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

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

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

**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.

**Who handles it:** More than one level of government  
**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:**
- Online: Online Business Licence Application (City of Colwood), https://ca.services.docusign.net/webforms-ux/v1.0/forms/06eaafe0b0b583af859ba3ab891c1940
- Online: Short-term rental registration (Province of BC), https://www2.gov.bc.ca/gov/content/housing-tenancy/short-term-rentals/registry
- Phone: ServiceBC short-term rental line, 1-833-828-2240
- Email: Building Services (inspection), building@colwood.ca

## Key facts

- **Allowed:** 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.
  - Source: [Business Licence Bylaw No. 1812 (Part 7, Short Term Rentals), Part 7(c)](https://colwood.civicweb.net/document/165)
  - Official wording: "No person shall operate a short-term rental accommodation business unless the property is the principal residence of the owner."
  - Source: [Business Licence Bylaw No. 1812 (Part 7, Short Term Rentals), s. 3 definitions](https://colwood.civicweb.net/document/165)
  - Official wording: "means the renting of a dwelling unit or any part of it for a period of less than 90 consecutive days"
  - Source: [Land Use Bylaw No. 151, 1989 (consolidated to August 24, 2026), s. 2.1.10](https://colwood.civicweb.net/document/1999)
  - Official wording: "Except where specifically excluded the following uses shall be permitted in any Zone:" … "7. Short Term Rental"
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06
- **Business licence:** 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.
  - Source: [Business Licence Bylaw No. 1812 (Part 7, Short Term Rentals), Part 7(a)](https://colwood.civicweb.net/document/165)
  - Official wording: "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."
  - Source: [Fees and Charges Bylaw No. 1603 (consolidated to April 13, 2026), Schedule I](https://colwood.civicweb.net/document/177)
  - Official wording: "Inter Community Designation $70 + Base License Fee Short-Term Rental $200 Fees and Charges Bylaw, No. 1603, 2016 - Consolidated Page 16"
  - Source: [Business Licensing, Short-Term Rental Business License](https://www.colwood.ca/business-building-development/business/business-licensing)
  - Official wording: "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: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06
- **Provincial registration:** 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.
  - Source: [Business Licensing, Short-Term Rental Business License](https://www.colwood.ca/business-building-development/business/business-licensing)
  - Official wording: "Following receipt of your business license from the City, register your Short-Term Rental with the Province of British Columbia"
  - Source: [B.C.'s short-term rental principal residence requirement, Province of British Columbia, Principal residence requirement and registration fees](https://www2.gov.bc.ca/gov/content/housing-tenancy/short-term-rentals/principal-residence-requirement)
  - Official wording: "Each short-term rental unit requires its own registration number."
  - Source: [Short-term rentals, Province of British Columbia, Provincial overview](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."
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06
- **Operating rules:** 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.
  - Source: [Business Licence Bylaw No. 1812 (Part 7, Short Term Rentals), Part 7(b)](https://colwood.civicweb.net/document/165)
  - Official wording: "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"
  - Source: [Business Licensing, Short-Term Rental Inspections](https://www.colwood.ca/business-building-development/business/business-licensing)
  - Official wording: "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: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06
- **Fine:** 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.
  - Source: [Bylaw Notice Enforcement Bylaw No. 1911, 2021 (consolidated to March 9, 2026), Schedule B, Business Licence Bylaw 1812](https://colwood.civicweb.net/document/187475)
  - Official wording: "Fail to obtain business license 6(b)(c)(g) $200.00 $160.00 $240.00"
  - Source: [Municipal Ticket Information Bylaw No. 1314, 2010 (consolidated to April 8, 2022), Schedule 2, Business License Bylaw 1812](https://colwood.civicweb.net/document/1091)
  - Official wording: "Fail to obtain a business license 6 (b)(c)(g) $200"
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06
- **Bylaw:** 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)
  - Source: [Business Licence Bylaw No. 1812 (Part 7, Short Term Rentals)](https://colwood.civicweb.net/document/165)
  - Official wording: "City of Colwood Business License Bylaw No.1812, 2020" … "Part 7: Short Term Rentals"
  - Source: [Land Use Bylaw No. 151, 1989 (consolidated to August 24, 2026), s. 2.1.10](https://colwood.civicweb.net/document/1999)
  - Official wording: "Colwood Land Use Bylaw No. 151, 1989"
  - Source: [Fees and Charges Bylaw No. 1603 (consolidated to April 13, 2026), Schedule I](https://colwood.civicweb.net/document/177)
  - Official wording: "Fees and Charges Bylaw, No. 1603, 2016"
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06

## How it works

A 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.

## Steps

1. Apply for a Colwood business licence through the online application. The fee is $200.
2. The City contacts you to take payment and book a short inspection by Building Services.
3. 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.
4. Put the City licence number in every ad and listing.

## Good to know

- The inspection may check working smoke detectors, a 5 lb 1A-B fire extinguisher, kitchen and bathroom exhaust fans, and no immediate safety risks.
- Licence fees are non-refundable.
- 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.
- 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.

## Official forms and pages

- [Business Licensing, City of Colwood](https://www.colwood.ca/business-building-development/business/business-licensing)
- [Business Licence Bylaw No. 1812 (PDF)](https://colwood.civicweb.net/document/165)
- [Short-term rentals, Province of British Columbia](https://www2.gov.bc.ca/gov/content/housing-tenancy/short-term-rentals)

## Related questions

- [Colwood business licences: who needs one, fees and how to apply](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/colwood/business-licence.md)

## The same question elsewhere

- [Short-term rental rules in British Columbia, by municipality](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/short-term-rental.md)
- [View Royal](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/view-royal/short-term-rental.md)
- [Esquimalt](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/esquimalt/short-term-rental.md)
- [Langford](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/langford/short-term-rental.md)
- [Victoria](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/victoria/short-term-rental.md)
- [Metchosin](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/metchosin/short-term-rental.md)
- [Highlands](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/highlands/short-term-rental.md)

## Sources

- [Business Licensing, City of Colwood](https://www.colwood.ca/business-building-development/business/business-licensing) (read 2026-11-05)
- [Business Licence Bylaw No. 1812 (Part 7, Short Term Rentals) (PDF)](https://colwood.civicweb.net/document/165) (read 2026-11-05)
- [Fees and Charges Bylaw No. 1603 (consolidated to April 13, 2026)](https://colwood.civicweb.net/document/177) (read 2026-11-05)
- [Land Use Bylaw No. 151, 1989 (consolidated to August 24, 2026) (PDF)](https://colwood.civicweb.net/document/1999) (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)
- [B.C.'s short-term rental 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 Notice Enforcement Bylaw No. 1911, 2021 (consolidated to March 9, 2026)](https://colwood.civicweb.net/document/187475) (read 2026-11-05)
- [Municipal Ticket Information Bylaw No. 1314, 2010 (consolidated to April 8, 2022)](https://colwood.civicweb.net/document/1091) (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/colwood/short-term-rental/_