Definition of Short Term Rental Accommodation: The business of providing temporary accommodation for compensation in a dwelling unit where persons may rent a potion or all of the premises for thirty consecutive days or less.
Short Term Rental Types
There are two types of short term residential rental accommodations:
- Rental of an entire dwelling
- Rental of individual rooms or spaces in a home.
Transactions for short-term residential rental accommodations are usually completed through online platforms such as AirBnB, VRBO, HomeAway, and FlipKey.
Licensing Requirements:
A person applying for the issuance or renewal of a City of Yellowknife a Short Term Rental Accommodation Business Licencemust provide satisfactory evidence that:
- The short term rental accommodation operator owns the dwelling unit where the short term rental accommodation will be offered,
- Or the owner of the dwelling unit where the short term rental accommodation will be offered has consented to this use of the dwelling unit.
- All advertising and marketing of a short term rental accommodation must include the use of a valid City of Yellowknife business licence number within the advertisement.
- The contact name and phone number of a person who can be reached 24 hours per day during rental periods must be clearly visible on the inside of the rental unit.
- No person shall carry on business as a short term rental accommodation operator in a vehicle or an unlawful dwelling as defined in the City’s Zoning By-law.
Other Permit Requirements:
Hosts who are planning to develop a Secondary Suite must also obtain a Development Permit and Building Permit before any construction can take place. A building Permit is also required for any residential construction inside the home to accommodate a short term accommodation, such as adding a new bedroom or finishing a basement.