Baird HallPart of: Canada subscription cancellation law
British Columbia is tightening its subscription rules. From August 1, 2026, amendments to the Business Practices and Consumer Protection Act give consumers clearer renewal notices and stronger cancellation rights. Any contract signed or renewed on or after that date has to follow them.
A quick note
This is a practical guide, not legal advice. Some details sit in regulations that are still being finalized. Confirm your setup with counsel.
A checklist to prepare for British Columbia's new rules
Get your renewal and cancellation flow ready before the August 1, 2026 deadline.
Let short renewals be cancelled anytime. For terms of 60 days or less, allow cancellation before or after the renewal date with no penalty, or the auto-renewal is void.
Send renewal notice for long terms. For terms over 60 days, notify the customer 30 to 60 days before the renewal date.
Disclose terms upfront. Give the key contract details clearly and at no cost before the customer signs up.
Handle post-renewal refunds. Be ready to refund a long-term renewal cancelled after the date, per the regulations.
Update before August 1, 2026. Any contract signed or renewed on or after that date must follow the new rules.
What the new rules require
The amended BPCPA sets different rules by how long a renewal term runs.
1. Short renewals (60 days or less)
An auto-renewal provision is void unless the contract also lets the consumer cancel the renewal at any time, before or after the renewal date, with no charge or penalty.
2. Long renewals (more than 60 days)
You must give the consumer notice of the renewal between 30 and 60 days before the renewal date. If they cancel after the renewal date, they may be entitled to a refund, on terms set in the regulations.
3. Clear disclosure before signup
You must give consumers the key contract terms upfront, clearly and at no cost, before they enter the contract.
4. Controlled contract changes
You cannot quietly change the deal. A unilateral amendment needs a prescribed form and a set notice procedure, and skipping either makes the change void.
The wider reform behind the rules
For too long, people in B.C. have faced unfair contract terms and predatory sales practices on everyday items. These new amendments will better protect people from unfair business practices in an increasingly complex marketplace.
BC's changes arrive through Bill 4, and they are part of a wider shift. Quebec, Ontario, and New Brunswick are tightening subscription and cancellation rules at the same time, so a fix built for one province often helps across the others.
Subscriptions are not the only target. Bill 4 also curbs high-pressure doorstep sales of costly items like furnaces and air conditioners, bans offering credit during those sales, and voids contract terms that force private arbitration, block class actions, or stop customers from posting reviews.
The bill moved fast. It was introduced in February 2025 and given royal assent that March, with the main rules held to August 2026 so businesses could prepare after consultation with industry and consumer groups.
When British Columbia's subscription rules take effect and who enforces them
The rules apply from August 1, 2026, to contracts signed or renewed on or after that date. The province has finalized the supporting regulations, and Consumer Protection BC is expected to enforce them more actively.
Those regulations set a low threshold for striking an offending contract term, so a thin disclosure or a hard cancel path carries real risk.
Who does it apply to?
It applies to businesses selling to consumers in British Columbia, wherever the business is based. It covers subscriptions, online consumer services, home-service contracts, and direct sales.
How Churnkey helps you prepare and reduce churn
Churnkey offers a Cancel Flow that is compliant and retains customers, two outcomes that are hard to balance at once.
Getting started is easy, with an SDK, an embedded option, or a self-serve hosted page.
Churnkey's automatic compliance detects each customer's location and shows the right cancel option for their province.
We work with businesses across many countries, each with its own evolving rules, so we can help you configure flows that support compliance. Review the rules with your legal team and meet with ours to set up your flows for the markets you sell in.
Before a customer confirms, Churnkey can offer a pause or discount they are free to decline, and you can A/B test flows to find what saves revenue. On average, companies using Churnkey save 20 to 40% of the revenue they would otherwise lose to churn.
Churnkey is GDPR compliant and SOC 2 Type II certified.
FAQ
What is changing for subscriptions in British Columbia in 2026?
Amendments to the Business Practices and Consumer Protection Act add clearer renewal notices and stronger cancellation rights. Short-term auto-renewals must be cancellable anytime without penalty, and long-term renewals require advance notice.
When do the BC rules take effect?
August 1, 2026. They apply to any subscription contract signed or renewed on or after that date.
Does it apply to my business?
If you sell subscriptions to consumers in British Columbia, yes, wherever your business is based. It also covers online consumer services, home-service contracts, and direct sales.
Can BC customers cancel a renewal anytime?
For renewal terms of 60 days or less, yes. The auto-renewal is void unless the contract lets the consumer cancel the renewal at any time, before or after the renewal date, without charge or penalty.
Do I have to send renewal notices?
For renewal terms longer than 60 days, you must give notice between 30 and 60 days before the renewal date. Customers who cancel after the renewal date may be entitled to a refund.
Does a confirmation step or retention offer break the rules?
No. The rules require meaningful cancellation rights and clear notice. They do not forbid a confirmation step or a relevant offer the customer can decline. Avoid anything that hides, blocks, or complicates completing the cancellation.
Does BC's law cover more than subscriptions?
Yes. Bill 4 also restricts high-pressure door-to-door sales of costly items like furnaces and air conditioners, and voids contract terms that force private arbitration, block class actions, or stop customers from posting reviews.
How can Churnkey help my business prepare?
Churnkey provides a customizable Cancel Flow, embedded or hosted, that lets customers cancel a renewal on their own, with automatic compliance by location and A/B testing. You can present a fair offer before the customer confirms while leaving them free to cancel. It supports compliance with rules like these, but does not replace legal review.