Tourist accommodation · 2026 rules
Two quiet amendments, in force for days, that make renewal much harder to pass.
The two changes of September 1, 2026
The Quebec Department of Tourism announced amendments to the Tourist Accommodation Regulation. Two came into force on 1 September 2026:
- Two proofs of principal residence. Anyone registering a principal residence establishment, or renewing a registration, must now present two proofs in support of the application.
- Consent, at every renewal. The obligation to provide the consent of the owner of the leased premises or of the syndicate of divided co-ownership now applies at each annual renewal, whereas those consents were previously required only at initial registration.
Why the second one is the real news
Before, an operator obtained the authorization once and the registration renewed without going back through it. Now a syndicate of co-owners, or a landlord, who changes their mind can end the operation at the next renewal, simply by not signing.
The authorization is no longer something you hold. It is a decision retaken every year.
What had already changed on April 9, 2026
- The obligation to clearly indicate the registration number in all promotional material and on websites, including social media.
- For an operator with several establishments, the option to display only a mention that the establishments are registered in accordance with the Act, rather than every number.
- The registration certificate must be displayed in full view of the tourism clientele at the main entrance to the establishment, rather than visible to the general public.
The definition that frames everything
The Tourist Accommodation Act defines principal residence as "the residence where a natural person usually lives and centers their family and social activities and whose address is the one the person gives to most government departments and bodies".
That last part is what makes the two proofs demanding: the address declared to government has to match.
What it changes if you are buying
A seller showing you short-term rental income is showing you income that depends on a registration that is renewable, non-transferable, and now conditional on an annual signature they do not control. That gets verified before the offer, not after.
Where this lands: before the offer
Short-term rental is the one residential use that depends at once on a provincial statute, a municipal by-law, a declaration of co-ownership and two tax administrations. Any one of those layers can make the plan impossible or unprofitable on its own.
That is why we check all four before a client makes an offer on a property bought to rent by the night. A yield presented on nightly rates, without the zoning, the declaration and the registration, is not a yield. It is an assumption.
Three habits
- Check the address, not the city. Rules change from zone to zone inside one municipality.
- Ask for the registration certificate, not the number. The certificate carries the expiry date, the class and the number of units.
- Remember the registration cannot be transferred. The seller's income was earned under their file, not yours.
Related
Frequently asked
What changed on 1 September 2026?
Two proofs of principal residence are required, and the consent of the owner or the syndicate must be provided at each annual renewal.
Was the syndicate's consent already required?
Yes, but only at initial registration. It is now required at every renewal.
What is a principal residence under the Act?
The residence where a person usually lives, centers their family and social activities, and whose address is the one given to most government departments and bodies.
Sources, consulted 13 September 2026: the Tourist Accommodation Act (CQLR, chapter H-1.01) and the Tourist Accommodation Regulation (chapter H-1.01, r. 1) on legisquebec.gouv.qc.ca, consolidated text current to 15 April 2026; announcements by the Quebec Department of Tourism published on quebec.ca for the amendments of 9 April and 1 September 2026; Canada Revenue Agency guide T4036. This page informs; it is neither legal nor tax advice, and municipal rules vary from one address to the next.
Published by the Loaa & Manseur team, number one team at RE/MAX Platine in 2024 and 2025. Tell us about your project.