Do you rent out your principal residence on Airbnb or Vrbo? Do you operate one or more tourist accommodation establishments? Do you own a building in which tenants offer short-term stays? Take note: the Government of Quebec has just changed the rules of the game—and some of these new obligations will come into force as early as April 9, 2026, with others following on September 1, 2026.
These amendments to the Tourist Accommodation Regulation (RLRQ, chapter H-1.01, r. 1), announced on March 25, 2026 by the Ministère du Tourisme, are far from insignificant. They strengthen an already restrictive framework and further complicate matters for those who fail to comply. Here is what you need to know.
1. Understanding the Framework: What Is Tourist Accommodation in Quebec?
Within the meaning of the Tourist Accommodation Act (RLRQ, c. H-1.01), tourist accommodation refers to any form of residential rental offered to visitors for short periods, generally fewer than 31 consecutive days. This includes houses, apartments, co-ownership, cottages, or rooms rented via platforms such as Airbnb, VRBO, or even through direct listings.
To legally carry on this activity, every operator must register at the Ministère du Tourisme and obtain a registration certificate. This certificate is not merely administrative—it constitutes legal proof that the establishment complies with applicable standards and that the platform on which it is advertised is authorized to display the listing.
Key takeaway: operating a tourist accommodation establishment without a valid registration exposes the operator to penal sanctions imposed by Revenu Québec, which is responsible for inspections across Quebec’s 21 tourist regions.
Since 2022, the government has progressively tightened the rules. The results are telling: the compliance rate for listings simultaneously posted on Airbnb and Vrbo increased from 34.5% in 2022 to 87.6% in 2025. The new amendments aim to push this even further.
2. What the Law Says: New Obligations You Need to Know
The regulatory amendments are being implemented in two phases, depending on their coming-into-force dates.
As of April 9, 2026
- The obligation to display the registration number in all advertising is now extended to social media. Any post on Instagram, Facebook, TikTok, or other platforms promoting an establishment must clearly display the registration number.
- Operators managing multiple establishments and publishing grouped advertisements may rely on a general statement of compliance with the Act, without having to list each individual registration number.
- The registration certificate must now be displayed at the main entrance of the establishment—no longer at the building’s general entrance visible to the public. This distinction primarily targets co-ownership buildings where multiple units are rented within the same property, and where space to display all certificates is not always available.
As of September 1, 2026
- Any application for registration or renewal for a principal residence establishment must now be accompanied by two separate proofs of principal residence. This measure directly targets fraud, as some owners had declared fictitious principal residences to benefit from a more flexible registration regime.
- The consent of the property owner or the syndicate of co-ownership, which was previously required only at the initial registration stage, must now be renewed annually. Standardized forms will be made available to facilitate submission to designated delegates. It will therefore no longer be possible to maintain an active registration without explicit renewal of consent by the owner or syndicate.
These new provisions are consistent with the Tourist Accommodation Act and are intended to support Revenu Québec in its efforts to combat illegal accommodations, while also facilitating the enforcement of municipal regulations.
3. Solutions and Recourses: What to Do in Case of Non-Compliance
Whether you are an operator facing a penalty, a landlord whose tenant is renting your property without consent, or a co-ownership syndicate seeking to regulate short-term rentals in your building, several legal tools are available.
For Operators
If you receive a notice issued by Revenu Québec, it is possible to contest its validity or negotiate within the framework of applicable penal proceedings. Financial penalties can be significant, and obtaining legal advice early is often less costly than defending a case after the fact.
For Property Owners and Syndicates
The new annual consent renewal requirement is a valuable tool. An owner who refuses to renew consent can now directly block the renewal of an operator’s registration. From a contractual standpoint, it is also possible to include clauses in leases or in the declaration of co-ownership restricting or prohibiting short-term tourist rentals.
For Municipalities and Citizens
Any person may report a non-compliant establishment through Revenu Québec’s general reporting program. Municipalities, for their part, have local regulatory powers that may further restrict or regulate tourist accommodation within their territory, within the limits of the provincial framework.
4. Practical Guidance: What You Should Do Now
In light of these changes, here are concrete steps to consider depending on your situation:
- Verify immediately that your registration is valid and ensure that your registration number appears on all your postings, including Instagram stories and Facebook publications.
- If you operate a principal residence establishment, prepare your two proofs of principal residence for your next renewal.
- If you are a tenant subletting your unit to tourists, confirm that your lease allows it and that your landlord has provided consent—a prior consent will no longer suffice as of September 1, 2026.
- If you are a property owner or syndicate, review your internal processes to anticipate annual consent renewal requests.
- If you manage multiple establishments under grouped advertising, ensure that your compliance statement meets the requirements of the new regulation.
Key advice: a preventive review of your regulatory situation by a legal professional will allow you to anticipate risks well before an inspector comes knocking.
The register of tourist accommodation establishments, available on the Government of Quebec’s website, allows anyone to verify whether an establishment is properly registered. This continuously updated register is a key reference tool for travelers, competitors, and municipalities alike.
A Tightening Regulatory Framework—and Very Real Stakes
The tightening of rules governing tourist accommodation in Quebec is not an abstract concern. It is a reality already affecting thousands of owners, tenants, and co-owners across the province. Penalties are real, timelines are short, and the complexity of the applicable legal framework—spanning municipal law, co-ownership law, landlord-tenant law, and provincial regulation—makes compliance challenging without proper guidance.
Whether you are an operator seeking to secure your compliance, an owner looking to regain control over the use of your property, or a syndicate aiming to protect its co-owners, a thorough understanding of these new obligations is now essential.
At Fiset Legal, our team assists property owners, operators, and real estate managers in understanding and complying with their legal obligations in the field of tourist accommodation. Our professionals are available to analyze your situation and help you make informed decisions.
Fiset Legal | Law Firm
The information contained in this article is provided for general informational purposes only and does not constitute legal advice. Please consult a lawyer for advice tailored to your specific situation.
