{"title":"Clearwater short-term rental rules (Airbnb, Vrbo)","question":"Can I rent out my home or a room on Airbnb in Clearwater?","slug":"short-term-rental","place":{"path":"ca/bc/clearwater","name":"Clearwater","region":{"code":"bc","name":"British Columbia"},"country":{"code":"ca","name":"Canada"}},"category":{"slug":"housing-and-renting","name":"Housing and renting"},"owner":"shared","owner_label":"More than one level of government","owner_body":null,"short_answer":"In Clearwater the District had adopted no short-term rental bylaw as of April 8, 2026. You need a District business licence, and may need a Temporary Use Permit. The Province also requires hosts to register; the provincial principal-residence rule does not apply here.","aliases":["airbnb clearwater","short term rental clearwater","vrbo clearwater","bed and breakfast clearwater"],"cost":"Provincial registration: $100 a year for your principal residence, $450 a year for a secondary unit. The District's short-term rental licence fee was not found; a bed and breakfast licence is $100 a year.","how_long":"Not stated.","where":[{"type":"in_person","label":"District of Clearwater office","value":"209 Dutch Lake Road, Clearwater, BC V0E 1N0","note":"Monday to Friday, 8:30 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. Fees are paid in person."},{"type":"phone","label":"District of Clearwater office","value":"250-674-2257"},{"type":"phone","label":"TNRD Planning (contracted by the District)","value":"250-377-8673","note":"Email planning@tnrd.ca, for a Temporary Use Permit."}],"documents":[],"forms":[{"title":"District statement on short-term rentals (April 8, 2026)","url":"https://www.districtofclearwater.com/district-of-clearwater-statement-on-short-term-rentals/"},{"title":"Short-term rental information page and application package notice (May 8, 2026)","url":"https://www.districtofclearwater.com/short-term-rental-information-page-and-application-package-now-available/"},{"title":"Business Licensing and Regulation Bylaw No. 124, 2014 (consolidated)","url":"https://districtofclearwater.civicweb.net/document/56496/"},{"title":"Short-term rentals, Province of BC","url":"https://www2.gov.bc.ca/gov/content/housing-tenancy/short-term-rentals/principal-residence-requirement"}],"related":[{"slug":"business-licence","title":"Clearwater business licences: who needs one, fees and how to apply","url":"https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/clearwater/business-licence/"},{"slug":"home-based-business","title":"Clearwater home-based business rules","url":"https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/clearwater/home-based-business/"},{"slug":"secondary-suite","title":"Clearwater secondary suite and carriage house rules","url":"https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/clearwater/secondary-suite/"}],"nearby":[{"place":"ca/bc/barriere","name":"Barriere","url":"https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/barriere/short-term-rental/"},{"place":"ca/bc/sun-peaks","name":"Sun Peaks","url":"https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/sun-peaks/short-term-rental/"},{"place":"ca/bc/chase","name":"Chase","url":"https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/chase/short-term-rental/"},{"place":"ca/bc/100-mile-house","name":"100 Mile House","url":"https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/100-mile-house/short-term-rental/"},{"place":"ca/bc/kamloops","name":"Kamloops","url":"https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/kamloops/short-term-rental/"},{"place":"ca/bc/clinton","name":"Clinton","url":"https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/clinton/short-term-rental/"}],"topic":{"title":"Short-term rental rules in British Columbia, by municipality","url":"https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/short-term-rental/"},"facts":{"allowed":{"label":"Allowed","value":"No short-term rental bylaw had been adopted as of April 8, 2026. A bed and breakfast (operator lives in the same dwelling unit) is an accessory use in RL-1, SH-1, CR-1, R-1 and R-2. The OCP policy allows short-term rentals only in the host's principal residence or an accessory suite, with a District business licence; a Temporary Use Permit may also be needed.","short":"No STR bylaw; B&B allowed in some zones","status":"stated","sources":[{"url":"https://www.districtofclearwater.com/district-of-clearwater-statement-on-short-term-rentals/","title":"District of Clearwater Statement on Short-Term Rentals (April 8, 2026)","section":"District statement, April 8, 2026","quotes":["no new short-term rental bylaw package has yet been adopted by Council.","If the accommodation is a separate whole home, separate self-contained suite, or detached dwelling unit, it is generally not a bed and breakfast under the current bylaw framework."]},{"url":"https://www.districtofclearwater.com/short-term-rental-information-page-and-application-package-now-available/","title":"Short-Term Rental Information Page and Application Package Now Available (May 8, 2026)","section":"District notice, May 8, 2026","quotes":["A Temporary Use Permit is a land use approval.","A Business Licence is an operating approval."]},{"url":"https://districtofclearwater.civicweb.net/document/105297/","title":"Zoning Bylaw No. 133, 2016 (PDF, consolidated to April 1, 2025)","section":"s. 5.16; s. 8.1.2","quotes":["Bed and breakfast use, where permitted in this Bylaw, must comply with the following"]},{"url":"https://districtofclearwater.civicweb.net/document/107122/","title":"Official Community Plan (PDF, 2026), District of Clearwater","section":"Tourism policy k","quotes":["Short-term rentals are permitted only within the host’s principal residence or an accessory","residential suite located on the same property (such as a basement suite), provided the operator","obtains and maintains a valid business licence from the District."]}],"check":{"result":"matched","text_date":"2026-11-08"}},"licence":{"label":"Business licence","value":"Yes. The District says a business licence is an operating approval for a short-term rental and does not replace a Temporary Use Permit if one is needed. The short-term rental fee was not found; Bylaw 124 lists bed and breakfast at $100 a year.","short":"Yes, fee not found (B&B $100 a year)","status":"stated","sources":[{"url":"https://www.districtofclearwater.com/short-term-rental-information-page-and-application-package-now-available/","title":"Short-Term Rental Information Page and Application Package Now Available (May 8, 2026)","section":"District notice, May 8, 2026","quotes":["A business licence does not replace a required Temporary Use Permit."]},{"url":"https://districtofclearwater.civicweb.net/document/56496/","title":"Business Licensing and Regulation Bylaw No. 124, 2014 (PDF, consolidated)","section":"Schedule A, category 15","quotes":["15. BED AND BREAKFAST As defined in Section 2.1 $100.00"]}],"check":{"result":"matched","text_date":"2026-11-08"}},"provincial_registration":{"label":"Provincial registration","value":"Yes. The Province requires hosts to register; each unit needs its own registration number. Fee: $100 a year for the host's principal residence, $450 a year for a secondary unit. Clearwater is on the Province's list of exempt communities, so the provincial principal residence requirement does not apply here.","status":"stated","sources":[{"url":"https://www2.gov.bc.ca/gov/content/housing-tenancy/short-term-rentals/principal-residence-requirement","title":"Short-term rentals, principal residence requirement, Province of BC","section":"Province page, registration and exempt list","quotes":["Each short-term rental unit requires its own registration number.","Fee: $100 annually","Fee: $450 annually","Municipalities exempt from the principal residence requirement"]},{"url":"https://www.districtofclearwater.com/district-of-clearwater-statement-on-short-term-rentals/","title":"District of Clearwater Statement on Short-Term Rentals (April 8, 2026)","section":"District statement, April 8, 2026","quotes":["The Province now requires hosts to register, requires compliance with local bylaws and business licensing"]}],"check":{"result":"matched","text_date":"2026-11-08"}},"rules":{"label":"Operating rules","value":"Bed and breakfast (zoning s. 5.16): within the operator's own dwelling unit, up to 8 guests and 4 sleeping units, no cooking facilities in guest rooms, 1 parking space for each bedroom used, no guest stay over 60 days in a calendar year. For other short-term rentals the District says the licence covers local contact, listing information and licence number display.","status":"stated","sources":[{"url":"https://districtofclearwater.civicweb.net/document/105297/","title":"Zoning Bylaw No. 133, 2016 (PDF, consolidated to April 1, 2025)","section":"s. 5.16","quotes":["a) accommodation may be provided for not more than eight (8) persons as part of the bed","c) a maximum of four (4) sleeping units can be used for the bed and breakfast;","e) one (1) onsite parking space must be provided for each bedroom used; and","f) no bed and breakfast guest shall stay within the same dwelling unit for more than 60 days"]},{"url":"https://www.districtofclearwater.com/short-term-rental-information-page-and-application-package-now-available/","title":"Short-Term Rental Information Page and Application Package Now Available (May 8, 2026)","section":"District notice, May 8, 2026","quotes":["It reviews the operator and business operation, including local contact information, listing information, licence number display, and ongoing operating requirements."]}],"check":{"result":"matched","text_date":"2026-11-08"}},"fine":{"label":"Fine","value":"No short-term rental ticket exists. Operating without a business licence: municipal ticket $100 ($75 if paid within 30 days).","short":"Ticket $100 ($75 if paid in 30 days)","status":"stated","sources":[{"url":"https://districtofclearwater.civicweb.net/document/28332/","title":"Municipal Ticket Information Bylaw No. 221, 2019 (PDF, consolidated to September 2024)","section":"Schedule 4","quotes":["Business carried on without Licence 3.1 100 75","the discounted fines pursuant to section 265(2) of the Community Charter for the"]}],"check":{"result":"matched","text_date":"2026-11-08"}},"bylaw":{"label":"Bylaw","value":"No short-term rental bylaw adopted as of April 8, 2026 (a Temporary Use Permit and business licence application process was announced May 8, 2026). Applicable: Business Licensing and Regulation Bylaw No. 124, 2014; Zoning Bylaw No. 133, 2016 (s. 5.16); Development Procedures Bylaw No. 118, 2014.","status":"stated","sources":[{"url":"https://www.districtofclearwater.com/district-of-clearwater-statement-on-short-term-rentals/","title":"District of Clearwater Statement on Short-Term Rentals (April 8, 2026)","section":"District statement, April 8, 2026","quotes":["no new short-term rental bylaw package has yet been adopted by Council.","At this time, no new short-term rental bylaw package has yet been adopted by Council."]},{"url":"https://districtofclearwater.civicweb.net/document/56496/","title":"Business Licensing and Regulation Bylaw No. 124, 2014 (PDF, consolidated)","section":"s. 1.1","quotes":["District of Clearwater Business Licensing and Regulation Bylaw No. 124, 2014"]},{"url":"https://districtofclearwater.civicweb.net/document/105297/","title":"Zoning Bylaw No. 133, 2016 (PDF, consolidated to April 1, 2025)","section":"cover","quotes":["ZONING BYLAW NO. 133, 2016"]}],"check":{"result":"matched","text_date":"2026-11-08"}}},"facts_summary":{"total":6,"stated":6,"matched":6,"none":0,"unknown":0},"body_markdown":"## How it works\n\nAs of April 8, 2026 the District had adopted no short-term rental bylaw. On May 8, 2026 it announced a short-term rental information page and an application package for a Temporary Use Permit and business licence. We could not read that page, which returned an error on 2026-11-08, so ask the District for current rules.\n\nWhat we can confirm:\n- **Business licence:** the District says a business licence is an operating approval for a short-term rental. It does not replace a Temporary Use Permit if one is needed. For other short-term rentals, the licence covers local contact, listing information and licence number display. See the business-licence answer.\n- **Bed and breakfast:** an accessory use in the RL-1, SH-1, CR-1, R-1 and R-2 zones, if the operator lives in the same dwelling unit. Limits (Zoning Bylaw s. 5.16): up to 8 guests and 4 sleeping units, no cooking facilities in guest rooms, 1 parking space for each bedroom used, and no guest stay over 60 days in a calendar year.\n- **OCP policy:** the Official Community Plan says short-term rentals should be allowed only in the host's principal residence or an accessory suite on the same property, with a valid business licence.\n- **Province:** hosts must register with the Province, and each unit needs its own registration number. It costs $100 a year for the host's principal residence and $450 a year for a secondary unit. Clearwater is on the Province's list of exempt communities, so the provincial principal residence requirement does not apply here. Local bylaws and licences still apply.\n\n## Steps\n\n1. Call the District office (250-674-2257) to ask about the current short-term rental process and fees.\n2. Get a District business licence. Fees are paid in person at the District office.\n3. Ask TNRD Planning (250-377-8673) whether you also need a Temporary Use Permit.\n4. Register with the Province and show your registration number in your listing.\n\n## Good to know\n\n- A Bylaw 124 bed and breakfast licence is $100 a year. That bylaw has no short-term rental category, so the short-term rental fee is not confirmed.\n- The Temporary Use Permit fee in Development Procedures Bylaw No. 118 is $1,500, but the documents we read do not say it applies to short-term rentals.\n- Operating without a business licence is a municipal ticket of $100 ($75 if paid within 30 days). There is no ticket specific to short-term rentals. Provincial penalties are separate.","sources":[{"url":"https://www.districtofclearwater.com/district-of-clearwater-statement-on-short-term-rentals/","title":"District of Clearwater Statement on Short-Term Rentals (April 8, 2026)","accessed":"2026-11-08"},{"url":"https://www.districtofclearwater.com/short-term-rental-information-page-and-application-package-now-available/","title":"Short-Term Rental Information Page and Application Package Now Available (May 8, 2026)","accessed":"2026-11-08"},{"url":"https://districtofclearwater.civicweb.net/document/105297/","title":"Zoning Bylaw No. 133, 2016 (PDF, consolidated to April 1, 2025)","accessed":"2026-11-08"},{"url":"https://districtofclearwater.civicweb.net/document/56496/","title":"Business Licensing and Regulation Bylaw No. 124, 2014 (PDF, consolidated)","accessed":"2026-11-08"},{"url":"https://districtofclearwater.civicweb.net/document/107122/","title":"Official Community Plan (PDF, 2026), District of Clearwater","accessed":"2026-11-08"},{"url":"https://districtofclearwater.civicweb.net/document/28332/","title":"Municipal Ticket Information Bylaw No. 221, 2019 (PDF, consolidated to September 2024)","accessed":"2026-11-08"},{"url":"https://www2.gov.bc.ca/gov/content/housing-tenancy/short-term-rentals/principal-residence-requirement","title":"Short-term rentals, principal residence requirement, Province of BC","accessed":"2026-11-08"},{"url":"https://www.districtofclearwater.com/developers/planning-department/","title":"Planning Department, District of Clearwater","accessed":"2026-11-08"},{"url":"https://districtofclearwater.civicweb.net/document/24118/","title":"Development Procedures Bylaw No. 118 (PDF), Schedule A fees","accessed":"2026-11-08"}],"sources_read":"2026-11-08","review":{"status":"machine_checked","badge":"Checked against official text","label":"Checked by script, not yet by a person: the official wording behind 6 of 6 facts was matched to the official text."},"urls":{"html":"https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/clearwater/short-term-rental/","markdown":"https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/clearwater/short-term-rental.md","json":"https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/clearwater/short-term-rental.json"}}