District of North Vancouver to extend guest stays at short-term rentals, B&Bs

The District of North Vancouver is moving to extend the maximum stay for short-term rentals and bed and breakfasts from a stay “not to exceed 28
consecutive days” to a stay of “less than 90 consecutive days,” aligning its rules with provincial legislation.

At a meeting tomorrow, the DNV council will consider bylaw changes to allow stays of less than 90 consecutive days at STRs and B&Bs. The amendments would also introduce fines for bookings that exceed that threshold. The changes follow the direction of the Council at a special meeting on April 14, where councillors asked staff to align the stats with the provincial rules.

District staff say the longer stay option will help make the community more welcoming to a wider range of guests, such as visiting families, attending medical appointments, or working out of town, while keeping local rules in step with the province. It also brings B&Bs and STRs under a more consistent regulatory umbrella.

A staff report says licensed bed and breakfasts were consulted before the proposed changes. Several said the longer stays would provide more flexibility without causing operational issues. Others noted it would be rare for guests to stay that long, but acknowledged some visitors, such as rotating workers, might benefit from extended bookings.

Some B&B operators raised concerns about fairness. B&Bs face stricter rules, including higher parking requirements and mandatory business licences, while STRs were unregulated until this year. One respondent stressed that enforcement would be key if longer stays are permitted, especially to protect residential neighbourhoods. Staff also note that while longer stays may be like tenancy, most short-term bookings are not covered under the Residential Tenancy Act because they are intended for vacation or travel.  That means they don’t carry protections like dispute resolution or exclusive use.

Public feedback on the issue was mixed. At an April 1 public hearing, some residents worried about long-term rental housing availability, but others supported the idea of extended short-term stays. Two B&B operators agreed to align stay limits and other requirements across rental types. The bylaw changes would bring the District in line with the City of North Vancouver, which allows stays of up to 89 days. West Vancouver, by contrast, still limits short-term bookings to less than 30 days.

DNV staff plans to monitor new regulations and report back to the Council in September.