Canada: New short-term rental regulations are due to come into effect in the Eastern Canadian province of Nova Scotia on 30 September.
The legislation, which includes a Short-term Rentals Registration Act, is being introduced to increase the amount of available long-term housing in the province, in the face of a growing affordable housing shortage.
Under the new registration requirements:
- All tourist accommodations and short-term rentals will be required to provide supporting documentation such as proof of compliance with municipal bylaws and, where applicable, written consent from the property owner[s] or condo board, and proof of primary residence
- Annual registration rates range from $50 to $2,000 per unit depending on the accommodation type and location; higher rates apply to short-term rentals in areas where the need for housing is greater
- Unregistered or non-compliant short-term rental operators may be subject to fines up to $100,000
At the same time, annual registration rates for “traditional” tourist accommodations, such as motels, hotels and inns, will not change. Nova Scotia province will also engage external support to provide compliance monitoring services.
John Lohr, minister of municipal affairs and housing for the Government of Nova Scotia, said: “Nova Scotians need housing. We know many houses and apartments that could potentially be long-term homes are being rented short term. We’re working to get more homes built. In the meantime, these changes will help address the urgent need for housing now.”
According to the official website of the Government of Nova Scotia, registration for the 2024/25 season will open in mid-August and applications should be received by 16 September to allow time for processing and approvals. Registration numbers for the 2023/24 season will not be valid after 30 September and platforms such as Airbnb and Expedia will also need to register by 30 September.
As of 23 July, 7,193 short-term rentals were officially registered with the province. It comes at a time when a provincial housing needs assessment report has projected that there will be a shortage of 41,200 housing units by 2027/28.
More information and updates on the Nova Scotia regulations can be found at this link.
Short-term rentals in the province can be registered here.
