The Provincial STR Registry: what BC hosts must prepare before applying.

BC's Short-Term Rental Accommodations Act

The Short-Term Rental Accommodations Act (SRTAA) came into force in British Columbia in stages beginning in 2023 and 2024. It establishes a province-wide framework that applies to short-term rental activity: generally defined as the rental of accommodation for periods of less than 90 consecutive days in exchange for payment.

The SRTAA restricts short-term rentals to principal residences in most of the province, establishes a provincial registration system for STR operators, and gives enforcement authority to the Province alongside existing municipal powers. It also creates obligations for the online platforms through which short-term rentals are listed: requiring them to verify and display valid registration numbers.

The principal residence rule

The central rule of the SRTAA is the principal residence requirement. Under this rule, short-term rentals are generally only permitted at the property that is the host's primary home. A second home, an investment property, or a property the host does not live in cannot be operated as a short-term rental under the provincial framework.

Some municipalities, particularly resort communities, have been designated as exempt from the principal residence requirement. For properties in those areas, different rules apply. For all other areas, the principal residence rule applies.

For a more detailed explanation of the principal residence rule and its implications, see: The principal residence requirement for STRs in British Columbia.

The provincial STR registry

The Province of British Columbia operates a registry for short-term rental operators. Before listing a property on any short-term rental platform, operators must:

• Register the property through the provincial STR registry
• Obtain a valid provincial STR registration number
• Display the registration number on all listings: this is a legal requirement enforced through both the SRTAA and platform obligations

Registration is not a one-time step. Registration periods expire and must be renewed. Operating with an expired registration number, or without one, is a violation of the SRTAA and can result in administrative penalties.

What to prepare before you register

Before applying for a provincial STR registration, operators should have the following in order:

Confirm principal residence eligibility

The registration process requires you to confirm that the property is your principal residence. Providing false information in a registration application is a specific violation under the SRTAA. Before registering, confirm that the property meets the principal residence definition and that you have documentation to support that claim. See: Proof of principal residence: documents BC STR hosts should organize.

Identify the correct property and unit

If you are registering a secondary suite, laneway home, or other accessory dwelling unit on your property, confirm that the specific unit type is eligible. A registration covers a specific property and typically a specific unit: registering the wrong unit creates compliance risk.

Check municipal requirements independently

A provincial registration number does not satisfy municipal licensing requirements. If your municipality requires a separate STR business licence, as Vancouver and most other BC municipalities do, you will need to obtain that independently. The provincial and municipal processes run in parallel.

Platform obligations under the SRTAA

Online platforms like Airbnb and VRBO are required under the SRTAA to collect and display valid registration numbers on BC listings. Platforms must also remove listings that do not have valid registration numbers. Operating without a registration number is not just a regulatory risk: it is increasingly a practical barrier to listing.

Penalties for non-compliance

The SRTAA establishes administrative penalties for violations, including operating without a valid registration, failing to display a registration number, and providing false information in an application. For an overview of enforcement and penalties, see: STR enforcement and fines in British Columbia.

For a full compliance overview, visit our Compliance page. To discuss STR management support in British Columbia, contact Vemian Host.