 90 days or less. If you offer one, you generally need a registration for each unit you rent, even if one unit has several listings. That includes:

• Your whole home while you are away
• Bedrooms or guest rooms in your home, even without a kitchen
• A secondary suite or accessory dwelling unit (such as a laneway home) on your property, each with its own registration

Registration is not required for stays longer than 90 days per booking, hotels, motels and hostels, RVs and tents, timeshares and home exchanges, strata corporation guest suites, student or employee housing run by schools or non-profits, accommodation on Reserve lands, and seasonal accommodation that is not suitable for year-round living. The Province publishes the full list, including treaty lands and outdoor recreation operators.

Check eligibility before you apply

The registration fee is not refunded if your application is denied, so confirm the basics first:

• Principal residence. In most of BC, a short-term rental must be in the host's principal residence, or a suite or accessory unit on the same property. See the principal residence rule and the documents that prove it.
• City business licence. Vancouver and many other cities require one. See the Vancouver STR licence guide.
• Strata, landlord and insurance. Strata bylaws, a landlord's consent if you rent, and your insurance policy can each rule out short-term rental use even when the Province would allow it.

What you need before you start

Information

• Property address, Parcel Identifier (PID), number of bedrooms and ownership type
• Host's legal name, contact details, Social Insurance Number and date of birth
• Co-host's name and contact details, if you have one
• Property manager's name, contact details and GST number, if one applies on your behalf

Documents (PDF, JPG or JPEG)

• Proof of principal residence, where the requirement applies: one piece of BC photo ID (driver's licence, BC Services Card, combined card or BC ID card) plus at least two supporting documents. Tenants must include a tenancy agreement or a rent increase notice dated within the last year, which counts as one of the two.
• Proof of an exemption, where one applies, such as fractional ownership, farm land or a strata hotel.
• Your local business licence, where your city or regional district requires one.

Registration fees

Fees are charged per unit, every year, and are paid by credit card when you apply.

How to register, step by step

1. Read the Province's host guide and the registry terms and conditions.
2. Gather your information and documents from the lists above.
3. Sign in to BC Registries. If you have Canadian-issued ID you can use a BC Services Card account. If not, you need a BCeID with two-factor authentication, which requires a notarized identity affidavit and takes about 8 to 10 days, so start early.
4. Complete the application. Enter the address; the portal then tells you which documents your property needs. Upload them and pay the fee.
5. Watch your email. The Province emails you when the application is approved or denied.
6. Get your number from the registry dashboard, where you can also see its status.
7. Update every listing with your registration details, as described below.

If the Province needs more information, it sends a Notice of Consideration by email. You have eight days to respond through the Registry Dashboard, or the application may be refused, cancelled or suspended.

Showing your number on Airbnb and other listings

Each listing must show three things:

• Your provincial registration number
• Your local business licence number, where one is required
• The address tied to your registration

The listing address must exactly match the registered address so the platform can validate the number. A small difference, such as a missing unit number, can stop a listing from validating.

Renewals, changes and refusals

• Renew every year. The renewal window opens 40 days before expiry, and the Province emails reminders 40 days, 14 days and 1 day before. A renewal can be denied for unpaid administrative penalties, an unmet compliance order or breaking the registration terms. If your city requires a licence, upload the current one when you renew.
• Report changes within 14 days. Some changes need a brand-new application: a new host, a change of legal name or legal business name, a new address, or the unit no longer being your principal residence.
• If you are refused, cancelled or suspended, you must stop operating the rental. You can ask for a review within 14 days of the decision using the Province's Application for Review form.

The Province can also issue administrative monetary penalties and compliance orders that can be filed in court. See STR fines and enforcement in BC.

Mistakes that delay or block a registration

• Listing address that does not match the registered address exactly
• One registration for a home and its suite, instead of one per unit
• Applying before the city business licence is issued
• A tenant applying without a recent tenancy agreement or rent increase notice
• Leaving the BCeID setup until the week you want to list
• Letting the registration lapse because the renewal emails went to an old address

How Vemian Host can help

Michael can help you organize the checklist, the documents and the renewal dates, and get the listing details right once your number is issued. The owner or host stays responsible for the application and for confirming eligibility, and no one can guarantee that the Province will approve it. Short-term rental support is only available for properties that are eligible, licensed and registered where required. Start with the BC STR rules checklist, see our services, or ask Michael a question.