Short Term Rental Rules and Regulations in New Brunswick  A practical compliance guide for owners, hosts, and property managers preparing a short-term rental listing in New Brunswick. 

Executive Overview 

New Brunswick short-term rentals should be treated as regulated tourist accommodation businesses, not informal home sharing. Before publishing a listing, an owner should confirm provincial tourism registration or licensing obligations, municipal zoning and business rules, fire and life-safety requirements, property standards, taxation, insurance coverage, condominium or strata restrictions, and guest communication requirements. Rules can vary by municipality, property type, and use pattern, so this guide is designed as an operational checklist rather than legal advice. 

Key Compliance Requirements 

• Confirm provincial accommodation obligations: Determine whether the property must be registered or licensed as tourist accommodation before accepting paid guest stays. 

• Check municipal permission: Contact the municipality or local service district to confirm zoning, land-use approval, business licensing, parking, signage, garbage, noise, and occupancy rules. 

• Meet fire and life-safety standards: Maintain working smoke alarms, carbon monoxide alarms where required, fire extinguishers, clear exits, posted emergency information, and any inspection approvals requested by the authority having jurisdiction. 

• Keep tax and revenue records: Track gross rental income, platform fees, cleaning fees, HST/GST obligations if applicable, and any local accommodation levy or tourism-related charges. 

• Respect property restrictions: Review mortgage terms, insurance conditions, condo bylaws, restrictive covenants, lease terms, and community rules before listing. 

• Operate transparently: House rules, cancellation terms, fees, accessibility limitations, parking limits, pet rules, quiet hours, and safety features should be accurate in all guest-facing materials. 

License, Permit, and Evidence Table 

Compliance area	Who to check with	Typical evidence to keep
Provincial tourist accommodation registration or licence	Tourism New Brunswick or the applicable provincial tourism/accommodation office	Application, approval letter, registration or licence number, renewal records, inspection correspondence
Municipal zoning and land use	Municipal planning, zoning, or development office	Zoning confirmation, development permit, written municipal approval, bylaw interpretation notes
Business licence or local operating permit	Municipality, city clerk, or local service district contact	Business licence, permit receipt, operating conditions, annual renewal notice
Fire and life safety	Local fire department, fire marshal, building inspection office, or authority having jurisdiction	Fire inspection report, alarm test records, extinguisher service tags, evacuation plan, emergency contact posting
Building, occupancy, and renovations	Building inspection office and qualified contractors	Building permits, occupancy approval, inspection reports, contractor invoices, photos of safety upgrades
Taxes and revenue reporting	Canada Revenue Agency, accountant, bookkeeper, and any municipal accommodation levy office	Revenue ledger, platform statements, HST/GST records if applicable, tax filings, levy remittance proof
Condo, strata, lease, or lender restrictions	Condo corporation, property manager, landlord, lender, or legal counsel	Bylaws, board approval, lease consent, lender consent, legal opinion, correspondence
Insurance approval	Insurance broker or insurer	Short-term rental endorsement, commercial accommodation policy, liability limits, insurer confirmation

 

Insurance Considerations Before Listing 

• Tell the insurer that the property will be used for paid short-term guest stays before accepting bookings. 

• Confirm whether the current homeowner, tenant, landlord, or condo policy excludes business or short-term rental activity. 

• Ask whether a short-term rental endorsement, commercial accommodation policy, or hospitality liability policy is required. 

• Review liability limits, host damage protection, loss of income, guest injury, theft, fire, water damage, and pet damage coverage. 

• Confirm whether platform-provided protection is secondary, limited, or subject to exclusions; do not rely on it as a substitute for insurance advice. 

• Keep written confirmation from the broker or insurer and update coverage when use, occupancy, amenities, or management arrangements change. 

Guest-Facing Website Copy Information 

• Listing description: Clearly describe the property type, maximum guest count, bedroom and bathroom count, accessibility limitations, stairs, parking, heating, and cooling, Wi-Fi, and nearby amenities. 

• House rules: State quiet hours, no-party rules, smoking or vaping rules, pet rules, garbage and recycling instructions, visitor limits, and parking expectations. 

• Safety information: Disclose smoke alarms, carbon monoxide alarms, fire extinguisher location, emergency exits, first-aid kit location, local emergency numbers, and winter weather considerations. 

• Fees and deposits: Explain cleaning fees, security deposits, damage charges, cancellation rules, taxes, and any platform or local fees. 

• Neighbour relations: Ask guests to respect neighbours, avoid excessive noise, park only in approved spaces, and follow garbage collection schedules. 

• Accuracy statement: Review the website and platform listing regularly so photos, amenities, rates, policies, and restrictions remain current. 

Owner Checklist 

• Confirm the property is legally eligible for short-term rental use. 

• Obtain provincial, municipal, zoning, business, and safety approvals before listing. 

• Set up appropriate insurance and keep written proof of coverage. 

• Confirm mortgage, lease, condo, and community restrictions. 

• Create a compliance file with approvals, correspondence, inspections, tax records, and policy documents. 

• Establish written house rules, guest screening standards, and escalation procedures. 

• Appoint a local emergency contact or property manager who can respond quickly. 

• Review income tax, HST/GST, bookkeeping, and record-retention obligations with an accountant. 

Host or Property Manager Checklist 

• Verify that licence, permit, insurance, and emergency contact details are current before each season. 

• Maintain cleaning, linen, pest control, snow removal, lawn care, waste, and maintenance schedules. 

• Test smoke alarms, carbon monoxide alarms, locks, exterior lighting, Wi-Fi, appliances, and heating systems regularly. 

• Provide guests with arrival instructions, house rules, emergency information, parking instructions, and checkout expectations. 

• Monitor guest messages and neighbour concerns promptly. 

• Document incidents, damage, complaints, repairs, refunds, and cancellations. 

• Keep the listing accurate and remove unavailable or non-compliant amenities immediately. 

• Prepare for inspections by keeping records organized and accessible. 

Launch Sequence 

1. Confirm eligibility: Review ownership, zoning, condo, lease, mortgage, insurance, and municipal restrictions. 

1. Contact authorities: Speak with provincial tourism/accommodation officials, municipal planning staff, building officials, and the fire authority. 

1. Complete applications: Submit required registrations, licences, permits, inspection requests, and supporting documents. 

1. Prepare the property: Install safety equipment, post emergency information, complete repairs, label systems, and document the condition of the property. 

1. Finalize insurance and tax setup: Obtain written insurance confirmation, set up bookkeeping, and confirm tax collection or remittance processes. 

1. Create operating materials: Prepare house rules, cleaning checklists, guest guidebook, maintenance log, incident report form, and neighbour response process. 

1. Build the listing: Publish only accurate photos, rates, amenities, rules, fees, occupancy limits, safety disclosures, and cancellation terms. 

1. Soft launch: Accept a limited number of initial bookings, test check-in, cleaning, messaging, and emergency response workflows. 

1. Review and improve: After the first stays, update instructions, pricing, cleaning standards, maintenance routines, and guest-facing copy. 

1. Maintain compliance: Calendar renewals, inspections, insurance reviews, tax deadlines, and annual municipal or provincial updates.