---
title: Campbell River short-term rental rules (Airbnb, Vrbo)
question: "Can I run a short-term rental like Airbnb in Campbell River?"
place: Campbell River, British Columbia, Canada
place_path: ca/bc/campbell-river
category: Building, renovating and your property
owner: municipal
owner_body: City of Campbell River
sources_read: 2026-11-05
review: machine_checked
canonical: "https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/campbell-river/short-term-rental/"
json: "https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/campbell-river/short-term-rental.json"
---

# Campbell River short-term rental rules (Airbnb, Vrbo)

**Question:** Can I run a short-term rental like Airbnb in Campbell River?

**Short answer:** No. In Campbell River short-term rentals are not permitted: the Zoning Bylaw does not mention them and s. 4.1(a) prohibits any use not expressly permitted. The City also says they cannot get a business licence. Bed and breakfasts are allowed in zones that list them. Provincial registration also applies.

**Who handles it:** Municipal (City of Campbell River, https://www.campbellriver.ca)  
**Cost:** A bed and breakfast pays the City's general business licence fee of $150 a year. Provincial registration is $100 a year for a principal residence, $450 for a secondary unit.  
**How long:** Not stated.  
**Where:**
- Phone: Bylaw Enforcement (complaints), 250-286-5776
- Email: Bylaw Enforcement, bylaw@campbellriver.ca
- Phone: Service BC short-term rental registry, 1-833-828-2240
- Email: Short-term rental registry (Province), STRregistry@sbc.gov.bc.ca

## Key facts

- **Allowed:** No. The Zoning Bylaw does not mention short-term rentals, and s. 4.1(a) prohibits any use not expressly permitted. The City also says they cannot get a business licence. Bed and breakfasts are allowed in an owner- or operator-occupied principal dwelling, in zones that list them (for example R-I).
  - Source: [Residential and Rental Zoning, Short Term Rental Accommodations](https://www.campbellriver.ca/building-development/zoning/residential-rental-zoning)
  - Official wording: "The City's Zoning Bylaw does not reference short term rental accommodations. As such, they are not permitted in Campbell River and cannot receive business licences." … "The City does, however, provide business licences for bed and breakfasts."
  - Source: [Zoning Bylaw 3250, 2006, Schedule A Text (PDF, consolidated to 4021, 2026), s. 4.10](https://www.campbellriver.ca/media/file/zoning-bylaw-3250-2006-schedule-text)
  - Official wording: "the principal dwelling unit shall be occupied by the owner or operator of the" … "bed and breakfast establishment;" … "No person shall use or occupy any buildings, structure or land, including" … "everything that is not expressly permitted is prohibited"
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06
- **Business licence:** Short-term rentals cannot receive a City business licence. A bed and breakfast can be licensed; the City's general business licence fee is $150 per year.
  - Source: [Residential and Rental Zoning, Short Term Rental Accommodations](https://www.campbellriver.ca/building-development/zoning/residential-rental-zoning)
  - Official wording: "cannot receive business licences."
  - Source: [Business Licences, General Business Licence Information](https://www.campbellriver.ca/business-licences)
  - Official wording: "Business licences cost $150 per year"
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06
- **Provincial registration:** Yes. Short-term rental hosts must register with the Province and pay annual registration fees: $100 a year for the host's principal residence, $450 for a secondary unit on the property. Campbell River is on the Province's principal residence requirement list.
  - Source: [Short-term rentals, Province of British Columbia, Short-term rental registration](https://www2.gov.bc.ca/gov/content/housing-tenancy/short-term-rentals)
  - Official wording: "Short-term rental hosts, platforms and strata hotel platforms in B.C. must register and pay annual registration fees."
  - Source: [Principal residence requirement, Province of British Columbia](https://www2.gov.bc.ca/gov/content/housing-tenancy/short-term-rentals/principal-residence-requirement)
  - Official wording: "Fee: $100 annually" … "Fee: $450 annually" … "Campbell River Central Saanich Chilliwack"
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06
- **Operating rules:** Bed and breakfast: activity confined to the inside of the principal dwelling, occupied by the owner or operator; no more than two sleeping units and four adult guests; one un-illuminated sign up to 0.4 m²; parking of 1 space per sleeping unit in addition to the house's.
  - Source: [Zoning Bylaw 3250, 2006, Schedule A Text (PDF, consolidated to 4021, 2026), s. 4.10](https://www.campbellriver.ca/media/file/zoning-bylaw-3250-2006-schedule-text)
  - Official wording: "the activity shall be confined to the interior of the principal dwelling, and is" … "no more than two sleeping units to accommodate a maximum of four adult" … "one (single or two-sided) un-illuminated sign not" … "larger than 0.4 square metre (4.3 square feet)." … "1 per sleeping unit in addition to the" … "requirement for the principal residence."
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06
- **Fine:** $200 for operating without a business licence, $200 for an unlawful bed and breakfast business, and $200 for unlawful use of a building or land (Zoning Bylaw s. 4.1(a)), all under the Ticketing for Bylaw Offences Bylaw (Schedules 5 and 31).
  - Source: [Ticketing for Bylaw Offences Bylaw No. 3322, 2007 (PDF, consolidated to Bylaw 4003, 2025), Schedules 5, 31](https://www.campbellriver.ca/media/file/3322-ticketing-bylaw-offences-consolidated-bylaw-4003-2025pdf)
  - Official wording: "Operate without a business license 2.1 200.00" … "Unlawful bed & breakfast business 4.10 200.00" … "Unlawful use of building, structure or land" … "Unlawful bed & breakfast business"
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06
- **Bylaw:** Zoning Bylaw No. 3250, 2006 (s. 4.10); Business Licence Bylaw No. 3296, 2007
  - Source: [Zoning Bylaw 3250, 2006, Schedule A Text (PDF, consolidated to 4021, 2026), s. 4.10](https://www.campbellriver.ca/media/file/zoning-bylaw-3250-2006-schedule-text)
  - Official wording: "BED AND BREAKFAST ACCOMMODATIONS"
  - Source: [Business Licence Bylaw No. 3296, 2007 (PDF, consolidated to Bylaw 3887, 2023), title](https://www.campbellriver.ca/media/file/3296-business-licence-2007-consolidated-3528-2013)
  - Official wording: "Business Licence Bylaw No. 3296, 2007"
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06

## How it works

Campbell River's [Zoning Bylaw](https://www.campbellriver.ca/media/file/zoning-bylaw-3250-2006-schedule-text) does not mention short-term rentals such as Airbnb or Vrbo, and s. 4.1(a) prohibits any use not expressly permitted. The City says they are not permitted and cannot receive a City business licence.

Bed and breakfasts are allowed in an owner- or operator-occupied principal dwelling, in zones that list them (for example R-I), and can be licensed. Rules (s. 4.10): the activity stays inside the principal dwelling; no more than two sleeping units and four adult guests; one un-illuminated sign up to 0.4 m²; and one parking space per sleeping unit in addition to the house's.

## Provincial rules

Hosts must register with the Province and pay annual fees: $100 a year for the host's principal residence, $450 for a secondary unit on the property. Campbell River is on the Province's principal residence requirement list, so short-term rentals are limited to the host's principal residence plus one secondary suite or accessory dwelling unit. Contact 1-833-828-2240 or STRregistry@sbc.gov.bc.ca.

## Good to know

- Tickets under the Ticketing for Bylaw Offences Bylaw are $200 for operating without a business licence, $200 for an unlawful bed and breakfast business, and $200 for unlawful use of a building or land.
- To report an unlicensed operation, call Bylaw Enforcement at 250-286-5776.

## Official forms and pages

- [Residential and Rental Zoning, City of Campbell River](https://www.campbellriver.ca/building-development/zoning/residential-rental-zoning)
- [Short-term rentals, Province of British Columbia](https://www2.gov.bc.ca/gov/content/housing-tenancy/short-term-rentals)

## Related questions

- [Campbell River business licences: who needs one, fees and how to apply](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/campbell-river/business-licence.md)
- [Campbell River home-based business rules](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/campbell-river/home-based-business.md)
- [Campbell River secondary suite and carriage house rules](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/campbell-river/secondary-suite.md)
- [Campbell River zoning: find your zone and what it allows](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/campbell-river/zoning-lookup.md)

## The same question elsewhere

- [Short-term rental rules in British Columbia, by municipality](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/short-term-rental.md)
- [Courtenay](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/courtenay/short-term-rental.md)
- [Cumberland](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/cumberland/short-term-rental.md)
- [Comox](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/comox/short-term-rental.md)
- [Powell River](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/powell-river/short-term-rental.md)
- [Sayward](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/sayward/short-term-rental.md)
- [Gold River](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/gold-river/short-term-rental.md)

## Sources

- [Residential and Rental Zoning, City of Campbell River](https://www.campbellriver.ca/building-development/zoning/residential-rental-zoning) (read 2026-11-05)
- [Zoning Bylaw 3250, 2006, Schedule A Text (PDF, consolidated to 4021, 2026)](https://www.campbellriver.ca/media/file/zoning-bylaw-3250-2006-schedule-text) (read 2026-11-05)
- [Business Licences, City of Campbell River](https://www.campbellriver.ca/business-licences) (read 2026-11-05)
- [Business Licence Bylaw No. 3296, 2007 (PDF, consolidated to Bylaw 3887, 2023)](https://www.campbellriver.ca/media/file/3296-business-licence-2007-consolidated-3528-2013) (read 2026-11-05)
- [Ticketing for Bylaw Offences Bylaw No. 3322, 2007 (PDF, consolidated to Bylaw 4003, 2025)](https://www.campbellriver.ca/media/file/3322-ticketing-bylaw-offences-consolidated-bylaw-4003-2025pdf) (read 2026-11-05)
- [Short-term rentals, Province of British Columbia](https://www2.gov.bc.ca/gov/content/housing-tenancy/short-term-rentals) (read 2026-11-05)
- [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, City of Campbell River](https://www.campbellriver.ca/community-safety/bylaw-enforcement) (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 City of Campbell River. How answers are checked: https://govhandbook.com/methods/ · Canonical page: https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/campbell-river/short-term-rental/_