Central Saanich short-term rental rules (Airbnb, Vrbo)
Can I rent out my home or a room on Airbnb in Central Saanich?
In Central Saanich, short-term rentals (under 90 consecutive days) are not allowed in residential zones. They are a permitted use only in certain commercial zones and on two named properties. Each unit also needs a Provincial registration number.
Key facts
| Allowed | Not in residential zones. Short-term rentals (under 90 consecutive days) are a permitted use only in certain commercial zones (Tourist Commercial, Marina Commercial, Brentwood Lodge Marina) and on two named R-A properties. Secondary suites and cottages cannot be used as short-term rentals.Zoning Bylaw No. 2270, 2026, s. 3.2, 4.5.1, 6.10.1, 6.11.1, 6.12.1, 6.27 site-specific regulations; Residential Building Permits, Vacation Rental · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06Official wordingfor temporary overnight accommodation for a period of time of less than 90 consecutive days. Short Term Rental Accommodation shall not be used as a Bed and Breakfast or Short-Term Rental Accommodation. (7247 West Saanich Road), Short Term Rental Accommodation is also permitted. (851 Brentwood Drive), Short Term Rental Accommodation is also permitted. Short term or vacation rentals are not permitted in residential zones. |
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| Business licence | A business licence is required for businesses in the District. The Business Licence Bylaw exempts letting a bedroom in a dwelling unit where no more than two bedrooms are available to rent. No short-term rental fee category is listed.Business Licence Bylaw No. 2166, s. 5(a); Business Licence · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06Official wordingfor the letting or renting of a bedroom in a dwelling unit where not more than two bedrooms are available for letting or renting; All businesses in Central Saanich must obtain a Business Licence |
| Provincial registration | Yes. Each short-term rental unit needs its own Provincial registration number. Central Saanich is on the Province's list of communities where the principal residence requirement applies: hosts are limited to their principal residence plus one secondary suite or accessory dwelling on the same property.Principal residence requirement, Province of BC, Overview; List of communities where the requirement applies · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06Official wordingEach short-term rental unit requires its own registration number. The usual place where they make their home day-to-day home Plus one secondary suite or accessory dwelling unit on the same property Central Saanich |
| Operating rules | Where allowed, 1 parking space per sleeping unit. Stays are under 90 consecutive days. No guest limit, local-contact or licence-number posting rule was found in the District text.Zoning Bylaw No. 2270, 2026, s. 7.5, 3.2 · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06Official wording1 per sleeping unit Short Term Rental Accommodation |
| Fine | Not confirmed. The current enforcement bylaw is a scan that could not be read, so the ticket amount is not known. |
| Bylaw | Zoning Bylaw No. 2270, 2026 (definitions, s. 4.5, zones in Part 6, parking in Part 7) and Business Licence Bylaw No. 2166; Province: short-term rental principal residence requirement.Zoning Bylaw No. 2270, 2026, s. 3.2; Business Licence Bylaw No. 2166, s. 1 · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06Official wordingCentral Saanich Zoning Bylaw No. 2270 Central Saanich Business License Bylaw No. 2166 |
How it works
The Zoning Bylaw No. 2270 does not allow short-term rentals (under 90 consecutive days) in residential zones. They are a permitted use only in certain commercial zones (Tourist Commercial, Marina Commercial, Brentwood Lodge Marina) and on two named R-A properties. Secondary suites and cottages cannot be used as short-term rentals.
Bed and breakfasts are a separate use. They are allowed in the Agriculture (A) zone and some Rural-Forest land, limited to four bedrooms with no guest cooking facility, and the operator must live on site.
The Province also applies. Central Saanich is on the Province's list of communities where the principal residence requirement applies. Hosts are limited to their principal residence plus one secondary suite or accessory dwelling on the same property, and each unit needs its own Provincial registration number.
Steps
- Check your zone (see the zoning-lookup answer) and confirm with Planning that your use is allowed.
- Register each unit with the Province.
- Get a District business licence. The Business Licence Bylaw exempts letting a bedroom in a dwelling where no more than two bedrooms are available to rent. No short-term rental fee category is listed.
- Where allowed, provide 1 parking space per sleeping unit.
Good to know
- The Business Licence Bylaw sets a court fine of $100 to $10,000 for any breach. A ticket amount for these rules is not known; the current enforcement bylaw is a scan we could not read. Ask Bylaw Enforcement (250-544-4237).
- We found no District guest limit, local-contact rule or licence-number posting rule.
- The exemption for letting two bedrooms does not say whether it covers stays under 30 days. Ask the District.
Official forms and pages
The same question in other places
Sidney · North Saanich · Highlands · Saanich · View Royal · Esquimalt
Short-term rental rules in British Columbia, by municipality →
Sources
- Zoning Bylaw No. 2270, 2026 (PDF) (read 2026-11-06)
- Business Licence Bylaw No. 2166 (PDF) (read 2026-11-06)
- Business Licence, District of Central Saanich (read 2026-11-06)
- Residential Building Permits, District of Central Saanich (read 2026-11-06)
- Principal residence requirement, Province of BC (read 2026-11-06)
Checked by script, not yet by a person: the official wording behind 5 of 6 facts was matched to the official text; 1 could not be confirmed. How answers are checked.