Your city council just greenlit more short term rentals
Sometimes, the gears of City Hall turn quietly, almost imperceptibly, especially on a Tuesday afternoon. But the impact of those quiet turns can ripple out, you know? On April 21st, during a Special Council meeting, Vancouver City Council unanimously approved a business license application for a short-term rental at 1801-1788 Columbia Street.
This wasn't a contentious debate, apparently. Councillors B. Montague, L. Zhou, and S. Orr all voted in favour. Councillor R. Bligh was absent for this one, as she was for the Public Hearing for the Canada Place text amendment a week earlier. "Carried Unanimously" is the official record.
* **What was approved:** Business Licence Application No. AL0188353
* **Location:** 1801-1788 Columbia Street (a short-term rental)
* **Date:** April 21, 2026
* **Council Vote:** Carried Unanimously (Bligh absent)
It's just one unit, of course. But it's another short-term rental in a city where housing is already... *complicated*. Beautiful out here. Complicated in here. That's the coast. We'll have to see if this unanimous approval sets a precedent for more of these types of applications moving forward.
Kenji Nakashima, MiTL Sports Desk, Vancouver.
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