Global Regulatory Notes (8)

Keep a pulse on global regulatory trends. Featuring critical updates and recent news on short-term rental policies around the world, we highlight key developments shaping the industry. 🌐

Canada

British Columbia

One year after British Columbia's short-term rental (STR) rules took effect, residents like Marv Gandall at Victoria's Era on Yates complex report fewer transient guests, less wear and tear, and improved security, though some illegal rentals persist.

The regulations which limit STRs to principal residences or secondary suites have led to significant drops in listings, including 31% in Kelowna, 24% in Victoria, and 22% in Vancouver, according to Housing Minister Ravi Kahlon. About 15,000 properties are now registered for legal STR use, with 7,000 likely exiting the market.

Moreover, B.C. is giving short-term rental platforms like Airbnb and Vrbo more time to adjust to new provincial rules aimed at curbing illegal listings.

While hosts must still register their properties by May 1, platforms now have until June 2 to remove non-compliant listings and until June 23 to cancel bookings from unregistered hosts. Housing Minister Ravi Kahlon said the extension is to ensure platforms can fully align their systems, with 20,000 listings already registered.

North Vancouver, BC

The District of North Vancouver has passed new short-term rental (STR) rules ahead of the province's upcoming regulations, allowing homeowners to rent out either their principal residence or a secondary suite for up to 90 days, following an April 14 council vote.

The updated rules, which raise the previous 28-day limit in response to community feedback, also require hosts to obtain a $350 annual business license and register with the province by May 1 to avoid having their listings pulled after June 1. Staff will report back in September on the progress of the new regulations, but a public hearing may still be required to finalize the changes.

Pemberton, BC

The Village of Pemberton is moving to tighten short-term vacation rental (STVR) rules by introducing a two-year business license limit for properties in areas with wait lists.

Discussed at an April 15 Committee of the Whole meeting, the bylaw amendment seeks to address stagnant wait lists that have seen little movement, with 29 homeowners currently waiting for STVR licenses.

The proposed bylaw would allow owners to reapply three months before their license expires, encouraging a faster turnover while ensuring long-term rentals remain a priority. Council plans to revisit the bylaw a year after its expected January 1, 2026 implementation to assess its impact, with a final draft set to be reviewed in the coming months.

Whistler, BC

The Resort Municipality of Whistler (RMOW) is defending its zoning decisions in response to a legal challenge from homeowners in Horstman Estates.

The petitioners, Alan and Lenore Gelfand and Steven and Katherine Nichols, claim that the RMOW unfairly restricted their right to operate short-term rentals on their properties which were historically permitted for tourist accommodation. The case, scheduled for June 2025, will determine the outcome of this ongoing dispute.

Charlottetown

Charlottetown's short-term rental (STR) regulations, fully enforced since late 2023, appear to be running smoothly, though city officials say it's too early to measure their impact on housing availability.

So far, 215 STR licenses have been approved including 82 for operators with "legal non-conforming" status. No fines have been issued yet, but over 100 enforcement actions, including platform removals, have been taken. As of April 25, more than 140 properties have been licensed for 2025 with a full list available online for public reference.

Milton, Ontario

The Ontario Court of Appeal has upheld Milton’s short-term rental bylaw, rejecting a tenant’s challenge that the regulation conflicts with the Municipal Act and Residential Tenancies Act.

The case began when Zaafir Ahmed Munir’s landlords discovered he was renting their townhouse on Airbnb without the required license, leading to a town order and a fire code compliance notice. Munir sought $3.9 million in damages claiming the bylaw exceeded municipal authority and violated his Charter rights, but the court found no evidence of such breaches.

Portugal

Portugal's short-term rental sector received a reprieve as the government repealed the harshest measures from the 'Mais Habitação' package offering some relief to operators and investors.

However, with the decentralisation of power to municipalities, the sector faces new uncertainties. The municipality of Lisbon has already suspended new short-term rental registrations in certain areas and proposed further restrictions such as banning registrations in areas with high density and limiting activities like retail.

London

New research has revealed that over half of London’s short-term holiday let properties are being rented out illegally breaching regulations by being booked for more than 90 days a year.

A report by Central London Forward found that of the 117,000 short-term lets in 2024, more than 50% violated the law. The report calls for mandatory national registration for short-term rentals and for platforms to share detailed data with local authorities to improve enforcement.

Ireland

The Irish Government has introduced a proposed law, the Short Term Letting and Tourism Bill, which will require hosts offering short-term rentals for up to 21 nights to register with Fáilte Ireland by May 2026.

The new law part of Ireland’s effort to comply with the EU’s Short Term Rental Regulation will also introduce significant penalties for online platforms that fail to adhere to the rules. The Bill includes restrictions on short-term lets in towns with populations over 10,000 limiting rental to primary residences for up to 90 days annually.

🌐 Emerging Global Trends

The short-term rental market is at a turning point, with cities around the world tightening regulations to address housing shortages, improve compliance, and empower local decision-making. These emerging trends capture the direction of the industry.

What this means:

📒 Tighter Licensing and Compliance Timelines: Jurisdictions like British Columbia and Ireland are tightening short-term rental (STR) regulations requiring hosts to register their properties and platforms to comply with stricter deadlines. In British Columbia, the government has set a May 1, 2025, deadline for hosts to register their listings, while platforms like Airbnb and Vrbo have until June 2 to remove non-compliant listings and until June 23 to cancel bookings from unregistered hosts. Similarly, Ireland's proposed Short Term Letting and Tourism Bill set to take effect in 2026 will require hosts to register with Fáilte Ireland and impose significant penalties on platforms that fail to comply aligning with broader EU efforts to regulate the sector.

🏘️ Balancing STR Growth and Housing Availability: Cities like Lisbon, Charlottetown, and North Vancouver are taking steps to balance the benefits of short-term rentals with the need to protect long-term housing. Lisbon has paused new STR registrations in high-density areas and proposed further restrictions. Meanwhile, Charlottetown’s fully enforced STR licensing bylaw which took effect in late 2023 is being closely monitored to gauge its impact on housing, with over 140 properties licensed for 2025. North Vancouver, in response to community feedback, recently raised its STR limit from 28 days to 90 days per year.

🚪 Local Flexibility and Legal Pushback: In regions like Pemberton and Whistler, local governments are adopting more targeted approaches to STR regulation. Pemberton, for instance, is moving to introduce a two-year business license limit for properties in high-demand areas aimed at reducing long waiting lists and encouraging faster turnover. Whistler, on the other hand, is grappling with a legal challenge over its zoning decisions, as homeowners push back against restrictions that conflict with longstanding tourist accommodation practices. Meanwhile, the Ontario Court of Appeal recently upheld Milton’s STR bylaw rejecting a tenant’s claim that it violated municipal and tenant rights.

👍 We’d love your feedback.
Which stories hit? Which ones missed?

We're constantly refining Global Regulatory Notes to make it even more useful for you.

✉️ Just reply directly to this email. We read and respond to every message!

-Will McClure
🙋 P.S.
Know someone else who should be reading Global Regulatory Notes? Feel free to forward this along. We'd love to keep them in the loop on the latest short-term rental trends and regulatory updates from around the world.