Can I Run a Short-Term Rental From My Home in British Columbia?
This answer covers the law of British Columbia.
Often yes, but the answer depends on where you live and what you want to rent. Provincial registration applies to rentals of fewer than 90 consecutive days, and compliance with local bylaws is a condition of registration. Each rental unit needs its own provincial registration number.
Where the principal residence requirement applies, you may rent your principal residence, meaning your usual day-to-day home, plus one secondary suite or accessory dwelling unit on the same property. The requirement applies in municipalities with 10,000 or more residents, nearby smaller communities the Province lists, and communities that opt in. It does not apply in municipalities under 10,000 that are not within 15 km of a larger listed municipality, in most regional district electoral areas, or in mountain resorts.
Where your local government requires a business licence for short-term rentals, you must upload a valid copy with your registration application and show the licence number on your listing. The list of covered communities changes through opt-in and opt-out requests, so confirm your community's current status. Zoning and licence rules differ between places, so a lawyer can help if your situation is unclear.
Key takeaways
- Provincial registration applies to short-term rentals of fewer than 90 consecutive days, and each rental unit needs its own registration number.
- Where the principal residence requirement applies, you can rent your usual home plus one secondary suite or accessory dwelling unit on the same property.
- Some accommodation types, such as time shares, strata guest suites and student or employee housing, are exempt, and whole-house short-term rental in the Agricultural Land Reserve needs an application.
- Annual registration fees are $100 for rentals where you live and $450 for a secondary suite or accessory dwelling unit on a third-party platform, each plus a $1.50 service fee.