Montreal Airbnb Owners Urged to Obtain New Municipal Permit

Units must be registered to honour bookings from June 10 to September 10

The City of Montreal has implemented new rules limiting the period during which primary residences can be rented on platforms like Airbnb. Even units already registered with the Corporation de l’industrie touristique du Québec (CITQ) must now obtain an additional municipal permit to operate legally between June 10 and September 10, 2025.

This measure aims to control the spread of short-term rentals in residential neighbourhoods and ensure units are properly regulated. Outside of this three-month summer period, short-term rentals are banned — except in certain designated commercial zones, such as parts of Sainte-Catherine and Saint-Denis streets.

Check the permitted areas on the City of Montreal’s website.

Off-season restrictions

For most of the year, properties in residential areas — even those that serve as a primary residence — must suspend short-term rental activities. This directly impacts the financial viability of these rentals. Hosts who previously relied on holidays and seasonal events outside of summer will need to adjust their strategy or halt operations altogether.

Another group significantly affected includes property owners who used to rent out their homes during the winter while traveling to destinations like Florida. This practice, popular among retirees and seasonal nomads, known as snowbird rentals, is no longer permitted in most Montreal neighbourhoods.

Deterrent permit costs

The new municipal permit costs $348. The CITQ registration adds $50, but municipalities also charge an initial tax for document analysis and verification. The total cost to obtain the necessary permits can exceed $400 per unit, excluding applicable taxes and platform service fees on each booking.

These costs are often passed on to guests, driving up prices and reducing the competitiveness of compliant properties versus unregistered rentals or traditional hotels.

Risk of fines and increased enforcement

The City has increased the number of inspectors and is actively monitoring listings on rental platforms. Hosts who keep listings active outside the permitted period face daily fines of $1,000, which can double in cases of repeat violations. Further administrative penalties may apply to repeat offenders.

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Strategic support from TeamCHECKiN

In response to this new regulatory landscape, TeamCHECKiN offers direct support to Airbnb owners seeking to operate legally. The team continuously tracks changes in regulations, helps with permit applications, projects seasonal profitability scenarios, and develops revenue estimates aligned with operational and tax costs.

With a sharp decrease in the number of legally available units, demand is expected to concentrate on the few licensed properties, creating opportunities for more aggressive summer pricing strategies and high occupancy rates. Well-managed and compliant units will stand out as the only viable short-term rental options in many parts of the city.

If you're a host and want to understand your property's potential, get in touch with TeamCHECKiN to verify your unit’s status. Entrusting this analysis to TeamCHECKiN is the choice of many property owners looking to achieve above-average returns with legal certainty and professional support.