City of North Vancouver — STR Regulations

Three licence types, secondary suites and coach houses allowed, and more flexibility than most Metro Vancouver cities — with bylaws updated in 2024.

To legally operate a short-term rental in the City of North Vancouver, you need:

✓The property must be your principal residence (at least 183 days/year)
✓A City of North Vancouver business licence — choose Short-Term Boarding, Short-Term Residential Rental, or Bed & Breakfast
✓A BC provincial registration number displayed on all listings
✓Compliance with zoning bylaws and building/safety standards
✓Strata approval (if in a strata building) or landlord written permission (if a tenant)

Short-Term Rentals in the City of North Vancouver

Definition: A short-term rental is any rental of a furnished room or dwelling for less than 90 consecutive days. The City of North Vancouver updated its bylaws in 2024 to align with provincial legislation and introduced three distinct licence categories.

North Vancouver is one of the more flexible municipalities in Metro Vancouver for STR operations. Unlike Vancouver, it allows short-term rentals in secondary suites and coach houses if the owner lives on the same property. However, investment properties where the owner does not reside are still not permitted.

What Changed in 2024

The City of North Vancouver updated its STR bylaws in 2024 to align with provincial STR legislation.

STRs restricted to principal residences: Investment properties may no longer operate as short-term rentals, in line with provincial rules.
Business licences now required: All STR operators must hold a city business licence before listing on any platform.
Three licence categories created: The city introduced Short-Term Boarding, Short-Term Residential Rental, and Bed & Breakfast as distinct categories with different rules and fees.
Enforcement increased: Unlicensed STRs may be removed from platforms through provincial compliance mechanisms.
Provincial registration required from May 2025: All operators must also register with the BC provincial STR registry in addition to holding a city licence.

Three Licence Types

The City of North Vancouver offers three distinct licence categories. Your property type and intended rental model determine which applies.

Short-Term Boarding

Furnished bedrooms, no kitchen access — for room rental hosts

✗ No kitchen facilities for guests
✓ Furnished bedroom rental
✓ Principal residence required
✓ Host lives on property
~ Annual fee approx. $250

Short-Term Residential Rental

Entire self-contained unit with kitchen and bathroom

✓ Entire unit rentals allowed
✓ Includes kitchen and bathroom
✓ Secondary suites allowed (same property)
✓ Coach houses allowed (same property)
~ Annual fee approx. $550

Bed & Breakfast

Traditional B&B format with breakfast included

✓ Bedroom rentals with breakfast
✓ Host lives on-site
✓ Principal residence required
✓ Traditional guesthouse format
~ Annual fee is per-room basis

Approximate Annual Licence Fees

Short-Term Boarding ~$250 / year

Short-Term Residential Rental (entire unit) ~$550 / year

Bed & Breakfast Per-room fee — confirm with city

More Flexible than Vancouver

North Vancouver allows certain property arrangements that Vancouver does not permit, particularly for owners with secondary units on the same property.

Key Differences: Vancouver vs City of North Vancouver

Rule	Vancouver	North Vancouver
Principal residence required	Yes	Yes
Business licence required	Yes	Yes
Entire-unit rentals allowed	Yes (STR licence)	Yes (Residential Rental licence)
Secondary suite STR allowed	No	Yes (owner must live on property)
Coach house / laneway STR allowed	No	Yes (owner must live on property)
Multiple units on same property	No	Yes (principal residence + one additional unit)

Is Your Situation Allowed?

These examples show how North Vancouver's more flexible rules apply in practice.

🏠 Permitted

Owner with Basement Suite on Airbnb

You own a house, live in the main unit, and rent your basement suite short-term. You hold a Short-Term Residential Rental licence. This is allowed in North Vancouver — not permitted in Vancouver.

🏢 Permitted

Condo Owner Renting a Spare Room

You own a condo, live there, and rent a spare bedroom. A Short-Term Boarding licence applies. Strata approval is required. You must also hold provincial registration.

🚫 Not Permitted

Investor Condo Not Lived In

You own a condo as an investment and don't live there. Listing it on Airbnb is not allowed. North Vancouver's principal residence requirement applies to all licence types.

Summary: What You Need

Legal short-term rentals in the City of North Vancouver require all of the following.

✓
Principal Residence — You must live in the property for at least 183 days per year. Investment properties where you do not reside are not eligible.
✓
City of North Vancouver Business Licence — Choose Short-Term Boarding (~$250/yr), Short-Term Residential Rental (~$550/yr), or Bed & Breakfast (per-room). Renew annually. Obtain the licence before listing.
✓
BC Provincial Registration Number — Register with the provincial STR registry and display your registration number on all listings alongside your city licence number.
✓
Zoning & Safety Compliance — Your property must comply with applicable zoning bylaws and building/safety standards. The city reviews each application individually.
✓
Strata or Landlord Approval (if applicable) — Strata approval is required for units in strata buildings. Tenants must have written owner/landlord permission before applying.

Official Resources

For authoritative and up-to-date information, visit:

City of North Vancouver: The city's business development and business licences section covers the three STR licence categories, current fee schedules, application requirements, and the 2024 bylaw updates for short-term rentals.

Province of BC — STR Registry: The provincial short-term rental registry is where all BC hosts must register to receive their provincial registration number before listing.

Regulations change regularly. Always verify current requirements directly with the City of North Vancouver and the Province of BC before listing your property.

⚠ Disclaimer: This page is for general information purposes only and does not constitute legal advice. STR regulations change frequently. Always verify current requirements directly with the City of North Vancouver and the Province of BC, and consider consulting a qualified professional. Last verified: March 2026.