Short-Term Rental Licence and Compliance in Alberta

Calgary

You need a City of Calgary business licence to run a short-term rental, which since April 1, 2025 means paid accommodation for up to 180 consecutive days listed with a short-term rental company, such as a booking platform. The 2026 fees, each including a $117 fire fee, are:

• Primary Residence (your own home): $289 new, $248 renewal.
• Non-Primary Residence: $627 new, $377 renewal.

You'll need a Fire Safety Plan and floor plan, proof of ownership or the owner's authorization, liability insurance that refers to short-term rental or home sharing, and a fire inspection before a new licence is issued. The bylaw then requires one booking at a time, at most two guests per room (children under 12 not counted), egress windows in guest rooms (multi-storey apartment and condo buildings follow fire codes instead), your licence number in every ad, a posted 24/7 emergency contact and floor plan, and a guest record, each with a $1,000 penalty. See Calgary management.

Edmonton

Every home used as a short-term rental needs its own Residential Rental Accommodation (Short-Term) licence, whether or not you live there. Short-term means 30 consecutive days or less. The current fees are $101 for a new one-year licence and $91 to renew on time ($191 and $176 for two years), but Council has asked for fee options in a report listed for November 17, 2026. You apply online with an Operational Plan for guest management, which must be approved, then give guests the City's guest guide, post a reachable phone number and show the licence number on every ad. Check condo bylaws first. See Edmonton management.

Airdrie

No official Airdrie source sets a short-term rental rule: the Land Use Bylaw defines no such use, and no City page says whether the rule that every business carried on for profit needs a licence covers it. The licence bylaw is under review, with a report to Council planned for late 2026, so ask the City before you list. See Airdrie management.

Cochrane

Every short-term rental, including Airbnb and Vrbo listings, needs a Town business licence (Home Occupation Type 2) for the calendar year: $180 for residents, $340 for non-residents. The bylaw covers stays of 30 days or less and requires a fire inspection (free, after Town permits are signed off), egress windows in rented rooms, at most two adults per room, no overlapping bookings, the licence number in all ads and a posted 24-hour emergency contact. An accessory suite or bed and breakfast also needs a development permit; for other homes, confirm with the Town. See Cochrane management.

Chestermere

Chestermere requires a short-term rental licence for stays of up to 180 consecutive days. Its Land Use Bylaw makes them a discretionary use in the residential districts it lists and prohibits them in the Residential Lakeshore District (R-1L). Expect one licence per legal unit or lot, one on-site parking space per bedroom on top of the home's own parking, and temporary development permits, up to a year at first, that don't pass to a new owner. The licence is $150 a year, less after July 1, and the permit application asks for a local 24/7 contact. See Chestermere management.

The five markets at a glance

The Alberta tourism levy

As of October 2026, the tourism levy is 6% for stays booked after March 31, 2026 (4% if booked earlier), on the guest's price, including cleaning and service fees. It doesn't apply to lodging occupied by the same individual continuously for 28 days or more (Tourism Levy Act).

Generally, whoever collects the guest's payment remits it: registered online brokers such as Airbnb, Booking.com and Vrbo remit where they collect or facilitate payment, and a host who takes direct bookings must register and remit on those. A property manager that collects payment may register for its owners, but each owner stays liable if it doesn't remit.

GST

Alberta has 5% GST and no PST. GST applies to short-term accommodation, meaning continuous occupancy of less than one month; renting to the same individual for a month or more is exempt. You needn't register while you're a small supplier, with $30,000 or less of taxable revenue in a calendar quarter and over the last four. Go over, and you must charge GST and register within 29 days. Platforms must collect GST on short stays by unregistered hosts; registered hosts charge it themselves.

Income tax

Since January 1, 2024, section 67.7 of the Income Tax Act denies deductions, capital cost allowance included, for the days a short-term rental (under 90 consecutive days) runs where the city doesn't permit it, or without the licence or permit it requires. Keep records that show compliance. Whether it's rental or business income depends on your services; ask your accountant.

Insurance and condos

The Insurance Bureau of Canada advises telling your insurer before you list; failing to disclose occupancy may void a home policy. Alberta's Insurance Act requires prompt written notice of any change material to the risk. Condo bylaws bind owners and anyone staying in a unit (Condominium Property Act, s. 32). Calgary no longer requires condo-board consent, but you must still follow the bylaws and check that they allow short-term rentals.

Before you list: a checklist

• Short-term rentals allowed at your address (zoning and condo bylaws)
• Licence and permits approved, and any fire inspection passed
• Smoke and carbon monoxide alarms and a fire extinguisher in place
• Insurer told, with short-term rental coverage in writing
• A plan for the tourism levy and GST
• Licence, permit and insurance copies kept for tax time

What we handle and what stays with you

We help with: working out which licence and permits you need; preparing applications, with floor plans, safety or operational plans and emergency contacts; adding your licence number to every listing; one booking at a time through one Hostaway calendar, with guest limits matched to the beds; and setting up the levy for direct bookings on premierstays.ca, which shows taxes as separate lines at checkout.

You stay responsible for: the licence and permits and their fees, your insurance, condo bylaws, GST registration if needed, and your income tax.

Questions? Email hello@premierstays.ca, call (587) 400-0720 or book a free revenue assessment.