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Register as a strata hotel platform

Last updated on January 30, 2025

Short-term rental strata hotel platforms must register to operate in B.C. Learn about registering as a strata hotel platform operating in B.C. on this page.

On this page:

Strata hotel platform registration overview

By May 1, 2025, a strata hotel that has its own website where guests can book a short-term accommodation must be registered with the provincial short-term rental registry.

While required to register, strata hotel platforms are exempt from most platform requirements, including validation of registration numbers and monthly data sharing.

Strata hotel platform requirements

Strata hotel platforms are required to:

Not following provincial rules may result in:

  • Administrative monetary penalties, which could start at up to $10,000 per day
  • Compliance orders, which can be filed in court

How to register

Strata hotel platforms are encouraged to register before individual hosts within the strata hotel to simplify the process for those hosts to claim the strata hotel principal residence exemption.

Follow these steps to register a strata hotel platform:

  1. Select a representative to communicate with the Province. This person will be responsible for representing the strata hotel regarding regulatory requirements.
  2. Click “Apply now” at the bottom of this page
  3. Log in to your BC Registries account using either your BC Services Card Account or a BCeID and 2-factor authentication
  4. Complete your application
  5. Pay the fee by credit card
  6. Submit your application
  7. View your dashboard to see the status of your application
  8. Receive an email notification when your application has been approved or denied
  9. View your dashboard to see your registration number

See a visual quick guide for applying for short-term rental registration for strata hotel platforms (PDF, 2 MB)

Eligibility

To operate in B.C., strata hotel platforms must ensure the strata hotel property qualifies for one of three strata hotel principal residence exemptions.

Principal residence requirement

In some areas of B.C., short-term rental hosts must comply with the principal residence requirement.

Find more information, including an interactive principal residence location map, on the provincial principal residence requirement page.

Hosts with short-term rental units in strata hotels

Hosts with short-term rental units within a registered strata hotel that advertise only through the strata hotel's own platform are exempt from the requirement to register.

Hosts with short-term rental units within a strata hotel who manage their short-term rental independently and advertise on a third-party platform such as, for example, Airbnb, Expedia or Booking.com, must register their listing as a host and pay an annual fee.

Principal residence exemption

There are three categories of strata hotel exemptions identified in the expandable menu below: ​

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Category 1: Strata hotel with a staffed front desk, housekeeping services, and a platform

To qualify for this principal residence exemption, the applicant must provide proof that: 

  1. Before December 8, 2023, accommodation was being provided in a manner similar to that of a hotel or motel, and 
  2. Since December 8, 2023, the strata hotel has and continues to have all the following: 
  • A staffed front desk located on-site,
  • Housekeeping services for overnight accommodations provided by employees or contractors, and 
  • An online platform exclusively for booking and paying for short-term rentals at the property
 

Category 2: Strata hotel with two or more strata lots that cannot be used as a principal residence

To qualify for this principal residence exemption, the applicant must provide proof that: 

  1. Before December 8, 2023, accommodation was being provided in a manner similar to that of a hotel or motel, and
  2. Since December 8, 2023, at least two strata lots on the property cannot be used as a principal residence due to one of the following restrictions: 
  • Local zoning bylaws, 
  • A rental management agreement between the property manager and strata lot owners, or 
  • A restrictive covenant or a covenant under section 219 of the Land Title Act. 
 

Category 3: New strata hotel development since December 2023

To qualify for this principal residence exemption as a host in a strata hotel, the applicant must provide proof that: 

  1. The strata hotel’s occupancy date was on or after December 8, 2023, and
  2. Both of the following apply: 
  • The strata hotel has all the following services provided in a manner similar to that of a hotel or motel: 
    • A staffed front desk located on-site,
    • Housekeeping services for overnight accommodations provided by employees or contractors, and 
    • An online platform exclusively for booking and paying for short-term rentals at the property
  • At least two strata lots on the property cannot be used as a principal residence due to one of the following restrictions: 
    • Local zoning bylaws, 
    • A rental management agreement between the property manager and strata lot owners, or 
    • A restrictive covenant or a covenant under section 219 of the Land Title Act

See: Policy guidance on what it means to operate 'in a manner similar to that of a hotel or motel' (PDF, 559KB)

What is the significance of the date December 8, 2023?

December 8, 2023 is the day after the regulation that described exemptions to the principal residence requirement for strata hotels was deposited.

Strata hotels created after December 8, 2023 must meet the Category 3 strata hotel principal residence exemption requirements.

Fees

Strata hotels must pay an annual fee to register. A single registration is required for the entire strata hotel, regardless of the number of units. Fees will not be refunded if an application is denied.

Activity

Annual fee + $1.50 service fee

Strata hotel platform fee

$600.00
  • Platforms licensed by Consumer Protection BC as travel wholesalers under the Business Practices and Consumer Protection Act and Travel Industry Regulation framework will be required to register, but no fee will be charged.

Required documents

Strata hotels that are in a community where the principal residence requirement applies must upload documents in their registration application that prove they meet a strata hotel principal residence exemption type.

If there is a change in a strata hotel platform’s information used for registration (e.g., name, address), they are required to notify the Registrar of the change within 14 days.

After you apply

The expandable menu below shows processes for different application outcomes.

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Approved registration

Once a registration is approved, the applicant will receive a registration number for the strata hotel. This registration number should be used when listing on third-party platforms.

 

Denied registration

If the Registrar cannot confirm that an application meets registration requirements, the applicant will be notified that the application is under consideration and given an opportunity to be heard. They will have five days to provide additional information, such as proof of principal residence. If the information provided is insufficient or if the applicant fails to respond in time, the application may be denied without further notice.

If an application is denied, the applicant can request a review of the decision:

  • To apply for a review of a decision, the request must be submitted in writing to Registry.STR@gov.bc.ca within 14 days of the decision. The request should explain why the decision should be reviewed.
  • The review will only be considered where:  
    • there is new and relevant evidence that was not available before that could change the decision
    • the applicant was unable to be heard due to expected circumstances beyond their control
    • a technical mistake or error occurred that affected the decision, or  
    • the Registrar did not address an issue they were required to
  • The original decision may stay the same, be changed, or be cancelled
 

Cancelled or suspended registration

If the Registrar determines that the registrant has failed to comply with or does not meet the registration requirements, the registrant will be notified that the application is under consideration and will have an opportunity to be heard. The applicant will have five days to provide additional information to support their registration.

If the information provided does not justify maintaining registration, or if the registrant fails to respond in time, the registration may be suspended or cancelled without further notice. 

Strata hotel platforms whose registrations are cancelled or suspended can request a review of the decision:

  • To apply for a review of a decision, the request must be submitted in writing to Registry.STR@gov.bc.ca within 14 days of the decision. The request should explain why the decision should be reviewed.
  • The review will only be considered where:  
    • there is new and relevant evidence that was not available before that could change the decision
    • the strata hotel platform was unable to be heard due to expected circumstances beyond their control
    • a technical mistake or error occurred that affected the decision, or  
    • the Registrar did not address an issue they were required to
  • The original decision may stay the same, be changed, or be cancelled

 

Registration renewal

All registrations must be renewed annually​. A renewal can be denied when a strata hotel platform has:

Registration checklist

Make sure you have the following information to apply for registration:

  1. Name and contact information of the strata hotel representative
  2. Business information, including business number and mailing address
  3. Strata-titled hotel or motel details, including website, address and number of units

If strata hotels have a legal question, they may wish to consult a lawyer. The Registrar cannot provide legal advice.

Apply now

Strata hotel terms and conditions
 

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Disclaimer

The information on this webpage about the Province of British Columbia’s Short-Term Rental Accommodations Act and regulations is provided for the user’s convenience as a basic starting point. It is not a substitute for getting legal advice or other professional advice. If there is a conflict between the information on this webpage and the legislation or regulations, the legislation and regulations prevail. The interpretation of legislation is also affected by court decisions. This information may be subject to change, including changes due to the legislative process.

 

If you have questions about B.C.'s short-term rental legislation, please contact the Service BC Contact Center at 1-833-828-2240.

  • The Service BC Contact Center is available Mon to Fri from 7:30 am to 5:00 pm, with help available on the phone, toll free, in 140 languages and for people who are deaf, hard of hearing or speech impaired.
  • You may also email the short-term rental registry team at STRregistry@gov.bc.c