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FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

Answers to frequently asked questions

      • YES!
        Under the Tourist Accommodation Act, any short-term rental offer (periods of 31 consecutive days or less), for remuneration, is subject to registration. This applies whether the accommodation unit being rented is your principal residence, a secondary residence, a room, a campsite, etc.
      • YES!
        Under the Tourist Accommodation Act, any offer of short-term rental (periods of 31 consecutive days or less), for remuneration, is subject to registration. This applies regardless of the number of rentals. The law does not provide for any exceptions.
      • YES! If the rental period does not exceed 31 days.
        The rental of at least one accommodation unit to tourists for remuneration for periods not exceeding 31 days is subject to registration.

        The Tourist Accommodation Act defines a "tourist" as follows:
        "tourist": a person who travels during a stay of at least one night, away from their principal residence, for pleasure or business purposes, or to perform paid work.
      • This is an establishment in which at least one accommodation unit, such as a bed, room, suite, apartment, house, cottage, campground, or campsite, is rented to tourists for remuneration, for a period not exceeding 31 days.

        A tourist is a person who travels for at least one night, away from their principal residence, for leisure or business purposes, or to perform paid work.
      • The term "accommodation unit" includes a room, a dormitory bed, a suite, an apartment, a house, a cottage, etc. It is offered for rent to tourists for remuneration, for a period not exceeding 31 days.
      • YES, provided that the provisions of the declaration of co-ownership allow it or that authorization is obtained from the condominium association, and that all other registration requirements set out in the Tourist Accommodation Act and Regulation are met.
      • YES, provided the provisions of the rental agreement allow it or the building owner's authorization is obtained, and all other registration requirements set out in the Tourist Accommodation Act and Regulation are met.
      • NO.
        Rentals of 32 consecutive days or more are not subject to the Tourist Accommodation Act, and registration is not required.
      • The Ministry of Tourism has entrusted the registration of establishments to three mandated organizations, including the CITQ.

        Registrations for camping and ready-to-camp establishments are issued by Camping Québec. We recommend that you contact them for more information about the registration procedure.
      • You must first obtain a notice of compliance signed by the municipality. Then, to register your establishment, we invite you to complete the form available at the following link. An administrative officer will then contact you, if necessary, to confirm the information and advise you on the next steps.

        For more information, consult the "Opening a File" section of our website.
      • The following documents must be included with your registration application:
           o A notice of compliance with municipal planning regulations;
           o The property title, municipal tax bill, or lease agreement for the establishment;
        o Proof of liability insurance of at least $2,000,000 per event;
           o Exterior and interior photographs of the establishment to be published, if applicable, on a digital accommodation platform;
           o If applicable, a copy of the provisions of the declaration of co-ownership permitting the establishment's operation as tourist accommodation, or if these provisions are absent, authorization from the of the syndicate of co-owners to that effect
           o If applicable, a copy of the provisions of the lease permitting the establishment's operation as tourist accommodation, or if these provisions are absent, authorization from the owner to that effect.

        Depending on the analysis of your application, additional documents may be required. The agent responsible for your file will inform you if necessary.
      • You must inquire directly with the municipality where the establishment you are applying for is located or, if applicable, with the borough or regional county municipality (MRC).

        Indeed, this concept falls under the jurisdiction of the municipalities and their regulations regarding uses. Under section 5 of the Tourist Accommodation Act, all registration applications must be accompanied by a document issued by a competent authority establishing that the operation of the tourist accommodation establishment concerned does not contravene this regulation.
      • You must complete sections 1 to 3 (and, if necessary, Appendix A) of the notice of compliance form. You must then submit the document to the urban planning department of the municipality, borough, or regional county municipality where your establishment is located so that an employee can complete and sign section 4.

        For detailed instructions, see this Notice of Compliance Information sheet.

        Although the notice of compliance form is not available in English, these instructions are available and can certainly help you complete the document if necessary.
      • Registration is not transferable. If you purchase an establishment and wish to continue offering tourist rentals, you must submit a new registration application using the registration form available at the following link.

        Before submitting this application, you must also obtain a notice of compliance signed by the municipality.

        An administrative agent will then contact you, if necessary, to validate the information on the form and advise you on the next steps.

        For more information, see the "Opening a File" section of our website.
      • We generally recommend submitting your application a few weeks before the planned start of tourist rentals. Please allow a few weeks for the registration process, particularly to gather the required documents.
      • A valid registration number and certificate are required to offer tourist accommodation, regardless of the medium used.

        Once your registration application and accompanying documents have been received, analyzed, and deemed compliant, you will receive the establishment's registration number and certificate. At this point, you will be able to begin renting and posting accommodation offers for it.

        The reference number on your registration application (REF-XXXXX or RP-XXXXX) is a temporary number. It is not a valid registration number and cannot be used for that purpose.

        Offering tourist accommodations without a valid registration could result in a fine from Revenu Québec; Infractions et amendes | Gouvernement du Québec
      • The fees payable for registration and renewal vary according to the establishment's category. You will find the current amounts on this page: CITQ - Registration Fees Payable
      • The Tourist Accommodation Regulation defines Principal residence establishments as establishments that offer, following a single reservation, accommodation in the principal residence of the natural person who operates the establishment for one person or one group of related persons at a time and not including any meals served on the premises.

        A principal residence is 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.
      • NO. The definition of the category does not allow it.

        If you wish to offer the rental of one or more rooms in your principal residence while also providing breakfast, you must instead submit an application for registration under the General Tourist Accommodation Establishment category. Indeed, it is possible that your establishment meets the definition of a
        Bed and Breakfast "Bed and Breakfast" : Establishments that offer, for an all-inclusive price, accommodation in rooms in a private residence where the operator resides and rents a maximum of 5 rooms receiving a maximum of 15 persons, including breakfast served on the premises.
        establishment.
      • NO. The definition of the category only allows a single reservation to a single person or a single group of related people.

        If you wish to rent several rooms in your primary residence through separate reservations, you must instead submit an application for registration under the General Tourist Accommodation Establishment category.
      • No. Only the unit where the owner resides can be considered their primary residence.

        If you wish to rent out the other units of the "plex" as tourist accommodations, you must instead submit an application for registration under the General Tourist Accommodation Establishment category.
      • The Tourist Accommodation Act and Regulation do not specify a number of days during which tourist rentals are permitted. However, a municipal by-law may do so, and we recommend checking with your municipality.
      • The registration number is made up of 6 digits. It must be indicated in one of the following ways:
          o "Registration number XXXXXX";
          o "Registration no. XXXXXX";
          o « Numéro d’enregistrement XXXXXX »;
          o « No d’enregistrement XXXXXX »;
          o « Enr. XXXXXX ».

        Displaying the registration number is MANDATORY:
          o On digital platforms. Any listing or website, whether transactional or not, used to promote your establishment's accommodation offerings must clearly display the registration number and, where applicable, the establishment's name.

          This information must be displayed in:
             - Your listings on digital accommodation platforms (Airbnb, VRBO, Booking.com, etc.);
             - Your listings on any other website (Kijiji, Marketplace, etc.);
             - Your establishment's website;
             - Your establishment's social media (Facebook, Instagram, etc.).


          o In all advertising. Any advertising material used to promote your establishment's accommodation offerings must clearly display the registration number and, where applicable, the establishment's name. This includes, among other things, brochures, posters, newspaper advertisements, and tourist guidebooks.

        Any accommodation offering displayed on a transactional digital accommodation platform must display the expiration date of the registration certificate.

        All available information regarding the display of the certificate and registration number can be found on this page (French only):
        Afficher un numéro et un certificat d’enregistrement d’hébergement touristique de courte durée | Gouvernement du Québec
      • The registration certificate must be displayed at all times in full view of the public at the main entrance of the establishment unless the establishment is situated in a building that includes two or more residential units, in which case the registration certificate must be displayed at the main entrance of the building. It must be in a location accessible and visible to everyone, not just your tourist clientele.
      • YES. It is MANDATORY to send a copy of your establishment's digital registration certificate (PDF) to the digital transactional accommodation platforms on which you wish to post an accommodation offer.

        These platforms are also required to obtain this certificate for each tourist accommodation establishment they advertise.

        Make sure you send the platforms your establishment's most recent, registration certificate, unchanged, in PDF format. Also, be sure to provide them with the same information in your listing as the establishment's registration certificate: address, postal code, establishment’s name, number of units, expiration date (in the format required by the platform), etc. Finally, following a registration renewal, be sure to update your certificate and its information on the digital transactional accommodation platforms you advertise on.
      • First, make sure you have provided the platform with your establishment's most recent registration certificate. Ensure it is the original PDF document provided by the CITQ and that it has not been modified. Ensure you have provided the platform with accurate information, including the correct expiration date (in the format required by the platform).

        Then, if necessary, contact the CITQ agent responsible for your file to confirm that your registration is valid and that you have the correct registration certificate.

        If everything is in order, you must contact the accommodation platform's customer service to verify any information that may be inconsistent on their part.
      • NO!
        Following the abolition of mandatory classification, operators had until August 31, 2023, to stop displaying the sign. Since September 1, 2023, it is prohibited to display a classification sign (stars, suns, or provisional attestation) issued before the new Tourist Accommodation Act came into force in 2022. It is also prohibited to use a reproduction of this sign.
        The registration certificate must be displayed in full vie of the public at the establishment's main entrance.
        Failure to comply with any of these obligations may result in a fine from Revenu Québec. See this page for more information (French only) ; Infractions et amendes | Gouvernement du Québec.
      • Registration is valid for 12 months, and the Tourist Accommodation Regulation stipulate that it must be renewed within 60 days of its expiration date.
      • You will receive the complete renewal procedure approximately 60 days before the registration expiration date.

        Within 60 days of the registration expiration date, you must:

        1 - Submit a renewal application AND, for General Tourist Accommodation Establishments and Youth Tourist Accommodation Establishments, declaration of update of the information concerning the accommodation offer and the services and activities.
        AND
        2 - Pay the registration fees.

        IMPORTANT – Both conditions must be met for the registration to be renewed for a new 12-month period.

        Once the renewal is complete, you will receive a confirmation and a new registration certificate.
      • The registration expiration date is indicated on the establishment's registration certificate.

        You will receive a renewal notice and instructions by email approximately 60 days before the registration expiration date.
      • YES, except for Principal Residence Establishments.

        To renew a registration for a General Tourist Accommodation Establishment or a Youth Tourist Accommodation Establishment, a declaration of update is MANDATORY under section 5 of the Tourist Accommodation Act and must be submitted annually during the renewal period, even if no changes have occurred.

        A declaration of update must also be submitted if a change occurs during the year. In this situation, the establishment's information must be updated within 30 days of the date the change occurred.
      • You can notify us of the end of your operations by completing the cease/abandon of activities form available on our website. To be compliant, this form must be completed by the designated representative for the file to be closed. Once the form is validated, your establishment's registration will cease to be valid and your file will be closed. You will receive confirmation by email.

        You must cease all operations of the tourist accommodation establishment in question and remove any advertising related to it. You must also remove and destroy your registration certificate.

        We also recommend that you notify your municipality of the end of your tourist rental activities.

        If you resume tourist rentals in the future, you will need to submit a new registration request.
      • The CITQ Portal must be used by operators of general and youth tourist accommodation establishments to complete the annual declaration of update of the information regarding the accommodation offer, services, and activities.

        The amenities, activities, and services you list on the CITQ Portal allow to publish accurate and up-to-date information on your establishment's profile on bonjourquebec.com, the official website of the Ministère du Tourisme.

        This declaration, in addition to the annual payment of registration fees, is mandatory to renew your establishment's registration for a 12-month period.

        Outside the renewal period, the CITQ Portal can be used to notify us of any changes to your accommodation offer or contact information. For example:
           o New mailing address;
           o Change of person in charge of the file;
           o Change to the type or number of rental accommodation units;
           o Addition of amenities;
           o Etc.
      • After registering your establishment or assigning a new representative on file, an invitation email to the Portal will be automatically sent to you. This email contains a unique invitation code that will allow you to create an account by following the instructions on the page. You will be asked to choose a username and password. For more detailed instructions, see the Tutorial and User Guiden provided for this purpose.
      • Log in to your CITQ Portal account. If an establishment's annual declaration must be completed, "YES" will be indicated in the "Annual declaration to be made" column. Click the arrow to the right of the establishment for which you wish to submit a declaration. Click "Submit a declaration" if you wish to submit your annual declaration or "Make an update" to make a one-time declaration to notify us of a change in your contact information or accommodation offer. For more detailed instructions, see the dedicated Tutorial and User Guiden.
      • If the " Submit a declaration " or "Make an update" functions are unavailable, there are two possible explanations:
           a. You may have recently submitted a declaration and it is being processed by an agent. The function will be available again once processing is complete.
           b. You may have started a declaration but not completed it. In this case, the function will be available again within 24 hours.

        Try again later, and if the problem persists, contact us at portail@citq.qc.ca.

        Note that the " Submit a declaration " function is only available during the registration renewal period, which is 60 days before the registration expiry date. Outside of this period, the "Make an update" function will be available.
      • The invitation code is sent to the email address of the representative on file for the institution. Check your inbox and spam folder. If you haven't received an invitation code, please contact us at portail@citq.qc.ca.
      • Use the "Forgotten password?" and "Forgotten username?" functions on the CITQ Portal login page to reset them. For more detailed instructions, see the dedicated Tutorial and user guide.
      • First, make sure you are the designated representative for that establishment. If so, contact us at portail@citq.qc.ca.
      • This information is primarily used to update your file with the CITQ and fulfill your registration and renewal obligations.

        The amenities, activities, and services you list on the CITQ Portal may also be used for promotional purposes in various Ministry of Tourism tools. This information allows to post accurate and up-to-date information on your establishment's profile on bonjourquebec.com, the official website of the Ministry of Tourism.

        Only information about the establishment may be shared and used for promotional purposes. Information about an establishment's operator or their representative will never be shared* or used for these purposes. At each stage of the declaration, information that may be shared to the public is identified.

        You may refuse to have information about your establishment used for promotional purposes. You can also withdraw your consent at any time.

        See the CITQ's Privacy Policy for more information.
      • Any change to the number or type of rental units must be reported to us immediately. You can do this by submitting an update on the CITQ Portal or by contacting the administrative officer responsible for your file.
      • You can do this by submitting an update on the CITQ Portal or by contacting the administrative officer responsible for your file.
      • See the definitions of the three categories of tourist accommodation establishments on this page: CITQ - Establishment classes handled by the CITQ

        If your accommodation offer changes and your establishment no longer meets the definition of the category in which it is classified, you must report it immediately.

        Contact the administrative officer responsible for your file for more information on the procedure applicable to your situation.
      • General and youth tourist accommodation establishments are assigned a "type" for statistical and promotional purposes.

        Consult the definitions of the different types on this page: CITQ - Establishment classes handled by the CITQ

        If your accommodation offer changes and another type would be more applicable to your establishment, you can report it by submitting an update on the CITQ Portal.

        Certain types of establishments (for example,
        bed and breakfasts "bed and breakfasts" : Establishments that offer, for an all-inclusive price, accommodation in rooms in a private residence where the operator resides and rents a maximum of 5 rooms receiving a maximum of 15 persons, including breakfast served on the premises.
        and
        tourist homes "Tourist homes" : Establishments, other than principal establishment residences, that offer accommodation in furnished apartments, houses or cottages, including kitchen facilities.
        ) are defined in the Tourist accommodation Regulation , and certain criteria must be met for these establishments.
      • If the name of your establishment changes, you can report it by submitting an update on the CITQ Portal or by contacting the administrative officer responsible for your file.
      • www.bonjourquebec.com is the official promotional website of the Ministry of Tourism. It is used to promote Quebec as a destination, its regions, attractions, and tourism businesses.

        With the exception of principal residence establishments, any tourist accommodation establishment may, with the operator's consent, have a listing in the "Plan your trip" section of the website.
      • You can use the search tab in the right corner of the page and enter your establishment's name or registration number.

        Your establishment's listing is located in the "Plan your trip" section and in the "Where to Stay" subsection. You can also use the various filters (type of accommodation, region, etc.).
      • These additions are made via the " Votre Information Touristique " platform, intended for operators and part of the SIT Québecnetwork of the Ministry of Tourism.

        You must create an account on this platform before adding content.
      • The amenities, services, and activities published at your establishment come from the declaration made when you opened your file with the CITQ or via a declaration of update on the CITQ Portal. If changes need to be made, you can notify us via a declaration of update on the CITQ Portal.
      • This can be done via a declaration of update on the CITQ Portal or by contacting the administrative officer responsible for your file.
      • A few years ago, the Ministry of Tourism began migrating its databases to a new collaborative platform for disseminating tourist information, the Quebec Tourist Information System (SIT Québec). The platform integrates various stakeholders (ministry, regional tourism associations, CITQ, operators, etc.) to centralize tourist information for promotional purposes.

        Once registered with the SIT Québec network's "Votre Information Touristique " platform, you, as the operator of a tourist accommodation establishment, can use it to add photos or tourist descriptions to your establishment's listing on bonjourquebec.com. (See the section " How do I add or edit photos or descriptive text on my establishment's listing?")
      • An establishment's registration number must be clearly indicated on any advertisement used to promote it and on any website, whether transactional or not, used in connection with the operation of that establishment.

        If the registration number and, where applicable, the name of the establishment are not indicated in a listing or advertisement, the person operating the establishment is liable to a fine from Revenu Québec. If an accommodation offer contains a false or inaccurate registration number, or one that has expired, suspended, or cancelled, the person operating the establishment is liable to a fine from Revenu Québec. Consult this page for more information.

        Useful links:
        Afficher un numéro et un certificat d’enregistrement d’hébergement touristique | Gouvernement du Québec
      • Yes. If you wish to operate a tourist accommodation establishment, you must obtain registration.

        If your offense occurred within the last three years, you must declare it when you apply for registration or renewal.
      • Nuisance management is a responsibility of municipalities or police services, depending on the nature of the nuisance. Depending on the severity of the situation, you should contact one of these authorities.
      • The collection of various taxes, including the lodging tax, is managed by Revenu Québec, and we recommend that you contact them for this purpose; Tax on Lodging | Revenu Québec
      • NO. Establishments in this category are not covered by the lodging tax.
        Establishments Subject to the Tax on Lodging | Revenu Québec

        Youth tourist accommodation establishments:
        establishments in which at least 30% of accommodation units consist of beds in one or more dormitories or where accommodation is mainly offered as part of activities intended primarily for underprivileged individuals or individuals who have a disability;
      • YES. The collection of various taxes, including the tax on lodging, is managed by Revenu Québec, and we recommend contacting them if you require more information.
        Tax on Lodging | Revenu Québec

Our Mission

Performs classification and certification services for products and services on behalf of public and private customers. As such, it acts as an agent of the Minister of Tourism for the registration of accommodation establishments and is officially recognized by the Minister as a delegated body to exercise certain of these powers.

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Last update: April 23, 2025