Quebec

When deciding whether to become an Airbnb Host, it's important for you to understand the laws in your city. As a platform and marketplace we don't provide legal advice, but we want to provide some useful links that may help you better understand laws and regulations in Quebec.

This list isn't exhaustive, but it should give you a good start in understanding your local laws. If you have questions, contact the CITQ, the Régie du logement, other agencies directly, or consult a local lawyer or tax professional.

Airbnb doesn’t update this article in real time and isn’t responsible for the reliability or correctness of the information contained in any links to third party sites. Please check each source and make sure that the information provided hasn’t recently changed.

Registration

In the province of Quebec, the law provides a distinction between those providing a tourist accommodation in their principal residence and those providing a tourist accommodation outside of their principal residence. Anyone who wants to provide accommodation to tourists must have either a classification certificate or, in the case of a person renting out their principal residence, a principal residence certificate.

Nonetheless, a classification certificate is required by the province to be obtained via the CITQ by any person offering a tourist accommodation in their principal and/or secondary residence for rent to tourists, in return for payment, for periods of 31 days or less. You can consult Quebec’s Ministry of Tourism website for details on how to register an application for a classification certificate.

The law also requires all Hosts to display their registration number on their listing. To obtain a registration number, visit the establishment number display guide or CITQ. Once you’ve registered, to add this number to your listing, go to Listings, select the listing you want, and add the number under Regulations.

Business licensing

A permit or certificate may be required by certain municipalities. You should review these requirements with local officials to determine if they apply to your activity.

Zoning by-laws

Some zoning by-laws in a municipality in the province of Quebec may apply to your listing. We recommend that you check with your local municipality to determine whether your listing is impacted by such regulations.

Rent control

In Quebec, rent increases may be subject to the rent control system administered by the Quebec Régie du logement pursuant to standards set out in the Regulation Respecting the Criteria for the Fixing of Rent. You should review these standards carefully if you plan to collect or adjust rent. More information on rent control is available here.

Taxes

Under an Act respecting the Quebec sales tax, a tax on lodging applies each time an accommodation unit is rented for more than six hours and up to 31 consecutive days in most tourism regions in Quebec, including Montreal, as explained on the Revenu Québec website. The province of Quebec and the municipalities collect various other taxes that may apply to residents renting out accommodation units. Find more information on provincial administration of taxes and municipal taxes for Montreal.

• Please note that since October 1, 2017, Airbnb has been automatically collecting the 3.5% tax on lodging on behalf of Airbnb Hosts. This tax is collected on all bookings that are fewer than 30 consecutive days made on the Airbnb platform in any of Quebec’s 22 tourist regions and is remitted to the Province of Quebec. For more information on this collection agreement, visit the Revenu Québec website.

Insurance

In Québec, the holder of a classification certificate as required under the Québec Act Respecting Tourist Accommodation Establishment must, throughout the term of the certificate, be covered by civil liability insurance for at least $2,000,000. The coverage afforded by Airbnb's Host liability insurance does not satisfy any of the civil liability insurance requirements under the Québec Act Respecting Tourist Accommodation Establishment. Hosts are solely responsible for obtaining all minimum liability insurance required by law.

Other rules

It is also important to understand and abide by other contracts or rules that bind you, such as leases, condo board or co-op rules, HOA rules, or rules established by tenant organizations. Please read your lease agreement and check with your landlord if applicable.