Will your home be taxed

Occupancy for full-time work

Your property was not your principal residence, but you occupied it for at least 180 days of the year because you worked in the city of Vancouver.

 This exemption doesn't apply if the property was only used as a place of work and not occupied as a residence.

• Address of your principal residence
• Contact information for Vancouver employer
• Letter from Vancouver employer confirming full time employment status and required physical presence for purposes of work

Owner in care

Your property was unoccupied for more than 180 days because you or your tenant was undergoing medical care or is residing in a hospital, long term, or supportive care facility.

• Contact information for care facility
• Letter from care facility confirming you or your tenant is undergoing medical/ supportive care

Estate of deceased

The property was unoccupied for more than 180 days because the registered owner is deceased and a grant of probate or administration of the estate was pending.

• Death certificate of registered owner

Transfer of property

The property title was transferred during the year.

• Title search or certificate of title showing the date that title was transferred

Undergoing redevelopment or major renovations

Your property was unoccupied for more than 180 days because:

• The property was undergoing redevelopment or major renovations where permits:
  • had been issued and were being carried out diligently and without delay, or
  • were under review for redevelopment of vacant land or the conservation of heritage property.
• Or, the property is vacant and part of a phased development which has:
  • A rezoning application under review
  • Approved rezoning with permits under review
  • Approved rezoning where construction has commenced

• Short description of renovation/ redevelopment project

• Permit number

Strata rental restriction

Your property was unoccupied for more than 180 days because it was subject to a strata rental bylaw as of November 16, 2016:

• that prohibited rentals or restricted the number of units that may be rented, and
• the maximum allowable number of rentals had already been reached.

• Copy of strata bylaws
• Letter from strata council confirming the maximum number of units have been rented

Court order

Your property was unoccupied for more than 180 days because the property was under one of the following:

• A court order
• Court proceedings
• An order of a governmental authority prohibiting occupancy

• Copy of the court order

Limited use residential property

Your property was unoccupied for more than 180 days because the use of the property was limited to one of the following:

• Vehicle parking
• A result of the size, shape, or other inherent limitation of the parcel, a residential building could not be constructed

• Land survey or legal description of parcel that clearly illustrates the limiting aspects of the property

• ICBC vehicle insurance and registration
• Government-issued personal identification, including, driver’s licence, BCID card, and British Columbia Services Card
• Medical Services Plan invoice
• Income tax returns and notices of assessment
• Employment contracts, pay statements, or records of employment
• Insurance certificates for homeowner's(s') insurance

• ICBC vehicle insurance and registration
• Government-issued personal identification, including, driver’s licence, BCID card, and British Columbia Services Card
• Medical Services Plan invoice
• Income tax returns and notices of assessment
• Employment contracts, pay statements, or records of employment
• Insurance certificates for homeowner's(s') insurance

If an owner lives in his/her residential property for more than 180 days, but the property is not their principal residence, will the property be subject to the Empty Homes Tax?

Are tenants required to be principal residents for the property to be exempt from the tax?

No. For a rented property to be exempt from the tax, it must be occupied by a tenant or subtenant for at least six months of the year (in periods of 30 or more consecutive days), but the property is not required to be the principal residence of that tenant or subtenant.

This allows rentals for non-consecutive periods of at least 30 days, such as a fixed-term rental to someone who is renovating their home or who has temporary work in Vancouver.

Can a married or common law couple have two principal residences that are exempt from the tax?

Yes. Spouses (whether married or common law) can have different principal residences for the purposes of the Empty Homes Tax so long as that is where each individual lives, makes his or her home and conducts his or her daily affairs.

If spouses declare different principal residences, they must be able to provide information or evidence that demonstrates that each property was used in accordance with the bylaw’s definition for at least six months of the applicable tax year.

False declarations will result in fines of up to $10,000 per day of the continuing offense, in addition to payment of the tax.

If a property is an owner’s principal residence but they spend more than six months of the year living elsewhere or travelling, will the property be subject to the tax?

No. If a residential property is an owner’s principal residence then it is exempt from the Empty Homes Tax.

The bylaw definition of principal residence allows owners to leave their properties for extended periods of time and not be subject to the tax.

To be exempt from the tax, the owner is not required to physically occupy the property for any specific period of time, as long as the property is their principal residence.

If an owner declares the property as their principal residence, they must be able to provide information or evidence that demonstrates that the property was used in accordance with the bylaw’s definition for at least six months of the applicable tax year.

Occupied by a family member or friend

The property will not be subject to the tax if it is not the principal residence of the owner, but is the principal residence of his/her family member or friend for at least six months of the current year.

The tax will apply if a property is:

• Not a principal residence or not rented for at least six months of the current year (in periods of 30 or more consecutive days)
• Used only periodically by the owner or his/her guests

What to do if your property is currently empty or under-utilized

Owner worked in Vancouver

A second home may be exempt if the registered owner occupied the second home:

• For a minimum of 180 days of the current year
• Because they worked full time in the city of Vancouver

 This exemption doesn't apply if the property was only used as a place of work and not occupied as a residence.

Second homes are subject to the tax if they are used periodically by the owner or his/her guests, but are one of the following:

• Not the principal residence of the owner, his/her family member, or friend for at least six months of the current year
• Not occupied by a tenant for at least six months of the current year in periods of 30 or more consecutive days.

What to do if your property is currently empty or under-utilized

 We recommend that the seller make the property status declaration wherever possible.

It may be difficult for the buyer to make a declaration on behalf of the seller because:

• They were not responsible for occupying the property for at least six months of the reference period.
• The ownership of the property did not change during that period.

If the seller does not make a property status declaration, it is recommended that the buyer:

• Submits the declaration on behalf of the seller
• Requests a statutory declaration from the seller at closing confirming that the status of the property is true and correct.

• Tenancy agreement(s)
• Bank statements showing reoccurring rental income
• Insurance certificates for tenants insurance
• Information from a long-term tenant proving occupancy
• Income tax returns or notices of assessment stating rental income

Renting property

A property will not be subject to the tax if it was rented for at least six months of the year, in periods of 30 or more consecutive days; for example:

• Short term leases are exempt if they have been rented for a minimum of 30 days in periods that add up to six months
• Long term leases are exempt if they have been rented for six months or more

 A property is not required to be the principal residence of the tenant or subtenant. This allows rentals for non-consecutive periods of at least 30 days, such as a fixed-term rental to someone who is renovating their home or who has temporary work in Vancouver.

There is no exemption for property that is unoccupied solely because it is being listed for rent.

Owners are encouraged to reduce the asking rental cost until the unit is rented, as they will not be exempt from the tax on the basis of being unable to find a tenant.

What to do if your property is currently empty or under-utilized

Strata bylaw restricting the duration of rental agreement

A strata property may be exempt from the tax if: 

• The maximum allowable number of units has been reached
• All rentals are prohibited by the strata

The exemption is not applicable to strata units where there is a:

• Restriction on the minimum duration of a rental agreement

What to do if your property is currently empty or under-utilized

Property listed for sale

A property listed for sale may be exempt from the tax if legal ownership of the property changed during the current year.

 You may have to provide a title search or certificate of title showing the date that title was transferred to support your property status declaration.

There is no exemption for property that is unoccupied solely because it is listed for sale.

What to do if your property is currently empty or under-utilized

Non-stratified duplex

To be exempt from the Empty Homes Tax, only one of the properties in the duplex needs to be:

• Used as a principal residence for at least six months of the current year; or
• Rented for at least six months of the current year in periods of 30 or more consecutive days

 A non-stratified duplex occupies a single parcel of land, so only one property status declaration is required.

Stratified duplex

If a duplex is stratified, there are two separate taxable properties and each property requires a declaration.

To be exempt from the Empty Homes Tax, each property needs to be either:

• Used as a principal residence for at least six months of the current year; or
• Rented for at least six months of the current year in periods of 30 or more consecutive days

 Each dwelling occupies a separate parcel of land in a stratified duplex so a property status declaration must be made for each.

Secondary suite and/or a laneway home or housing co-operative (co-op)

A property will not be subject to the tax if one of the following applies:

• At least one dwelling on the property is a principal residence
• It is rented for at least six months of the current year in periods of 30 or more consecutive days

 If a parcel of Class 1, Residential  property has more than one dwelling on it (such as a single family home and a laneway house), it is taxed as a single parcel.

 Leasehold property

A property will not be subject to the tax if: 

• The property is on one parcel and in a building with separate rental units
• Only one unit is used as a principal residence or rented for at least six months of the current year in periods of 30 or more consecutive days

 To determine if other types of leasehold property are subject to the tax, more information—including the civic address—will be needed. 

 Some leasehold tenants are recorded on the property tax roll and are responsible for paying regular property taxes. The long-term leaseholders are responsible for ensuring the property is occupied and are required to make an annual property status declaration in the same way that an owner of non-leased land would be.  

Multi-unit rental building

If you are the owner of a multi-unit, purpose-built rental building that is under one folio, you are required to submit an Empty Homes Tax property status declaration.

To be exempt from the Empty Homes Tax, only one unit within the building needs to be:

• Used as a principal residence for at least six months of the current year; or
• Rented for at least six months of the current year in periods of 30 or more consecutive days

 In the declaration, it is a legal requirement for the registered owner to provide the tenant’s name(s) as evidence that the property is a rental property. For a multi-unit residential building as noted above, you are only required to list at least one tenancy agreement with the option to include more or all for the property.

Under construction and renovation

• Permits have been issued
• The renovation or redevelopment work is being diligently carried out

A property is subject to the tax if no permits have been issued for major renovations or redevelopment.

 Minor renovations do not qualify for an exemption. 

• There are many types of renovations that may make occupancy unsafe or impractical while work is underway. However, very few of these will require the home to be unoccupied for 180 days; rather, the vast majority of renovation projects can be completed in less than six months’ time.
• If a renovation project can be completed in under six months, the home must either:
  • Continue to be the principal residence of the owner, a friend, or family member
  • Rented out (in periods of 30 or more consecutive days) for at least six months of the tax year  to be exempt from the tax

What to do if your property is currently empty or under-utilized

Vacant land

A property is not subject to the tax if it is a property where:

• There is no existing dwelling unit
• Permits have been applied for and are under review
• The application is being diligently pursued

 For projects requiring rezoning, submission of a full and complete letter of enquiry package and full payment of the required fee by the registered owner will meet this requirement.

A property is subject to the tax if no permit application has been submitted for redevelopment to create housing supply.

Heritage preservation

A property will not be subject to the tax if it is a property that:

• Is a heritage property as it is defined in the Vancouver Charter  (property that, in the opinion of Council or its delegate, either “has sufficient heritage value or character to justify its conservation” or “is protected heritage property”)
• Has a development permit or heritage alteration permit application for the rehabilitation and conservation of heritage property, which has been applied for and is under review

A property is subject to the tax if no permit application has been submitted for redevelopment to create housing supply.

Phased development

A property is not subject to the tax if it is a property with no existing dwelling unit that is part of a phased development, and one of the following applies:

• A rezoning application is under review
• Rezoning has been approved and permits are under review
• Rezoning has been approved and construction has commenced

A property is subject to the tax if no permit application has been submitted for redevelopment to create housing supply.

The Empty Homes Tax will not apply to Class 1 residential  property that is vacant land, when all of the following apply:

• There is no existing dwelling unit on the land
• Permits to build or develop have been applied for and are under review
• The application to build is being diligently pursued

For vacant land with no dwelling unit, the Vacancy Tax Bylaw  requires that a permit application is under review and being diligently pursued, and does not require the permit to be issued for the exemption to apply.