Strata hotels, motels exempt from short-term rental restrictions
The BC government will introduce new regulations this month clarifying exemptions for strata hotels and motels from the province’s principal-residence requirement for short-term rentals in the Short-Term Rental Accommodations Act, effective May 1.
Definition
Short-term rentals are accommodations rented for less than 90 consecutive days according to the province’s definition.
The act:
- limits short-term rentals to a homeowner's principal residence plus one secondary suite or accessory dwelling; and
- applies to BC municipalities with a population of 10,000+ residents. Local governments can opt out if their community has a rental vacancy rate of three per cent or more for two consecutive years.
Strata hotels and motels
Strata hotels and motels include individually owned strata lots, where accommodation is managed and rented out by the strata hotel or motel, not the individual.
Existing strata hotels or motels will be exempt from the principal-residence requirement if one of the following two options applies.
1. Before December 8, 2023, accommodation was being provided in a manner similar to a hotel or motel and on December 8, 2023, the strata hotel or motel had and continues to have:
- a staffed front desk on site;
- one or more employees or contractors that provide housekeeping services for overnight accommodations; and
- a platform providing platform services available exclusively for the use of owners offering short-term rentals at the property.
2. Before December 8, 2023, accommodation was provided similar to a hotel or motel, and more than one strata lot on the property isn’t used as a principal residence by anyone due to a restriction under:
- zoning;
- a rental management agreement between the manager and an owner of a strata lot; or
- a restrictive covenant or a covenant under section 219 of the Land Title Act.
The exemption for strata hotels and motels will apply to all units on a property.
Learn more
Read the government news release on the upcoming regulations.
Read Bill 35: Short-term Rental Accommodations Act (opens 30-page pdf).
Read New rules for short-term rentals (links to government website).
Questions?
If you have questions about provincial rules governing short-term rentals, contact Harriet Permut, director of government relations at hpermut@gvrealtors.ca.