Airbnb Requirements in Canada—101 for Hosts

For property owners in Canada, starting an Airbnb can be a lucrative side hustle to earn extra income and an excellent opportunity to grow a thriving vacation rental business. However, before you list your home or apartment on Airbnb, you need to understand hosting responsibilities and legal requirements for short-term rentals.

To help you become familiar with Airbnb rules and laws that you need to follow, in this article, we’ll talk about Airbnb requirements in Canada that you should consider before you put your house on Airbnb. 

Airbnb Requirements in Canada: General Regulations

Legal requirements for Airbnb properties in Canada vary in different locations, and there may be specific rules and regulations at the province, city, or property level. Airbnb provides some general information about short-term rental regulations in Canada and some region-specific information on its Responsible Hosting page. However, laws and rules that apply to short-term rentals are constantly changing, so you should research and check with a local authority or a lawyer if you have any questions.

Short-term rental regulations in Canada are not as strict as in some other countries, but in some cities, there are restrictions on renting out properties and paying guests for short periods. For example, in Toronto, homeowners can short-term rent their principal residence only, which means they can’t legally run more than one short-term rental.

Many local governments require hosts to register, get a business license, and post a license number on their listings. It’s also essential to adhere to specific zoning laws and homeowners’ association rules that may apply to your listing. And if your property has a mortgage, you need to check with the lender to ensure there aren’t restrictions against subletting or hosting.

Remember that in Canada, Airbnb income is taxable, and hosts are responsible for reporting their earnings and paying applicable taxes. So, you should check with the Canada Revenue Agency to find out how to report your income from hosting.

Compliance with Airbnb requirements will give you peace of mind so you can focus on providing exceptional experience for your guests and building a successful business. Operating a vacation rental requires commitment and work, but automating your hosting routine using vacation rental software like Hospitable can make your life much easier.

Airbnb Host Requirements in Canada

It’s your responsibility as an Airbnb host to create comfortable, reliable stays for guests and do your best to meet hospitality standards. Here are essential Airbnb host requirements that you must follow in Canada.

Safety

Make your space safe for guests. Minimize hazards—fix exposed wires and remove objects that may be dangerous for guests. Take care of fire prevention and equip your STR property with a fire extinguisher and a working carbon monoxide detector (if you have gas appliances). Ensure your home is properly ventilated and provide your guests with clear instructions on safely using the heater and air conditioning.

Keep a first aid kit and tell your guests where it is. Prepare emergency instructions and include contact information:

• Local emergency phone numbers and the phone number of the nearest hospital
• Your contact number
• A number for a backup contact (if guests can’t reach you)

Health and cleanliness

Airbnb requires all hosts to ensure that their rental spaces are clean and free of health hazards (like mold, pests, etc.) before guest check-in. Hosts are also expected to clean their properties between every stay and maintain high standards of cleanliness to meet guests’ expectations.

Vacation rental cleaning requires more attention to detail. It involves more tasks than regular home cleaning, so it is wise to hire professional cleaners to do this job quickly and efficiently. And if you opt for Hospitable, our system will assign tasks to them automatically—you just need to set your rules.

Privacy

You must always respect your guests’ privacy. Airbnb has strict rules on security cameras and other surveillance devices that clearly state what is expected from hosts. But it’s important to remember that some locations may have additional laws and regulations you’ll need to know.

Airbnb Listing Requirements in Canada

To register as a host on Airbnb, you must pass identity verification and complete your Airbnb host profile. After that, you can start adding your property to the platform. All hosts in Canada must follow Airbnb listing accuracy requirements.

Airbnb clearly states that the listing page at the time of booking should accurately describe the property and reflect the features and amenities that will be available to guests during their stay, including:

• Booking details (dates, price, etc.)
• Information about the location (map pin, address, etc.)
• The type of accommodation you offer (private room, entire home, etc.) and the listing setup (number of bedrooms, size of beds, etc.)
• The level of privacy (provide information about the presence of an on-site property manager, other guests, etc.)
• The photos and description on the listing page should accurately represent the rental space you provide
• All features of the listing and amenities (kitchen, kitchen, gym, etc.) that guests have access to and restrictions associated with amenity access
• House rules to share your expectations with guests upfront

Remember that you may only adjust details for an accepted booking after guest consent.

Final Thought

Practically anyone can become a host on Airbnb to earn extra income. But you need to understand Airbnb requirements for hosts in Canada and follow them because it’s important for your success on the platform. Staying compliant with local Airbnb regulations, maintaining high standards of cleanliness, and offering memorable guest experience will help make your guests happy with their stays. This way, you’ll get more 5-star reviews and more bookings.