{"title":"Colwood short-term rental rules (Airbnb, Vrbo)","question":"Can I rent out my home or a room on Airbnb in Colwood?","slug":"short-term-rental","place":{"path":"ca/bc/colwood","name":"Colwood","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":"Yes, but only at your own principal residence. In Colwood a short-term rental (under 90 consecutive days) needs a City business licence ($200) and a short Building Services inspection, then registration with the Province. The licence number must appear in every ad.","aliases":["airbnb colwood","vrbo colwood","short term rental licence colwood","rent a room colwood","bed and breakfast colwood"],"cost":"$200 City business licence fee, non-refundable. The provincial registration fee is not covered here.","how_long":"The City contacts you to take payment and book the inspection. No timeline is stated.","where":[{"type":"online","label":"Online Business Licence Application (City of Colwood)","value":"https://ca.services.docusign.net/webforms-ux/v1.0/forms/06eaafe0b0b583af859ba3ab891c1940"},{"type":"online","label":"Short-term rental registration (Province of BC)","value":"https://www2.gov.bc.ca/gov/content/housing-tenancy/short-term-rentals/registry"},{"type":"phone","label":"ServiceBC short-term rental line","value":"1-833-828-2240"},{"type":"email","label":"Building Services (inspection)","value":"building@colwood.ca"}],"documents":[],"forms":[{"title":"Business Licensing, City of Colwood","url":"https://www.colwood.ca/business-building-development/business/business-licensing"},{"title":"Business Licence Bylaw No. 1812 (PDF)","url":"https://colwood.civicweb.net/document/165"},{"title":"Short-term rentals, Province of British Columbia","url":"https://www2.gov.bc.ca/gov/content/housing-tenancy/short-term-rentals"}],"related":[{"slug":"business-licence","title":"Colwood business licences: who needs one, fees and how to apply","url":"https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/colwood/business-licence/"}],"nearby":[{"place":"ca/bc/view-royal","name":"View Royal","url":"https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/view-royal/short-term-rental/"},{"place":"ca/bc/esquimalt","name":"Esquimalt","url":"https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/esquimalt/short-term-rental/"},{"place":"ca/bc/langford","name":"Langford","url":"https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/langford/short-term-rental/"},{"place":"ca/bc/victoria","name":"Victoria","url":"https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/victoria/short-term-rental/"},{"place":"ca/bc/metchosin","name":"Metchosin","url":"https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/metchosin/short-term-rental/"},{"place":"ca/bc/highlands","name":"Highlands","url":"https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/highlands/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":"Yes, only at the owner's principal residence. A short-term rental is renting a dwelling unit or any part of it for under 90 consecutive days. The Land Use Bylaw permits the use in any zone unless a zone specifically excludes it.","short":"Yes, owner's principal residence only","status":"stated","sources":[{"url":"https://colwood.civicweb.net/document/165","title":"Business Licence Bylaw No. 1812 (Part 7, Short Term Rentals) (PDF)","section":"Part 7(c)","quotes":["No person shall operate a short-term rental accommodation business unless the property is the principal residence of the owner."]},{"url":"https://colwood.civicweb.net/document/165","title":"Business Licence Bylaw No. 1812 (Part 7, Short Term Rentals) (PDF)","section":"s. 3 definitions","quotes":["means the renting of a dwelling unit or any part of it for a period of less than 90 consecutive days"]},{"url":"https://colwood.civicweb.net/document/1999","title":"Land Use Bylaw No. 151, 1989 (consolidated to August 24, 2026) (PDF)","section":"s. 2.1.10","quotes":["Except where specifically excluded the following uses shall be permitted in any Zone:","7. Short Term Rental"]}],"check":{"result":"matched","text_date":"2026-11-06"}},"licence":{"label":"Business licence","value":"Yes. A City business licence is required before operating. The fee is $200. The City contacts you to take payment and book a short inspection by Building Services.","short":"Yes, $200","status":"stated","sources":[{"url":"https://colwood.civicweb.net/document/165","title":"Business Licence Bylaw No. 1812 (Part 7, Short Term Rentals) (PDF)","section":"Part 7(a)","quotes":["No person shall carry on business as a short-term rental accommodation operator without having first obtained a license to do from the Chief License Inspector."]},{"url":"https://colwood.civicweb.net/document/177","title":"Fees and Charges Bylaw No. 1603 (consolidated to April 13, 2026)","section":"Schedule I","quotes":["Inter Community Designation $70 + Base License Fee Short-Term Rental $200 Fees and Charges Bylaw, No. 1603, 2016 - Consolidated Page 16"]},{"url":"https://www.colwood.ca/business-building-development/business/business-licensing","title":"Business Licensing, City of Colwood","section":"Short-Term Rental Business License","quotes":["The City will contact you to pay the Business Licensing Fee and schedule a short inspection appointment with a member of the Building Services Department"]}],"check":{"result":"matched","text_date":"2026-11-06"}},"provincial_registration":{"label":"Provincial registration","value":"Yes. After getting the City licence, register the rental with the Province's short-term rental registry. Each rental unit needs its own registration number.","status":"stated","sources":[{"url":"https://www.colwood.ca/business-building-development/business/business-licensing","title":"Business Licensing, City of Colwood","section":"Short-Term Rental Business License","quotes":["Following receipt of your business license from the City, register your Short-Term Rental with the Province of British Columbia"]},{"url":"https://www2.gov.bc.ca/gov/content/housing-tenancy/short-term-rentals/principal-residence-requirement","title":"B.C.'s short-term rental principal residence requirement, Province of British Columbia","section":"Principal residence requirement and registration fees","quotes":["Each short-term rental unit requires its own registration number."]},{"url":"https://www2.gov.bc.ca/gov/content/housing-tenancy/short-term-rentals","title":"Short-term rentals, Province of British Columbia","section":"Provincial overview","quotes":["Short-term rental hosts, platforms and strata hotel platforms in B.C. must register and pay annual registration fees."]}],"check":{"result":"matched","text_date":"2026-11-06"}},"rules":{"label":"Operating rules","value":"The licence number must appear in all ads and listings. The rental must be the owner's principal residence. The City inspection may check working smoke detectors, a 5 lb 1A-B fire extinguisher, kitchen and bathroom exhaust fans, and no immediate safety risks.","status":"stated","sources":[{"url":"https://colwood.civicweb.net/document/165","title":"Business Licence Bylaw No. 1812 (Part 7, Short Term Rentals) (PDF)","section":"Part 7(b)","quotes":["only offer to conduct a Short-Term Rental for which a business license is required under this bylaw if a valid business license number for the Short-Term Rental business is included in any advertising, listings or other promotional material"]},{"url":"https://www.colwood.ca/business-building-development/business/business-licensing","title":"Business Licensing, City of Colwood","section":"Short-Term Rental Inspections","quotes":["Smoke detectors in working condition and not expired","5 lb. 1A-B Fire Extinguisher (1A:10B:C or 2A:10B:C rating)","Bathrooms exhaust fans are in working condition"]}],"check":{"result":"matched","text_date":"2026-11-06"}},"fine":{"label":"Fine","value":"No fine listed for the Part 7 rules specifically. Doing business without a licence: bylaw notice $200 ($160 if paid within 14 days, $240 after 28 days); municipal ticket $200.","short":"Notice $200 ($160 if paid in 14 days); ticket $200","status":"stated","sources":[{"url":"https://colwood.civicweb.net/document/187475","title":"Bylaw Notice Enforcement Bylaw No. 1911, 2021 (consolidated to March 9, 2026)","section":"Schedule B, Business Licence Bylaw 1812","quotes":["Fail to obtain business license 6(b)(c)(g) $200.00 $160.00 $240.00"]},{"url":"https://colwood.civicweb.net/document/1091","title":"Municipal Ticket Information Bylaw No. 1314, 2010 (consolidated to April 8, 2022)","section":"Schedule 2, Business License Bylaw 1812","quotes":["Fail to obtain a business license 6 (b)(c)(g) $200"]}],"check":{"result":"matched","text_date":"2026-11-06"}},"bylaw":{"label":"Bylaw","value":"Business Licence Bylaw No. 1812, 2020 (Part 7, Short Term Rentals); Land Use Bylaw No. 151, 1989 (s. 2.1.10); Fees and Charges Bylaw No. 1603, 2016 (Schedule I)","status":"stated","sources":[{"url":"https://colwood.civicweb.net/document/165","title":"Business Licence Bylaw No. 1812 (Part 7, Short Term Rentals) (PDF)","section":"Part 7","quotes":["City of Colwood Business License Bylaw No.1812, 2020","Part 7: Short Term Rentals"]},{"url":"https://colwood.civicweb.net/document/1999","title":"Land Use Bylaw No. 151, 1989 (consolidated to August 24, 2026) (PDF)","section":"s. 2.1.10","quotes":["Colwood Land Use Bylaw No. 151, 1989"]},{"url":"https://colwood.civicweb.net/document/177","title":"Fees and Charges Bylaw No. 1603 (consolidated to April 13, 2026)","section":"Schedule I","quotes":["Fees and Charges Bylaw, No. 1603, 2016"]}],"check":{"result":"matched","text_date":"2026-11-06"}}},"facts_summary":{"total":6,"stated":6,"matched":6,"none":0,"unknown":0},"body_markdown":"## How it works\n\nA short-term rental is renting a dwelling unit or any part of it for under 90 consecutive days. [Business Licence Bylaw 1812](https://colwood.civicweb.net/document/165) (Part 7) allows it only at the owner's principal residence, and the Land Use Bylaw permits the use in any zone unless a zone specifically excludes it. The Province's principal residence requirement also applies in Colwood: the host's usual home plus one secondary suite or accessory dwelling unit on the same property.\n\n## Steps\n\n1. Apply for a Colwood business licence through the online application. The fee is $200.\n2. The City contacts you to take payment and book a short inspection by Building Services.\n3. After you get the City licence, register the rental with the Province's short-term rental registry. Each rental unit needs its own registration number. For help, call ServiceBC at 1-833-828-2240.\n4. Put the City licence number in every ad and listing.\n\n## Good to know\n\n- The inspection may check working smoke detectors, a 5 lb 1A-B fire extinguisher, kitchen and bathroom exhaust fans, and no immediate safety risks.\n- Licence fees are non-refundable.\n- Doing business without a licence: a bylaw notice is $200 ($160 if paid within 14 days); a municipal ticket is $200. On conviction the fine is not less than $100 and up to $10,000. The ticket schedules do not say whether they apply to an unlicensed short-term rental.\n- We found no limit on guests or bedrooms, no parking requirement and no local contact rule. Ask the City if you need to be sure.","sources":[{"url":"https://www.colwood.ca/business-building-development/business/business-licensing","title":"Business Licensing, City of Colwood","accessed":"2026-11-05"},{"url":"https://colwood.civicweb.net/document/165","title":"Business Licence Bylaw No. 1812 (Part 7, Short Term Rentals) (PDF)","accessed":"2026-11-05"},{"url":"https://colwood.civicweb.net/document/177","title":"Fees and Charges Bylaw No. 1603 (consolidated to April 13, 2026)","accessed":"2026-11-05"},{"url":"https://colwood.civicweb.net/document/1999","title":"Land Use Bylaw No. 151, 1989 (consolidated to August 24, 2026) (PDF)","accessed":"2026-11-05"},{"url":"https://www2.gov.bc.ca/gov/content/housing-tenancy/short-term-rentals","title":"Short-term rentals, Province of British Columbia","accessed":"2026-11-05"},{"url":"https://www2.gov.bc.ca/gov/content/housing-tenancy/short-term-rentals/principal-residence-requirement","title":"B.C.'s short-term rental principal residence requirement, Province of British Columbia","accessed":"2026-11-05"},{"url":"https://colwood.civicweb.net/document/187475","title":"Bylaw Notice Enforcement Bylaw No. 1911, 2021 (consolidated to March 9, 2026)","accessed":"2026-11-05"},{"url":"https://colwood.civicweb.net/document/1091","title":"Municipal Ticket Information Bylaw No. 1314, 2010 (consolidated to April 8, 2022)","accessed":"2026-11-05"}],"sources_read":"2026-11-05","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/colwood/short-term-rental/","markdown":"https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/colwood/short-term-rental.md","json":"https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/colwood/short-term-rental.json"}}