Airbnb · Sutton · 2026 rules
Can you rent out your principal residence on Airbnb in Sutton, and where is a unit bought for short-term rental allowed? The city's rules, checked against its by-laws on October 19, 2026, the Quebec framework and the purchase price of a house or condo according to Centris.
Renting out your own principal residence short-term is allowed in Sutton, but with limits; buying a unit to rent it on Airbnb year-round (tourist residence) is possible only in specific zones. To buy, count on $741,000 for a house and $565,000 for a condo at the 2026 median price (Centris). Rules checked on October 19, 2026.
The short answer
Renting out your own principal residence short-term is allowed in Sutton, but with limits; buying a unit to rent it on Airbnb year-round (tourist residence) is possible only in specific zones. To buy, count on $741,000 for a house and $565,000 for a condo at the 2026 median price (Centris).
Renting out your principal residence in Sutton: allowed, with limits
Under zoning by-law 358 (in force on August 25, 2026), the principal residence establishment is authorized throughout the territory, only in a main dwelling located in a main building. Only a natural person may operate it, in a single dwelling in Sutton; capacity of 2 guests per bedroom (maximum 8 people, without exceeding the capacity of the septic system); 1 parking space per rented bedroom, no parking in the driveway or off the property; prohibited in an accessory dwelling unit. The certificate of authorization is not transferable.
Buying to rent year-round in Sutton: only in some zones
A unit that is not your principal residence, rented by the night or the week all year, is a "tourist residence". The law does not protect it: the city decides through its zoning where it is allowed.
Under zoning by-law 358 (in force on August 25, 2026), the tourist residence (class HC2, use complementary to housing) is authorized only when it is not specifically excluded in the zone's specifications grid, only in a main dwelling of a main building existing on June 1, 2023, with at most one per property. Quota: Housing (H) and Commercial (C) zones, 200 metres of distance; Agricultural (A) zones, 1 per zone and 500 metres; other zones, 1 per zone and 300 metres. A person (or the ultimate beneficiary of a legal person) may not have more than one dwelling operated this way; a tenant may not operate one; accessory dwelling unit prohibited; 2 guests per bedroom, maximum 8. Activities authorized under the policy valid on April 6, 2022 may be renewed.
The by-law in Sutton
- By-law: Zoning by-law 358 (adopted on July 16, 2026, RCM certificate of conformity and coming into force on August 25, 2026), articles 116 (tourist residence, HC2), 117 (principal residence, HC3) and 30 (fines); replaces zoning by-law 115-2 and its by-law 115-17-2023.
- Municipal permit or certificate: Certificate of authorization from the City to operate, not transferable (a change of owner or operator requires a new authorization); compliance notice from the City before CITQ registration; cessation must be confirmed to the City in writing by the CITQ. Fines specific to non-compliant tourist accommodation: $600 to $2,000, $1,200 to $4,000 for a repeat offence; advertising an unauthorized unit is an offence. Certificate fees not found.
- Recent change: August 25, 2026: the new zoning by-law 358 comes into force; it carries over most of the 2023 rules but makes the tourist residence depend on each zone's grid, revises the quota (200 m in H and C zones) and adds fines of $600 to $4,000. Repeal of the by-law on conditional uses announced for September 2026 (adoption not verified).
What buying costs in Sutton
- House (single-family): $741,000 at the 2026 median, from 60 sales, +145% since 2019.
- Condo: $565,000 at the 2026 median, from 26 sales, +304% since 2019.
| Year | House, median price | Sales | Condo, median price | Sales |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2016 | $275,000 | 85 | $149,000 | 23 |
| 2017 | $320,000 | 78 | $145,000 | 30 |
| 2018 | $318,500 | 65 | $142,000 | 19 |
| 2019 | $302,750 | 92 | $140,000 | 26 |
| 2020 | $420,000 | 105 | $240,500 | 27 |
| 2021 | $515,000 | 72 | $326,400 | 24 |
| 2022 | $600,000 | 59 | $410,000 | 19 |
| 2023 | $710,000 | 70 | $316,000 | 23 |
| 2024 | $625,000 | 73 | $330,000 | 32 |
| 2025 | $694,650 | 70 | $386,000 | 26 |
| 2026 (since January) | $741,000 | 60 | $565,000 | 26 |
Quebec's rules, the same everywhere
- Registration is mandatory. Renting a unit to tourists for 31 days or less requires registration with the Ministère du Tourisme and a certificate renewed every year: $54 for a principal residence establishment, $156 for a general tourist accommodation establishment (tourist residence). Since April 9, 2026, the number must appear in every listing, social media included.
- The city decides where. The registration application must include a document from the municipality confirming that the use complies with its zoning (Tourist Accommodation Act, s. 5). A notice of non-compliance prevents the application from being filed.
- The principal residence is protected, but not without limits. Since March 25, 2023, a municipal by-law can prohibit renting out a principal residence only through a zoning amendment adopted under an adapted referendum procedure (s. 23). Several cities have done it, zone by zone.
- Principal residence means where you actually live. It is the address you give to most government departments and bodies. Since September 1, 2026, two proofs of principal residence are required at registration and at renewal.
- In a condo, the syndicate signs every year. You need the declaration of co-ownership allowing the operation or the syndicate's authorization, and since September 1, 2026 that consent is required at every renewal, not only the first time.
- Registration does not transfer. A seller's Airbnb income was earned under their file. The buyer starts over, under the rules in force on the day of the application.
The detail, section by section: Quebec's 2026 short-term rental rules, what changed on September 1, 2026, Airbnb in a condo and the fines.
Before making an offer in Sutton
- The zone of the address, not the city. In Sutton as elsewhere, the rule changes from one zone to the next. Ask the planning department for the exact zone and the use grid, or for the zoning compliance notice, before the offer.
- The declaration of co-ownership. For a condo, read the clause on rentals and the building's destination: a syndicate can refuse, and must now consent at every renewal.
- The seller's certificate. If the seller already operates, ask for the registration certificate (class, expiry date, number of units), not just the number. It will not be transferred to you.
- The return without Airbnb. Price the property as if short-term rental became impossible tomorrow: it is the only assumption that does not depend on a by-law or a syndicate vote. Our five checks before buying to rent short-term set out the order.
Property taxes in Sutton:
The tax bill, increase and rate published by the city for 2026, the assessment roll year and the school tax, with sources.
Frequently asked questions
Can you do Airbnb in Sutton?
Yes for your principal residence, with limits specific to Sutton. For a unit bought to be rented year-round (tourist residence), only in specific zones.
Do you need a permit to rent on Airbnb in Sutton?
Certificate of authorization from the City to operate, not transferable (a change of owner or operator requires a new authorization); compliance notice from the City before CITQ registration; cessation must be confirmed to the City in writing by the CITQ. Fines specific to non-compliant tourist accommodation: $600 to $2,000, $1,200 to $4,000 for a repeat offence; advertising an unauthorized unit is an offence. Certificate fees not found. In every case, provincial registration ($54 or $156 a year) and the municipal zoning compliance document are mandatory.
Can you buy a condo to rent on Airbnb in Sutton?
Yes, if the zone allows it and if the declaration of co-ownership or the syndicate authorizes it. For a condo that is not your principal residence, the municipal tourist-residence rule also applies: only in specific zones.
What does a property cost in Sutton in 2026?
House (single-family): $741,000 at the 2026 median, from 60 sales, +145% since 2019. Condo: $565,000 at the 2026 median, from 26 sales, +304% since 2019.
All cities side by side: Airbnb in Quebec, the rules of 74 cities.
Sources
Municipal rules in Sutton checked on October 19, 2026:
- Règlement 115-17-2023, Ville de Sutton (official source, in French, 2023-11-01)
- Avis public, séance extraordinaire du 16 juillet 2026, Ville de Sutton (official source, in French, 2026-07-10)
- La Ville de Sutton adopte ses nouveaux règlements d'urbanisme (official source, in French, 2026-07-21)
- Règlement de zonage no 358, Ville de Sutton (other source, in French, 2026-08-25)
Quebec framework:
- Tourist Accommodation Act (CQLR, c. H-1.01), ss. 5, 23 and 52 (LégisQuébec, current to August 12, 2026)
- Tourist Accommodation Regulation (H-1.01, r. 1) (LégisQuébec, current to July 1, 2026)
- Registering a tourist accommodation establishment (in French) (Québec.ca, updated September 24, 2026)
Prices: Centris (Matrix), Statistics module, query of October 19, 2026 for all of Sutton, Single-family and Condominium categories, median sale price and number of sales per year; 2026 since January; years with fewer than 10 sales left blank; compiled by the Loaa & Manseur team, aggregates only. This page informs: it is neither legal nor tax advice, and a by-law can change after the date it was checked.
Also available in French: version française de ce guide.
Published September 7, 2026 by the Loaa & Manseur team, the number 1 team at RE/MAX Platine in 2024 and 2025, 6th RE/MAX team in Quebec, 15th in Canada and in the global top 50 according to the official RE/MAX ranking. Tell us about your project.