Global Regulatory Notes (18)
Keep a pulse on global regulatory trends. Edmonton, AL discusses STR tax; Kelowna, BC reviews enforcement; Canmore, AL approves policy; Severn Township, ON presents petition; Erin, ON prepares regulation; Kincardine, ON drafts bylaw; Montreal, Quebec; Greece; India; Rwanda. READ MORE.
Canada
Edmonton, Alberta
Edmonton city council is moving toward new rules for short-term rentals, with councillors asking staff to explore business licensing that would force Airbnb and Vrbo hosts to pay commercial taxes and meet accountability standards for problem properties.
Hotel industry representatives argue large-scale operators are running commercial businesses under the guise of home-sharing, while hosts counter that they already pay higher property taxes than hotels and are being unfairly targeted.
Canmore, Alberta
In Canmore, short-term rental operators will now need business licences after council unanimously approved a new policy intended to regulate the town’s fast-growing visitor accommodation sector.
Officials point to better enforcement and the ability to identify legal versus illegal units as key benefits, noting licences will also make it easier to reach operators in emergencies. Owners, however, remain divided: some call the $150 annual fee another layer of red tape, while others fear tougher rules could depress property values despite short-term rentals already contributing heavily to the local economy and tax base.
Kelowna, BC
Kelowna businesses and property managers are feeling the fallout from B.C.’s new short-term rental restrictions, with operators saying tourism traffic has dropped sharply in developments once reliant on STRs.
At Aqua Waterfront Village, where zoning originally allowed STRs, owners of The Mission Creamery say they’ve had to pivot to attract locals after the rules blocked rentals. Nearby, Playa Del Sol has seen bookings collapse after nearly two decades as a short-term rental hub, with managers fielding calls from frustrated tourists unable to find accommodation. While provincial law allows exemptions if vacancy rates stay above 3% for two years, meaning Kelowna could apply by late 2026, critics argue blanket restrictions unfairly penalize purpose-built rental buildings.
Severn Township, Ontario
Severn Township council agrees to order a staff report on short-term rentals after residents presented a petition calling for licensing and enforcement to rein in commercial-style STRs in residential neighbourhoods.
The report, expected by late fall, will examine zoning, case law, costs, and licensing options, as residents push for rules that protect community character and provide accountability beyond the current complaint-based system.
Erin, Ontario
Council in Erin is preparing to regulate short-term rentals, with staff warning it could take 8–10 months to develop a bylaw that includes public input and draws on other municipalities’ examples.
Although STRs are not technically allowed under current rules, staff confirmed the new system will give existing hosts a path to compliance. While some worried permitting fees could be too onerous, others argued enforcement “with teeth” is needed to curb operators who ignore bylaws.
Kincardine, Ontario
Kincardine council voted 5–3 to direct staff to draft a bylaw that would create a short-term rental licensing program and introduce a municipal accommodation tax, with final approval still required at a later date.
Supporters say licensing will provide oversight, improve safety, and give the municipality a clearer picture of how much housing is being diverted to STRs, while opponents argue there is little public backing and point to neighbouring towns that have not pursued similar measures. If approved, licensing could take effect in 2026, with the MAT to follow in 2027.
Montréal, Quebec
Montreal’s new bylaw restricting Airbnb-style rentals outside the summer season took effect last week, barring stays under 31 days except between June 10 and Sept. 10.
Ville de Montréal
The city says the measure is aimed at easing pressure on a tight housing market where rents have surged 71 percent since 2019, though enforcement remains a major question with just 10 inspectors for the entire city. Critics warn landlords may simply pivot to longer-term rentals on Airbnb that lack tenant protections, while housing advocates say only strict enforcement—or potentially an outright ban—will ensure units return to the long-term market.
STRisker Government Office Dashboard
Trying to keep up with the main players in the STR game? Know your councilmembers, commissioners, committee chairs, and key staff that are part of the process.
Greece
Starting October 1, 2025, Greece will impose sweeping new rules on short-term rentals as officials move to rein in the pressures of overtourism on housing markets in Athens, Santorini, Mykonos, Crete, and other hotspots.
All STRs, whether listed on Airbnb or Booking.com, will face mandatory health and safety inspections, registration, and disclosure requirements, while municipalities will gain authority to cap stays in tourist-heavy zones. The reforms come after years of rising rents and housing shortages fueled by landlords shifting to lucrative holiday lets, a trend locals say has displaced residents and hollowed out neighborhoods.
India
India’s booming short-term rental market is creating new revenue streams for homeowners but also exposing them to risks that standard home insurance does not cover.
Experts warn that conventional policies exclude commercial activity like hosting paying guests, leaving property owners vulnerable to liability claims or disputes if they fail to disclose rental use. Insurers are beginning to respond with tailored “homestay” products, seasonal commercial policies, and even embedded protections through listing platforms, covering guest injuries, property damage, and loss of rent.
Rwanda
Rwanda is preparing to tax digital services like Airbnb and Netflix, with enforcement starting in 2026 as part of a broader overhaul of its tax regime.
The Rwanda Revenue Authority says the move will capture revenue from a fast-growing sector tied to tourism and digital consumption. Airbnb’s rise alongside Rwanda’s tourism boom makes it a prime target, with officials noting the challenge of tracking hosts and bookings but stressing collaboration with platforms.
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