Short Term Rentals

New bylaws allowing short term rentals in the District are now in effect, and all short term rental operators must have a valid business licence. Under the new regulations, a home owner or principal resident may rent their principal residence for 28 days or less, subject to permitted zoning and conditions. Properties that are not occupied as a principal residence will only be considered for short term rental use on lots that are 1 acre or larger, and the property must be rezoned as a Short Term Rental Companion Zone.

To get a short term rental business licence:

Ensure the property meets the eligibility requirements.
Submit the following by mail or in person at Municipal Hall: Short-term Rental Business Licence Application along with supporting documents such as site plan with parking details, floor plans, principal residence status documentation (if applicable), ownership verification documentation or Owner Consent Form.
Upon approval, keep your short term rental business in good standing by following the rules and regulations.

See our Short Term Rental Guide for more information about applying for and operating a short term rental.

Eligibility Requirements

The three categories of short term rental uses now included in the District's Zoning and Business Licence bylaws are Short term Commercial Accommodation Guest Unit (formerly a bed and breakfast use), Short term Commercial Accommodation Principal Residence and Short term Commercial Accommodation Non Principal Residence.

Responsible person means a person designated as the primary contact who is available 24 hours a day to respond to guest or any nuisance complaint within two hours of notification.

Regulation Summary
	Guest Unit	Principal Residence	Non Principal Residence
Occupancy Status	Occupied as a principal residence	Occupied as a principal residence	Not occupied as a principal residence
Maximum room rentals	1 less the total number of bedrooms not exceeding 4 bedrooms	5 bedrooms (Note: properties subject to ALC regulations are restricted to 4 bedrooms)	5 bedrooms (Note: properties subject to ALC regulations are restricted to 4 bedrooms)
Onsite residency during lodging period	Principal resident must be onsite	Principal resident may or may not be onsite (conditions apply)	Operator or responsible person may or may not be onsite (conditions apply)
Business Licence required	Yes	Yes	Yes
Display 24 hour contact phone number	No	Yes	Yes
Display Business Licence	Yes	Yes	Yes
Rezoning required for short term rental use	No	No	Yes
Maximum number of guests per bedroom	2	2	2
Maximum number of occupants	6	8	8
Parking	1 space per room rented to a maximum of 4 spaces	1 space per room rented to a maximum of 4 spaces	1 space per room rented to a maximum of 4 spaces
Minimum lot size requirement	No	No	Yes (1 acre or more)
Designated responsible person	Not applicable, principal resident onsite during rental	Yes	Yes

Permitted Zones

Guest Unit and Principal Residence short term rental uses are permitted in the zones listed below.

Non Principal Residence use requires the property to undergo a Zoning Amendment Application to be rezoned to the appropriate companion zone as identified by the 'str' ending on the abbreviated zone name. For short term rental use on a Non Principal Residence property will only be considered on lots that are equal to or greater than 1 acre.

Agricultural (A) or Astr (companion zone)
Small Lot Agricultural (A1) or A1str
Rural Residential (RR1) or RR1str
Rural Residential 2 (RR2) or RR2str
Single-Dwelling Residential 1 (RS1) or RS1str
Lake Area Residential (RL) or RLstr
Resource Management (RM) or MRstr
Comprehensive Development 2 (CD2) or CD2str

Agricultural Land Commission Regulations

Where a short-term rental is proposed within the Agricultural Land Reserve, the rental must comply with the Agricultural Land Commission Act, and all regulations and orders of the Agricultural Land Commission.

Licence Fees

Guest Unit $125
Principal Residence $500
Non Principal Residence $700

Fees must be paid at the time the application is filed, then annually as per business licencing requirements. There is a $25 administration fee for new applications and for processing updates to existing licenced businesses, such as change of ownership or mailing address.

Please note that in 2021 in addition to the Guest Unit business licence fee, an additional $100 will be applied for each additional bedroom for rent.

Compliance

We work to ensure short term rental operators comply with rules and regulations. Operators may face fines of up to $500 per day, per offence.

Example Offences

Operate or market a short term rental without a valid business licence
Operate contrary to zoning restrictions
Fail to display responsible person information
Fail to update contact information for operator / responsible person
Fail to attend premises within the required time period

Inspection

We actively inspect short term rentals and operators must, upon request by the District, provide access to the short term rental for inspection. Operators understand that District staff may:

Audit short term rental licences and all required documentation; and
Request evidence that supports the information on a licence application.

The Licence Inspector has the authority to refuse, suspend, or cancel a licence for reasonable cause.

Information for Guests

Noise

Many short term rental properties are near other residential homes. Please be respectful of the public and neighbours at all times of the day. See our Noise Bylaw for more information.

Parking

Be aware of designated parking spaces to avoid imposing on neighbouring lots or the street. See our Zoning Bylaw for more information.

Animals

Guests must control their dogs and keep them on a leash in public spaces, unless within a designated off-leash dog park. Guests must pick up after their dog. Check out Animal Control Services for more information.

Garbage and Recycling

Guests should have access to garbage, compost and recycling bins as required. Learn more about garbage, recycling and composting in the District.

Report an Issue or Concern

To report a suspected illegal short-term rental, or to file a complaint about parking, noise or other issues, please fill out our Report a Concern form, or call us directly at 604-796-2235.