🎯 STRisker: Bulletin - West Vancouver, Canada
Operator Protection Framework Coming to West Vancouver
Licensed, Compliant, Safe: West Vancouver's Three-Strikes Protection for STR Hosts
Photo by Veronica Dudarev on Unsplash
West Vancouver's District Council is implementing a progressive enforcement framework designed to distinguish between compliant operators and those deliberately skirting the rules. After one year running its STR licensing program, staff identified gaps in enforcement consistency and have proposed a graduated penalty system that prioritizes transparency over arbitrary action.
The centrepiece is a three-strikes rule. A licensed operator who receives three bylaw notices within 365 days faces licence cancellation, but the framework explicitly protects operators acting in good faith. District staff noted that "compliant operators will not be the focus of enforcement efforts", a signal that minor violations won't trigger aggressive action.
West Vancouver's STR Operator Handbook
Since January 1, 2025, West Vancouver has issued 169 STR business licences, with 36 applications under review. The District's rules are straightforward: rentals must operate from a host's principal residence. Secondary suites and coach houses are permitted, but only one unit per property can operate as an STR. The District allowed a four-month compliance window; enforcement commenced May 1, 2025.
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The enforcement protocol reserves its harshest measures for operators running unlicensed STRs or renting from unlicensed secondary suites. These cases bypass the three-strikes process entirely, triggering immediate escalated action: ticketing, licence revocation, and a provincial request to remove listings from platforms like Airbnb and Vrbo. For licensed operators with routine violations, fines range from $500 to $3,000 per infraction per day.
Council will vote on three bylaw amendments to codify the framework: updates to the Business Licence Bylaw, the Bylaw Notice Enforcement Bylaw, and the Fees and Charges Bylaw.
☉Business Licence Bylaw Amendment
☉Bylaw Notice Enforcement Bylaw Amendment
West Vancouver Council discusses updates to the Business Licence, Bylaw Notice Enforcement, and Fees and Charges bylaws to strengthen the short-term rental enforcement framework.
West Vancouver's approach signals a commitment to fair, consistent enforcement while maintaining strict consequences for deliberate non-compliance.
☉Licensing: Mandatory; STR business licence required before marketing or accepting bookings
☉Primary residence rule: Yes; rentals permitted only from principal residence
☉Night cap: None in place
☉Grace period for routine violations: Three-strikes rule provides graduated enforcement
☉Immediate enforcement applies to: Unlicensed operators and unlicensed secondary suite rentals
☉Fines: $500–$3,000 per infraction per day
☉Licence cancellation: After three notices within 365 days (licensed operators only)
☉ Platform involvement: Removal of listings upon district or provincial request
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