Calgary Airbnb Licensing & STR Regulations: The Complete 2026 Guide

Calgary's short-term rental regulations changed significantly on April 1, 2025, when major amendments to the Business Licence Bylaw took effect. If you're currently operating an Airbnb in Calgary, or thinking about starting one, the rules are stricter and more specific than they were before — and the penalties for non-compliance are real. This guide covers everything you need to know: what licences are required, what they cost, what operational requirements apply, how condo buildings work, and exactly what to do to get and stay compliant. If you're also evaluating whether STR makes financial sense in Calgary, see how much a Calgary Airbnb actually earns in 2026.

Do you need a licence to run an Airbnb in Calgary?

Yes. Under Calgary's Business Licence Bylaw, any short-term rental — defined as providing temporary accommodation for compensation for up to 180 consecutive days — requires a valid business licence. This applies whether you're renting your entire home, a suite, a spare bedroom, or a condo unit.

There are no exceptions for occasional or low-volume hosts. If your property appears on Airbnb, VRBO, or any similar platform and accepts paid bookings, you need a licence. The licence number must also be displayed prominently on every listing advertisement.

Primary vs. non-primary residence: which licence do you need?

The April 2025 bylaw changes introduced a two-tier licence system based on whether the property is the operator's primary residence.

A primary residence is the address where you actually live — your principal home. If you're renting out a room, a suite, or your whole condo while you're away, and that property is your primary address, you fall into the primary residence category.

A non-primary residence is any property that isn't where you primarily live — investment condos, second properties, inherited homes. These face higher fees and, critically, are subject to a potential moratorium if Calgary's rental vacancy rate drops below the threshold (more on that below).

The fire inspection fee of $114 applies to both categories and is mandatory every year, including renewals. It's conducted by the Calgary Fire Department and is not optional.

Fire safety requirements

All Calgary STR properties must pass an annual fire inspection conducted by the Calgary Fire Department. The $114 inspection fee is payable at the time of application and each annual renewal.

To pass the inspection, your property must meet the following requirements:

• 01A fire safety plan must be created — one page per floor — and posted in a visible location inside the property. The plan must include floor layouts showing exit routes, fire extinguisher locations, and emergency procedures.
• 02Working smoke detectors must be present in every sleeping area and on every floor.
• 03Working carbon monoxide detectors are required if the property has any fuel-burning appliances or attached garage.
• 04A functioning fire extinguisher must be accessible within the unit.
• 05Egress windows must be present and operable in sleeping rooms (exemptions apply for units in multi-storey apartment or condo buildings with other approved egress routes).

The fire safety plan requirement catches many hosts off guard — it's not just a detector check, it's a documented plan that must be physically posted in the unit. Inspectors will check for this specifically.

Insurance requirements

Calgary requires all STR operators to carry liability insurance with a minimum $2 million coverage limit. The policy must be issued by an insurer registered to operate in Alberta, and it must specifically cover home sharing or short-term rental activities.

This is a critical requirement that many operators overlook. Standard homeowner's or condo insurance policies typically exclude STR use — if a guest is injured in your property and your policy doesn't specifically cover STR operations, you have no coverage. Your standard policy may also be voided if the insurer discovers you've been operating an STR without disclosing it.

Airbnb's AirCover programme provides some guest damage protection, but it is not a substitute for proper liability insurance and does not satisfy Calgary's licence requirement. You need a standalone STR insurance policy or a homeowner's policy explicitly amended to cover STR use.

Operational requirements

Beyond the licence and fire inspection, Calgary STR operators must comply with a set of ongoing operational requirements:

• 01Licence number on all advertising: Your business licence number must appear on every listing — Airbnb, VRBO, any other platform, and any social media or marketing materials. Listings without a visible licence number can be flagged and result in a fine.
• 02Guest records: You must maintain electronic records of every guest's name, email address, and dates of stay. These records must be available to the Chief Licence Inspector upon request. You don't need to submit them proactively, but you must be able to produce them.
• 0324/7 emergency contact: An emergency contact phone number must be posted in a visible, conspicuous location inside the property. The contact must be reachable at all hours.
• 04Occupancy limits: Maximum two adults per bedroom. Multi-party overlapping bookings — renting different rooms to separate guest parties simultaneously under separate reservations — are prohibited.
• 05Advertising standards: All advertising must accurately represent the property and comply with the City's advertising requirements under the bylaw.

What changed with condo buildings in 2025

One of the most significant changes in the April 2025 bylaw amendments was the removal of the requirement for proof of condo board consent as part of the licence application. Previously, Calgary required STR operators in condo buildings to submit documentation showing their condo board had approved STR use.

That city-level requirement is gone. However — and this is critical — the removal of the city's requirement does not affect your condominium corporation's authority over your unit. If your building's bylaws restrict or prohibit short-term rentals, those restrictions still apply and are still enforceable by your condo board.

This creates a situation where you could technically obtain a city STR licence and then find yourself in breach of your building's bylaws. Before applying for a licence or listing your condo on Airbnb, obtain and read your condominium corporation's bylaws in full. If STRs are restricted, the city licence won't protect you from your condo board.

The non-primary residence moratorium

One of the new regulatory mechanisms introduced in April 2025 is a moratorium trigger on new non-primary residence STR licences. If the Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation (CMHC) reports that Calgary's rental vacancy rate has fallen below 2.5%, the City can pause the issuance of new non-primary residence STR licences.

This moratorium does not affect existing licence holders who are renewing — it only pauses new applications. However, it creates meaningful risk for investors considering purchasing a second property specifically for STR use: if the moratorium is active at the time you apply, you cannot obtain a non-primary licence until conditions change.

At the time of writing, the moratorium has not been triggered. Calgary's rental vacancy rate remains above the 2.5% threshold. But investors planning new STR-specific purchases should monitor this closely.

Penalties and enforcement

Calgary enforces its STR regulations actively. The primary penalty for non-compliance is $1,000 per offence, with each violation treated as a separate offence. Common violations that result in fines include:

• 01Operating without a valid business licence
• 02Advertising without displaying the licence number
• 03Failing to maintain required guest records
• 04Missing or inadequate fire safety documentation
• 05Failing the annual fire inspection
• 06Carrying insufficient liability insurance

Repeat violations can result in licence revocation. If your licence is revoked, you cannot re-apply for a defined period and your property must be removed from all STR platforms immediately. ThreeBNB handles compliance monitoring for every Calgary property we manage — licence renewals, fire inspection bookings, and bylaw checks are all included at no extra cost.

How to apply: step-by-step

The application process for a Calgary STR business licence involves the following steps:

• 01Determine your licence type: Confirm whether your property qualifies as a primary or non-primary residence. This determines your fee and eligibility.
• 02Prepare your fire safety plan: Create a one-page-per-floor floor plan showing exit routes, extinguisher locations, and emergency procedures. This must be ready before your inspection.
• 03Book your fire inspection: Schedule an inspection with the Calgary Fire Department through the city's online portal. The $114 fee is paid at the time of booking.
• 04Obtain STR insurance: Get a liability insurance policy with minimum $2M coverage that explicitly covers home sharing or short-term rental use. Obtain a certificate of insurance to submit with your application.
• 05Submit your licence application: Complete the business licence application online through calgary.ca. You'll need: proof of insurance, your inspection booking confirmation, and property ownership or lease documentation.
• 06Post your licence information: Once your licence is issued, add your licence number to all listings and post your emergency contact and fire safety plan inside the property before your first guest arrives.
• 07Annual renewal: Renew each year and rebook your fire inspection. The renewal fee is $131 (primary) or $260 (non-primary) plus the $114 inspection fee.

A note for property managers and co-hosts

If you're using a property management company to operate your Calgary STR, the management company may hold the licence on your behalf in some cases, or you may need to hold it yourself depending on the arrangement. Confirm with your operator how licence responsibility is structured before listing.

At ThreeBNB, we handle the permit application, fire inspection coordination, and compliance monitoring for every property we manage. You don't need to navigate this yourself — it's included as part of our standard management service, with no extra compliance fees.

Frequently asked questions

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