The West Vancouver District Council will review a proposed enforcement policy and procedure for short-term rental accommodations at an upcoming meeting, as the District moves to strengthen oversight of a program now more than a year old.
The proposals, brought forward by Bylaw and Licensing Services Manager Matthew O’Connor, aim to establish a clearer compliance framework for short-term rental operators across the District, the report noted.
Council will also be asked to approve amendments to three existing bylaws — the Business Licence Bylaw, the Bylaw Notice Enforcement Bylaw, and the Fees and Charges Bylaw. According to the report, the STR program has been operational since Jan. 1, 2025, with 169 licences approved and 36 applications currently under review as of Jan. 21, 2026.
The proposed changes follow a year of program operation during which staff identified gaps in clarity and consistency. The report notes that a transparent, codified enforcement process is especially critical given the financial stakes for licence holders who rely on rental income.
Bylaw Amendments and New Fees
Among the proposed bylaw changes is a terminology update replacing the “lodger/room” licence category with “short-term rental accommodation – room,” which staff noted will eliminate confusion with separate lodger regulations already on the books.
A new $150 re-inspection fee is also proposed. According to the report, staff have repeatedly attended follow-up inspections after applicants confirmed compliance, only to find outstanding violations. The proposed fee would recover costs associated with those visits, consistent with similar charges already levied by the West Vancouver Fire Department.
A “Three Strikes” Enforcement Approach
The proposed procedure introduces a progressive enforcement model with defined consequences for non-compliant operators. Under a “three strikes” framework, a licence holder who receives bylaw notices on three separate occasions within 365 days could face licence cancellation.
The most serious cases — operating without a licence or running a rental from an unlicensed secondary suite — will face immediate escalated enforcement, including ticketing, licence cancellation, and a provincial request to remove the listing. According to the report, many such properties have knowingly submitted incorrect information to obtain approval, directly undermining the intent of District regulations.
Staff noted that compliant operators will not be the focus of enforcement efforts and that the framework is designed to provide a fair, consistent process for all parties. Council is expected to weigh the recommendations at its upcoming meeting.
