How to get a short term rental licence in West Vancouver
Last reviewed: September 2026.
What the District requires
Short term rental, as West Vancouver defines it, means a stay of less than 30 consecutive days. The rules took effect on 1 January 2025, after Council adopted changes to the Zoning and Licensing Bylaws in November 2024 to line up with the provincial Short Term Rental Accommodations Act. Enforcement began on 1 May 2025, so the grace period is over.
Two things surprise owners. The first is that the licence has to exist before you market the home, which means before the listing goes live rather than before anyone checks in. The second is that the District licence and the provincial host registration are separate. Holding one does not give you the other. More on which homes qualify.
| Requirement | |
|---|---|
| Where | Principal residences |
| Stay length | Under 30 consecutive days |
| Before you list | District STR business licence in hand |
| Province | Separate host registration |
| First licence fee | $450, and $350 for businesses starting after 31 July 2025 |
| Annual renewal | $350 |
| Fines | $500 to $3,000 per infraction, per day |
The five documents
- STR Business License Application
- Required Documents Checklist
- Strata Authorization Form
- Owner Authorization Form
- STR Fire Plan Template
Three of these stop people. The strata form stops anyone in a strata whose council has not voted on it, and a bylaw that says nothing about short term rentals is not a bylaw that allows them. The owner authorization form stops anyone who is not on title, which includes family arrangements that have worked informally for years. The fire plan is the one most owners have never seen, because it is a document rather than a form. The District publishes a template for it.
Start with the strata one. It is the only item on the list that depends on other people meeting.
The order that saves you a month
First, confirm the home is your principal residence and check what your strata bylaws actually say. If either of these fails, nothing after it matters.
Second, request the strata authorization while you gather everything else. This is the slow item, and it moves on someone else’s calendar.
Third, build the fire plan from the District’s template and walk the home against it before you fill it in. This is usually the point where an owner finds something to buy.
Fourth, submit and allow for review time. The program has only been running since January 2025.
Then renew. The fee comes back every year, and the date is yours to track. Once the licence is in hand, the management agreement is the next document worth reading closely.
Frequently asked questions
Do I need the licence before I list, or before the first guest?
Before you list. The requirement is to hold the licence before marketing or booking, so the listing going live is the line, not the arrival date.
Does the provincial registration replace the District licence?
No. They are separate requirements, and West Vancouver hosts had a provincial registration deadline of 1 June 2025.
What counts as short term here?
Less than 30 consecutive days, as the District defines it. At 30 days and over you are in a different set of rules.
Can I do this if the home is not my principal residence?
West Vancouver permits short term rentals in principal residences. If the home is not one, this is the question to put to the District directly before you spend anything on furniture.
What if my strata bylaws do not mention short term rentals?
Silence is not permission. The District asks for a Strata Authorization Form, and your strata council has to actually authorize it.
What does it cost each year?
The District lists a first licence fee of $450, reduced to $350 for businesses coming into existence after 31 July 2025, and an annual renewal of $350.
What happens if I operate without one?
The District lists fines from $500 to $3,000 per infraction, per day. The per day part is what makes it expensive rather than annoying.
Can someone handle the paperwork for me?
Yes. We prepare the licensing and compliance paperwork a municipality asks for, keep it current, and file what can be filed on your behalf. Call or text our sales team at 604-712-8002.
Source: District of West Vancouver, Bylaw Enforcement and Licensing. Last reviewed September 2026. Rules change, so confirm your own situation with the District before you list.