In short, a few towers in Beltline, East Village, and Eau Claire—like 6th and Tenth, INK, Nude, Colours, and First & Park—are currently known to allow Airbnb. However, this can change quickly if the condo board votes to update the rules. For example, The Guardian Towers banned short-term stays of under 30 days in November 2025, even though it had been one of the busiest STR buildings for years. Always get the latest registered condo bylaws in writing before making any decisions based on lists like this.
5 Calgary Condos That Allow Airbnb (Updated 2026 Building List)
Most of Calgary’s truly STR-friendly condos are found in a handful of concrete towers built in the past ten years. Here’s what each building offers and what you should check before assuming the bylaws are still the same.
1. 6th and Tenth (Beltline)
Built by Lamb Development Corp., this 31-storey Beltline tower is often the first choice for Calgary Airbnb investors. It allows short-term rentals like Airbnb and Vrbo. Units feature nine-foot exposed concrete ceilings, central air, and second-floor amenities, including a rooftop pool and fitness centre. Prices start in the low $300,000s. Its location, just a few blocks from the Stampede grounds and Saddledome, makes it a popular spot for bookings even outside peak season.
2. INK by Battistella (East Village)
INK is located at 624 8th Avenue SE. This 14-storey building, completed in 2018, has 119 units ranging from 519 to 689 square feet. It stands out with loft-style finishes, polished concrete floors, and a rooftop patio with a fireplace on the 15th floor. Condo fees are lower than most similar East Village buildings. INK regularly shows up on Airbnb-friendly lists, and there are active Airbnb listings in the building.
3. Nude by Battistella (West Beltline)
Nude, at 1315 14th Avenue SW, is an 18-storey building with 177 units, completed in 2024. Units range from studios to two-bedroom suites and feature exposed concrete ceilings and floor-to-ceiling windows, similar to Battistella’s other projects. Since it’s newer than INK and Colours, there’s less history with short-term rentals, so it’s best to contact the condo board directly instead of relying on listing descriptions.
4. Colours by Battistella (Beltline, formerly Victoria Park)
Colours is a 23-storey building with about 208 units at 135 13th Avenue SW, completed in 2009. It’s one of the older Battistella towers here and is marketed as a short-term rental-approved building. Many resale listings are advertised as established Airbnb units, often including furniture. While this is a good sign, you should still check the current bylaw wording rather than relying solely on what a listing agent says.
5. First & Park (Eau Claire)
First & Park is at 727 1st Avenue SW, right across from West Eau Claire Park and the Bow River. Built by Graywood Developments, this 18-storey building with 211 units was finished in 2025 and is now selling and closing units. Its location near the north edge of downtown is ideal for corporate and conference travellers. However, its short-term rental policy isn’t publicly documented as it is for Battistella’s buildings, so you should confirm the rules with the condo board before assuming it allows Airbnb.
Real estate agents always give the same warning: short-term rental bylaws can change at any time. A building that allows 30-day minimum stays is not the same as one that allows nightly Airbnbs, but public lists often group them together. Use any published list, including this one, as a starting point for your own research, not as a guarantee.
Continue Reading: How to start an Airbnb Business in Calgary
Buildings That No Longer Allow Short-Term Rentals
The Guardian in Victoria Park is a good example of how quickly things can change. It was one of downtown Calgary’s busiest STR buildings for years. After ongoing complaints about noise and security, and a fatal fall from a balcony in June 2025 that led to a police investigation (later found not criminal), the board voted to ban short-term rentals under 30 days starting November 2025.
Frontier Kensington is another warning sign. Some marketing materials say it’s Airbnb-friendly, but the property management clearly states that Airbnb, Vrbo, and all short-term rentals are not allowed. This gap between sales language and actual bylaws is common, so never rely only on a listing description.
Best Neighbourhoods for Airbnb-Friendly Condos in Calgary
The Beltline has the most STR-friendly buildings, with East Village and Eau Claire close behind. All three are within walking distance of the Stampede grounds, Saddledome, and downtown restaurants, which helps keep rentals booked even outside peak season. Kensington and Inglewood also appear on some lists, but most options there are walk-up buildings with fewer concrete-tower STR bylaws.
Continue reading: Best Neighbourhoods in Calgary For an Airbnb
Calgary STR Licence Requirements After the April 2025 Bylaw Changes
Calgary City Council unanimously approved a set of Business Licence Bylaw amendments in December 2024, and they took effect April 1, 2025. The two changes that matter most for condo buyers:
| Requirement | Primary Residence | Non-Primary Residence |
| New licence fee | $172 | $510 |
| Fire inspection (new) | $114 | $114 |
| Renewal fee | $131 | $260 |
| Fire inspection (renewal) | $114 | $114 |
These figures still match the City’s 2026 Business Licence Fee Schedule, so costs have not changed since the bylaw took effect.
You no longer need condo board consent to apply, but the board still controls what happens in the building. Enforcement is now fully the condo board’s responsibility.
Primary vs. Non-Primary Residence Licence: What Investors Must Know
Now, your licence type depends on whether the unit is your primary residence, not how many bedrooms it has. Most investors need a non-primary licence, which costs about three times as much and carries an additional risk: if Calgary’s rental vacancy rate drops below 2.5%, the City can stop issuing new non-primary licences. The rate was 5.0% in the latest CMHC Rental Market Report (October 2025 data, published December 2025), up from 4.8% the year before, so there’s no pause right now. Check again before you buy, since existing licences and primary residence applications wouldn’t be affected even if a pause happens. The next CMHC survey is expected around December 2026.
The 180-Day Rule: What Changed and Why It Matters
The definition of “short-term rental” now covers stays from 30 up to 180 consecutive days. This change was made to include furnished mid-term rentals for corporate transferees, travelling nurses, and contractors that were previously outside the licensing rules. For investors, this means more properties now need to meet licensing and safety requirements. However, it also creates a workaround: in buildings that ban rentals under 30 days, a 31-day minimum stay can meet the bylaw and avoid GST, since stays over 30 days are usually GST-exempt.
Continue reading: Short-term rental rules in Calgary
Estimated ROI: What to Actually Model
Don’t just use a single “average nightly rate” for all of Calgary. STR revenue here varies a lot, especially during the ten-day Calgary Stampede in July, when downtown rates are much higher, and during slower periods the rest of the year. Two costs people often forget: the 6% Alberta Tourism Levy on every booking (up from 4% as of April 1, 2026) and GST at 5% if your STR revenue across all properties exceeds $30,000 in a year. Make sure to factor in both when running your numbers.
How to Verify a Building’s STR Policy Before You Buy
Don’t trust a real estate listing or a blog post, even this one. Here are three things you should check for yourself: registered condo bylaws (not a summary), and the leasing and commercial-use clauses, either yourself or with a lawyer.
Understand what a condo board can and can’t do. Alberta courts have gone both ways here. In Condominium Corporation No. 0312235 v. Scott (2015 ABQB 171), the court struck down a bylaw that required owners to join a mandatory rental pool because it restricted their fundamental right to choose how they rent. Five years later in Condominium Corporation No. 042 5177 v. Kuzio (2020 ABQB 152), the court reached the opposite result on Airbnb specifically, ruling that a short-term guest is a licensee rather than a tenant, and that condo bylaws barring commercial use can lawfully block STRs. A related dispute in the same building later confirmed that swapping “Airbnb” for “month-to-month lease” on paper doesn’t circumvent a bylaw ban if the underlying arrangement is still a short stay.
Ask directly about insurance, because a condo’s master policy usually covers STR-related damage first, and boards can pass much of the deductible back to you as the unit owner.
FAQ
Do I need a business licence for a 45-day Airbnb stay in Calgary?
Yes. Since April 2025, anything up to 180 consecutive days counts as a short-term rental and needs a licence.
Can a condo board ban Airbnb even if the City approves my licence?
Yes. The City removed its own consent requirement, but the condo board’s bylaws still govern, and Alberta courts have upheld outright STR bans where bylaws restrict commercial use.
What’s the cheapest way to get licensed?
A primary residence licence, at $286 total for a new application, versus $624 for a non-primary residence licence.
Thinking About a Specific Condo? Talk to Nomadics First
If you’re considering a specific building or want help running the numbers on a property, Nomadics can guide you through licensing, insurance, and realistic revenue projections before you make an offer. Our Airbnb condo management experience across Calgary’s STR-friendly buildings means we already know which condo boards allow short-term rentals and which don’t, so you’re not finding out the hard way after closing.
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