---
title: Abbotsford short-term rental rules (Airbnb, Vrbo)
question: "Can I rent out my home or a room on Airbnb in Abbotsford?"
place: Abbotsford, British Columbia, Canada
place_path: ca/bc/abbotsford
category: Housing and renting
owner: shared
sources_read: 2026-11-05
review: machine_checked
canonical: "https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/abbotsford/short-term-rental/"
json: "https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/abbotsford/short-term-rental.json"
---

# Abbotsford short-term rental rules (Airbnb, Vrbo)

**Question:** Can I rent out my home or a room on Airbnb in Abbotsford?

**Short answer:** Yes, but only in your principal residence, and only where your zone allows it. In Abbotsford you need a City business licence (fees start at $130 a year) and must also register with the Province of BC, which applies its principal-residence rule here. Limits are 6 guests and 3 sleeping units (8 and 4 in rural zones).

**Who handles it:** More than one level of government  
**Cost:** City business licence: the City says fees start at $130 a year (Schedule B has no separate short-term rental line). Provincial registration: $100 a year for your principal residence, $450 a year for a secondary unit such as a suite or cottage.  
**How long:** The City says to allow a minimum of 2 to 3 weeks from application to licence. A licence is valid for 12 months.  
**Where:**
- Online: City short-term rental licence information and application, https://www.abbotsford.ca/business-development/business-licences
- Phone: Business Licence Division, 604-864-5525
- Email: Business Licence Division, businesslicence@abbotsford.ca
- Phone: Province of BC Short-Term Rental registry (ServiceBC), 1-833-828-2240
- Email: Province of BC Short-Term Rental registry, STRregistry@sbc.gov.bc.ca

## Key facts

- **Allowed:** Yes, where the zone lists short-term rental as an accessory use, and only in the host's principal residence: a single detached dwelling or duplex, plus one secondary suite, garden suite, coach house or accessory farm dwelling unit per principal unit. Not on a lot with a boarding or boarding house use.
  - Source: [Zoning Bylaw 2400-2014, Section 140 General Regulations (section 140.3.1), s. 140.3.1(a)(i), (ii), (vi)](https://laws.abbotsford.ca/civix/document/id/coa/coabylaws/2014b2400140)
  - Official wording: "be only permitted on a Lot with a Dwelling Unit that is the host’s Principal" … "only be permitted in a Single Detached Dwelling or Duplex, plus one of the" … "not be operated on a Lot where there is a Boarding or Boarding House"
  - Source: [Zoning Bylaw 2400-2014, Section 120 Definitions, s. 120 definitions](https://laws.abbotsford.ca/civix/document/id/coa/coabylaws/2014b2400120)
  - Official wording: "where the maximum length of occupancy by any guest is 30 days in any" … "means the residence in which an individual resides for a longer period of"
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06
- **Business licence:** Yes. A City business licence is required (type Accommodation, Short Term Rental). Before it is issued the host must give proof of principal residence, a fire safety plan and a parking plan. The City says business licence fees start at $130 a year; Schedule B has no separate short-term rental line.
  - Source: [Business Licence Bylaw, 2006 (No. 1551-2006), section 11.30, consolidated to July 15, 2025, s. 5.1, s. 11.30(2)](https://laws.abbotsford.ca/civix/document/id/coa/coabylaws/2006b1551bylaw)
  - Official wording: "a person shall not carry on any business or" … "Prior to business licence issuance, the host of a Short-Term Rental Accommodation" … "Proof of Principal Residence;"
  - Source: [Business Licences, Business Licences page](https://www.abbotsford.ca/business-development/business-licences)
  - Official wording: "The annual base fee for a Business Licence starts at $130." … "Proof of Principal Residence" … "Parking Plan" … "Fire Safety Plan"
  - Source: [Business Licence Bylaw, 2006 (No. 1551-2006), section 11.30, consolidated to July 15, 2025, Schedule B](https://laws.abbotsford.ca/civix/document/id/coa/coabylaws/2006b1551bylaw)
  - Official wording: "All other $130.00 Businesses"
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06
- **Provincial registration:** Yes. Hosts must register with the Province's Short-Term Rental Registry and renew every year: $100 a year for your principal residence, $450 a year for a secondary unit such as a suite or cottage. Abbotsford is on the list where the provincial principal residence requirement applies.
  - Source: [Short-term rental registration, Province of British Columbia, Province: registration](https://www2.gov.bc.ca/gov/content/housing-tenancy/short-term-rentals/registry)
  - Official wording: "Short-term rental hosts, platforms and strata hotel platforms in B.C. must register and pay annual registration fees." … "If you have a short-term rental registration, you must renew it each year to continue operating."
  - Source: [Provincial principal residence requirement, Province of British Columbia, Province: principal residence requirement](https://www2.gov.bc.ca/gov/content/housing-tenancy/short-term-rentals/principal-residence-requirement)
  - Official wording: "Fee: $100 annually" … "Fee: $450 annually" … "Communities with principal residence requirement Abbotsford Anmore" … "Provincial registration requirements apply to short-term rentals offered for fewer than 90 consecutive days"
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06
- **Operating rules:** Principal residence only. Up to 6 guests at one time per principal dwelling unit (8 in A1 to A6, RR, CR and SR zones). Up to 3 sleeping units for guests (4 in those zones). At least 1 dedicated parking space, extra to the lot's required parking. Licence needs a fire safety plan and parking plan.
  - Source: [Zoning Bylaw 2400-2014, Section 140 General Regulations (section 140.3.1), s. 140.3.1(a)(iii)-(v)](https://laws.abbotsford.ca/civix/document/id/coa/coabylaws/2014b2400140)
  - Official wording: "be limited to not more than six guests at one time, per principal Dwelling" … "be limited to not more than three Sleeping Units for guests, per principal" … "provide on the Lot, a minimum of one dedicated Parking Space per Short-"
  - Source: [Business Licence Bylaw, 2006 (No. 1551-2006), section 11.30, consolidated to July 15, 2025, s. 11.30(1)](https://laws.abbotsford.ca/civix/document/id/coa/coabylaws/2006b1551bylaw)
  - Official wording: "shall comply with Section 140 of the Abbotsford"
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06
- **Fine:** No short-term-rental amount is set. The Bylaw Enforcement Bylaw's general penalty applies: bylaw notice $500 ($450 if paid within 14 days); municipal ticket $1,000. Operating without a licence is an offence.
  - Source: [Bylaw Enforcement Bylaw, 2020 (No. 3017-2020), s. 6, 17](https://laws.abbotsford.ca/civix/document/id/coa/coabylaws/2020bylaw3017)
  - Official wording: "(a) $500 for a bylaw contravention dealt with by bylaw notice;" … "(b) $1 000 for a bylaw contravention dealt with by municipal ticket;" … "is discounted by $50 if the penalty is paid in full within 14 days of the delivery of the bylaw notice."
  - Source: [Business Licence Bylaw, 2006 (No. 1551-2006), section 11.30, consolidated to July 15, 2025, s. 12.1](https://laws.abbotsford.ca/civix/document/id/coa/coabylaws/2006b1551bylaw)
  - Official wording: "carries on a business without holding a valid licence for that business;"
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06
- **Bylaw:** Zoning Bylaw, 2014 (Bylaw No. 2400-2014), s. 140.3.1; Business Licence Bylaw, 2006 (Bylaw No. 1551-2006), s. 11.30; Province of B.C. Short-Term Rental Accommodations Act.
  - Source: [Zoning Bylaw 2400-2014, Section 140 General Regulations (section 140.3.1), s. 140.3.1](https://laws.abbotsford.ca/civix/document/id/coa/coabylaws/2014b2400140)
  - Official wording: "Short-Term Rental Accommodations (B/L 3670-2025, 3691-2025)"
  - Source: [Business Licence Bylaw, 2006 (No. 1551-2006), section 11.30, consolidated to July 15, 2025, s. 11.30](https://laws.abbotsford.ca/civix/document/id/coa/coabylaws/2006b1551bylaw)
  - Official wording: "Short-Term Rental Accommodation 11.30 (1)"
  - Source: [Short-term rental registration, Province of British Columbia](https://www2.gov.bc.ca/gov/content/housing-tenancy/short-term-rentals/registry)
  - Official wording: "Short-Term Rental Accommodations Act, regulations and related information"
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06

## How it works

The City of Abbotsford treats a short-term rental (stays of up to 30 days, including Airbnb and VRBO) as a business. [Zoning](https://laws.abbotsford.ca/civix/document/id/coa/coabylaws/2014b2400140) allows it where the zone lists it as an accessory use, and only in the host's principal residence: a single detached dwelling or duplex, plus one secondary suite, garden suite, coach house or accessory farm dwelling unit per principal unit. Zones that list it include RS1, RS3, RR, CR, SR, SRH, RS4, RS5, RS5-A, RS6, RCH and the SSMUH zones; check your own. It is not allowed on a lot with a boarding or boarding house use.

Abbotsford is on the Province's list of places where the provincial principal-residence rule applies.

## Steps

1. Confirm your zone lists short-term rental and that the rental is in your principal residence.
2. Register with the Province's Short-Term Rental Registry and renew every year.
3. Apply online for a City business licence (type Accommodation, subtype Short Term Rental) with proof of principal residence, a fire safety plan and a parking plan, and pay the annual fee.

## Good to know

- Limits: up to 6 guests at one time per principal dwelling unit (8 in A1 to A6, RR, CR and SR zones); up to 3 sleeping units for guests (4 in those zones).
- At least 1 dedicated parking space, in addition to the lot's required parking.
- Keep the licence posted or carried.
- Fines: the bylaw sets no short-term rental amount. The general penalty applies: a bylaw notice is $500 ($450 if paid within 14 days); a municipal ticket is $1,000.
- Unregistered listings are removed by the Province and bookings cancelled.
- Provincial questions: ServiceBC, 1-833-828-2240.

## What you'll need

- Proof of principal residence
- Parking plan
- Fire safety plan

## Official forms and pages

- [Business Licences (short-term rental section)](https://www.abbotsford.ca/business-development/business-licences)
- [Zoning Bylaw 2400-2014, Section 140 (s. 140.3.1 Short-Term Rental Accommodations)](https://laws.abbotsford.ca/civix/document/id/coa/coabylaws/2014b2400140)
- [Business Licence Bylaw 1551-2006](https://laws.abbotsford.ca/civix/document/id/coa/coabylaws/2006b1551bylaw)
- [Province of BC, Short-term rentals](https://www2.gov.bc.ca/gov/content/housing-tenancy/short-term-rentals)

## Related questions

- [Abbotsford business licences: who needs one, fees and how to apply](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/abbotsford/business-licence.md)
- [Abbotsford home-based business rules](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/abbotsford/home-based-business.md)
- [Abbotsford secondary suite and carriage house rules](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/abbotsford/secondary-suite.md)

## The same question elsewhere

- [Short-term rental rules in British Columbia, by municipality](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/short-term-rental.md)
- [Mission](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/mission/short-term-rental.md)
- [Township of Langley](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/langley-township/short-term-rental.md)
- [Chilliwack](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/chilliwack/short-term-rental.md)
- [Langley City](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/langley/short-term-rental.md)
- [Maple Ridge](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/maple-ridge/short-term-rental.md)
- [Pitt Meadows](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/pitt-meadows/short-term-rental.md)

## Sources

- [Business Licences, City of Abbotsford](https://www.abbotsford.ca/business-development/business-licences) (read 2026-11-05)
- [Business Licence Bylaw, 2006 (No. 1551-2006), section 11.30, consolidated to July 15, 2025](https://laws.abbotsford.ca/civix/document/id/coa/coabylaws/2006b1551bylaw) (read 2026-11-05)
- [Zoning Bylaw 2400-2014, Section 140 General Regulations (section 140.3.1)](https://laws.abbotsford.ca/civix/document/id/coa/coabylaws/2014b2400140) (read 2026-11-05)
- [Short-term rental registration, Province of British Columbia](https://www2.gov.bc.ca/gov/content/housing-tenancy/short-term-rentals/registry) (read 2026-11-05)
- [Provincial principal residence requirement, Province of British Columbia](https://www2.gov.bc.ca/gov/content/housing-tenancy/short-term-rentals/principal-residence-requirement) (read 2026-11-05)
- [Bylaw Enforcement Bylaw, 2020 (No. 3017-2020), City of Abbotsford](https://laws.abbotsford.ca/civix/document/id/coa/coabylaws/2020bylaw3017) (read 2026-11-05)
- [Zoning Bylaw 2400-2014, Section 120 Definitions](https://laws.abbotsford.ca/civix/document/id/coa/coabylaws/2014b2400120) (read 2026-11-05)

_Checked by script, not yet by a person: the official wording behind 6 of 6 facts was matched to the official text. Gov Handbook is an independent guide, not affiliated with any government. How answers are checked: https://govhandbook.com/methods/ · Canonical page: https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/abbotsford/short-term-rental/_