Has your family been dreaming of a chalet in the Laurentians? Do you already own one and are thinking about turning your Laurentians getaway into a cash-flowing Airbnb? Before you start snapping listing photos and fluffing pillows, there’s a maze of rules you’ll need to navigate. The good news? Once you know the playbook, hosting in Quebec can be smooth sailing.
Step One: The Golden Ticket — CITQ Registration
In Quebec, every short-term rental (31 days or less) needs to be registered with the Corporation de l’industrie touristique du Québec (CITQ). Think of it as your Airbnb “license.”
You’ll get a certificate and registration number that:
• Must be displayed at the entrance
• Must appear in every listing ad
• Will be verified by Airbnb or other platforms before they even let you go live
Step Two: Know Your Property Type
• Principal residence (where you actually live): Renting it short-term is usually fine once you’ve got your CITQ number.
• Secondary residence (cottage, chalet, condo): This is where municipal zoning rules come in. You almost definitely need a “notice of compliance” from your town or borough before CITQ will even look at your file.
Step Three: Mind the Local Laws
The Laurentians are made up of dozens of municipalities, Mont-Tremblant, Val-David, Saint-Sauveur, Saint-Donat, and more… each with its own zoning bylaws. Some areas welcome short-term rentals with open arms. Others? Not so much 
A few common rules you might run into:
• Rentals allowed only in certain tourist or mixed-use zones
• Minimum stay requirements (e.g., 31 days in residential areas)
• Extra municipal permits and inspection fees
Groupe GB tip: Check your town’s Urban Planning section or call the municipal office. Terms like “location touristique” or “hébergement touristique” are your keyword friends.
Step Four: The Money Side 
Quebec requires hosts to collect and remit:
• Lodging tax (usually 3.5%)
• GST (5%) and QST (9.975%)
Platforms sometimes collect these for you, but the responsibility ultimately falls on the host. And yes Revenue Québec is watching.
Step Five: Don’t Ignore the Fines
Thanks to Bill 25, launched in 2023, fines are steep 
• Up to $50,000 for hosts with false or missing registration
• Up to $100,000 per illegal listing for platforms like Airbnb, so they definitely won’t let things slide!
Running an Airbnb in the Laurentians can be a great investment in the short and long term, but it’s not as simple as putting your chalet online. Get your CITQ registration, confirm your zoning, collect your taxes, and you’ll be hosting legally (and profitably) in no time. At the end of the day, anything profitable will have its challenges.
