Yes, an inspection of the short-term rental space is required. The inspection is to confirm the rental space meets regulations and to confirm there is no illegal suite on the property. 

If the short-term rental is located on a property containing a secondary suite (or if the suite is the rental), the suite must be legal. A legal suite is constructed or upgraded under a valid building permit, ensuring all safety requirements, such as smoke alarms and egress, are met. Secondary suites that have been installed without a building permit are considered illegal and must either be legalized or decommissioned. 

A legal suite is constructed or upgraded under a valid building permit. Constructing under a building permit ensures all life safety requirements, such as smoke alarms and egress, are met. If you did not construct your suite under the building permit process, the suite is considered illegal. 

The process for legalizing a suite may involve renovations or upgrading to meet Building Code requirements. If a suite is deemed illegal upon an inspection, it must either be legalized or decommissioned. 

Learn more about residential suites and view the Secondary Suite Construction Requirements Guide.

The number of people allowed in a short-term rental depends on the total number of people living in the dwelling long-term, including family members and boarders or lodgers (e.g. roommate, student, or worker renting a room). 

The total number of people in the entire dwelling unit cannot exceed five unrelated people. The exception applies to families of three or more, limiting the total number of renters (combined total number of boarders, lodgers, and/or short-term rental guests) to two. 
 

A business licence is required for short-term rentals (less than 30 days) or monthly rentals up to 90 days that are advertised on a short-term rental platform, such as Airbnb. 

A business licence is also required for renting two or more suites on a property (e.g. a basement suite, carriage house, and/or garden suite) long term (30 days or more) or renting a house with a suite long term where the owner does not live on the property. (Note: a short-term rental is not permitted where there are two or more suites on the property.)