Is Airbnb Legal in Canada? What Hosts Need to Know in 2025

If you’re thinking about listing your home or investment property on Airbnb in Canada, you’ve probably heard mixed messages:

❌ “Airbnb is banned here.”
✅ “You can do it, but only if it’s your primary home.”
🤯 “It depends on the city, the province, and the moon phase.”

Let’s clear it up.

Here’s what you actually need to know about Airbnb legality in Canada—so you can list with confidence and avoid fines.

Short-Term Rentals Are Legal in Canada—But Heavily Regulated

There’s no national law banning Airbnb in Canada.
But each city and province has its own rules.
Some are strict. Some are flexible. Some barely enforce anything.

The key is knowing your local municipality’s by-laws.

Examples of Local Rules in 2025

🏙️ Toronto:
Only your primary residence can be listed short-term.
You must register with the city and collect the 4% Municipal Accommodation Tax (MAT).

🏞️ Vancouver:
Same thing—principal residence only.
You also need a business license and to follow fire code/safety rules.

🏘️ Montreal:
Recently cracked down. You need a CITQ registration number and must comply with zoning.

🏡 Smaller Cities (e.g. Windsor, Oshawa, Fort Erie):
Often more lenient—but still may require registration or safety inspections.

💡 If you're unsure, just call or check your city’s website. It’s public info.

What If I Want to Do Airbnb But Don’t Live in the Property?

If your city restricts short-term rentals to your primary residence, you still have options:

✅ Mid-term rentals (30+ days) often bypass STR rules entirely
✅ Use someone else’s primary residence via co-hosting or arbitrage
✅ List on platforms that support longer stays (e.g. VRBO, Furnished Finder, Kijiji)

BookedHosts can help with this—we help clients adapt based on local laws.

How to Stay Compliant as an Airbnb Host in Canada

📝 Register with your city, if required
💰 Collect and remit the right taxes (GST/HST, MAT, etc.)
🚒 Install smoke detectors, CO monitors, and emergency exits
📜 Include your license or registration number in your listing
🧾 Keep digital records—regulators are watching

Too Complicated? We’ll Handle It For You

If all this feels overwhelming, that’s why we exist.
BookedHosts manages 75+ properties across Canada—each with different local rules—and we help you:

✅ Stay compliant
✅ Set up listings the right way
✅ Avoid fines or shutdowns
✅ Earn passive income the legal way

📩 Email info@bookedhosts.com or scroll down to apply.
Let us handle the headache. You just collect the profit.