How Should Calgary Regulate Airbnb and Short-Term Rentals?

Official title: Short-Term Rental Study

Closed Regulations & Permits Economy & Jobs Housing & Communities

Calgary and the University of Calgary spent two years studying the city's short-term rental market. The result? New rules taking effect April 1, 2025. Council approved changes in December 2024 that aim to balance housing affordability, safety, and the economic benefits of platforms like Airbnb.

Why This Matters

Rent an Airbnb when you travel? Host guests in your spare room? Live next door to a party house? This affects you. About 12% of Calgary hosts run multiple rentals and earn over half the market's revenue. New rules could change who can operate and how.

What Could Change

New business licence rules for short-term rentals take effect April 1, 2025. The changes target housing affordability, guest safety, and enforcement. Hosts with multiple investment-style properties may face new restrictions.

Key Issues

How to balance housing affordability with the economic benefits of short-term rentals?
Should hosts with multiple investment-style rentals face stricter rules?
How to improve safety for guests and reduce impacts on neighbours?

How to Participate

Review the Phase 1 What We Heard Report and Phase 2 What We Heard Report to see what Calgarians said during public engagement.
Learn about the new rules taking effect April 1, 2025 at calgary.ca/str.

What Happened

Calgary City Council unanimously approved amendments to the Business Licence Bylaw for short-term rentals in December 2024. The study included two phases of public engagement: Phase 1 from October to December 2023 gathered feedback on experiences and perceptions, and Phase 2 from August to September 2024 collected input on regulatory approaches. The new rules take effect April 1, 2025.

View 'What We Heard' Report View Final Decision