Global Regulatory Notes (9)
Know the latest on STRs across the Globe. Canada; Columbia Shuswap Regional District; Whistler; Kamloops; Oakville; Niagara-on-the-Lake; Montreal; Spain; Australia; Bali, Indonesia. READ MORE
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
Columbia Shuswap Regional District, BC
The Columbia Shuswap Regional District (CSRD) expressed deep frustration with the provincial government’s handling of the new short-term rental (STR) registry, which went into effect May 1.
At their May 15 board meeting, directors reacted strongly to a letter from the Ministry of Housing that confirmed STR owners could register provincially without complying with local zoning bylaws—effectively bypassing CSRD’s requirement for temporary use permits (TUPs) in areas where STRs aren’t otherwise permitted.
Further discussion and a staff report are scheduled for the May 27 electoral area directors meeting, with a full board discussion expected in the coming months.
Whistler, BC
Whistler relies on the Municipal and Regional District Tax (MRDT), a 3% hotel tax applied to short-term tourist accommodations—including Airbnb stays—to support tourism investments and affordable housing.
This tax, charged in addition to the 8% Provincial Sales Tax, is collected from both traditional hotels and online platforms, with revenues split equally between the Resort Municipality of Whistler (RMOW) and Tourism Whistler. Both organizations reinvest the funds in alignment with the Provincial Sales Tax Act with spending approved by the Province.
Kamloops, BC
Kamloops city council unanimously approved bylaw changes allowing short-term rentals (STRs) under 30 days provided the property is the owner’s principal residence.
Hosts must now obtain a business licence, and any non-compliant suites require a building permit. These updates align with provincial regulations and require licence applications by June 1 and full compliance by August 1.
Oakville, Ontario
Oakville is gearing up for a crackdown on unlicensed short-term rentals, thanks to a $897,000 federal grant to hire three temporary staff members. This funding will help the town enforce its 2018 bylaw which mandates that short-term rental hosts must be the property's principal resident and obtain a licence.
The annual cost of the licence is $282, and operators must meet various requirements, including proof of liability insurance and a criminal reference check. Third-party platforms like Airbnb are also required to obtain a licence though none have been issued to date.
Niagara-on-the-Lake, Ontario
Niagara-on-the-Lake is moving forward with a long-awaited overhaul of its short-term rental bylaw, tightening restrictions on events, eligibility, and enforcement.
Council has backed changes that ban special events like weddings at STRs, raise the minimum age of eligible buildings from four to eight years, and hand off licensing appeals to an independent hearing officer.
The town plans to impose escalating fines for repeat violations and require a local contact to respond within 45 minutes to complaints. Final approval is expected at the next council meeting, alongside a follow-up report on rental density issues.
Montreal, Quebec
Montreal is moving forward with one of the most aggressive crackdowns on short-term rentals globally, effectively banning listings under 31 days except during a 92-day summer window from June 10 to September 10—and even then, only for primary residences.
Backed by a surge in fraudulent listings and ongoing housing concerns, the city has doubled its enforcement team and shifted the burden of proof onto property owners, who now must prove a unit is their main home.
Spain
Spain passed Royal Decree 1312/2024 requiring all short-term rentals to be registered with the government by July 2025. The law targets vacation and temporary rentals listed online—such as Airbnb or Booking.com—and aims to address housing shortages blamed on the rise of holiday lets.
Farah Mokrani
Spain’s Airbnb rules are changing :What you need to do before July 2025
Hosts must register through the Ministry of Housing, pay a €27 fee, and display a unique code in listings. Tourist rentals in shared buildings will also require approval from 60% of neighbors starting April 2025. Without a valid registration number, listings will be removed, and fines may apply.
Australia
A new two-year ban on foreign investors buying established residential properties in Australia, effective from April 1, 2025, is raising concerns within the short-term rental (STR) industry, particularly around Airbnb.
Managed in part by the Australian Taxation Office, the ban aims to ease housing pressures but restricts purchases even for temporary residents like international students and contract workers.
The resulting drop in STR listings could limit options for tourists, shift demand to traditional hotels, and impact local economies that benefit from STR-related tourism spending. Meanwhile, foreign investors may only buy established homes if they plan to redevelop the land with 20+ new dwellings.
Bali, Indonesia
Authorities in Bali are ramping up enforcement against illegal short-term rentals, particularly unregistered private villas often leased by or to foreigners operating outside visa regulations.
In Badung Regency, local leaders have conducted surprise inspections at suspected illegal accommodations, responding to a pattern where tourism arrivals are increasing but hotel occupancy is slipping—believed to be due to the rise of unlicensed villa rentals built on residential land.
Officials are checking whether these properties are registered for regional tax purposes (NPWPD), with many failing to comply.
🌐 Emerging Global Trends
Around the world, governments are grappling with how to regulate short-term rentals in ways that balance tourism, housing availability, and neighborhood stability. Recent developments reveal several emerging trends as cities and countries refine their approaches to oversight, enforcement, and policy alignment.
What this means:
🗺️ National and Provincial Governments Are Asserting Control Over Local STR Regulation: Across Canada and Europe, national and provincial authorities are beginning to override or reshape local short-term rental policies, often causing tension at the municipal level. In British Columbia’s Columbia Shuswap Regional District, officials expressed frustration after the provincial government allowed STR operators to register without conforming to local zoning rules—undermining the district’s temporary use permit system. Similarly, Spain's sweeping Royal Decree 1312/2024 mandates a centralized STR registry with strict compliance measures, including listing codes and neighbor approval, overriding local discretion.
🏠 Primary Residence Requirements and Event Restrictions Are Becoming Commonplace: A growing number of municipalities are tightening STR rules by limiting rentals to a host’s principal residence and curbing commercial activity like events and parties. Kamloops and Oakville now require STR operators to live onsite, echoing Montreal’s even stricter stance that allows short-term rentals only for primary residences and only during a narrow summer window. Meanwhile, Niagara-on-the-Lake is advancing new rules that ban events such as weddings at STR properties, raise the eligibility age of rental units, and impose steep penalties for repeat violations.
🛢️ Enforcement and Compliance Infrastructure Are Expanding Rapidly: Cities and towns around the world are investing in stronger enforcement tools and administrative capacity to manage STR growth. Oakville is using a federal grant to fund staff dedicated to enforcing its STR bylaw. In Bali, inspectors are cracking down on unregistered villas, and Montreal has doubled its enforcement team while shifting the legal burden to property owners. Across these examples, the message is clear: governments are moving past passive regulation and are now actively scaling up efforts to identify illegal rentals, enforce zoning compliance, and reclaim control over housing markets.
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