GovHandbook

Colwood short-term rental rules (Airbnb, Vrbo)

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

Colwood, British ColumbiaChecked against official textSources read 2026-11-05

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.

Key facts

AllowedYes, 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.Business Licence Bylaw No. 1812 (Part 7, Short Term Rentals), Part 7(c); Business Licence Bylaw No. 1812 (Part 7, Short Term Rentals), s. 3 definitions; Land Use Bylaw No. 151, 1989 (consolidated to August 24, 2026), s. 2.1.10 · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06
Official wording
No person shall operate a short-term rental accommodation business unless the property is the principal residence of the owner.
means the renting of a dwelling unit or any part of it for a period of less than 90 consecutive days
Except where specifically excluded the following uses shall be permitted in any Zone:
7. Short Term Rental
Business licenceYes. 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.Business Licence Bylaw No. 1812 (Part 7, Short Term Rentals), Part 7(a); Fees and Charges Bylaw No. 1603 (consolidated to April 13, 2026), Schedule I; Business Licensing, Short-Term Rental Business License · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06
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.
Inter Community Designation $70 + Base License Fee Short-Term Rental $200 Fees and Charges Bylaw, No. 1603, 2016 - Consolidated Page 16
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
Provincial registrationYes. After getting the City licence, register the rental with the Province's short-term rental registry. Each rental unit needs its own registration number.Business Licensing, Short-Term Rental Business License; B.C.'s short-term rental principal residence requirement, Province of British Columbia, Principal residence requirement and registration fees; Short-term rentals, Province of British Columbia, Provincial overview · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06
Official wording
Following receipt of your business license from the City, register your Short-Term Rental with the Province of British Columbia
Each short-term rental unit requires its own registration number.
Short-term rental hosts, platforms and strata hotel platforms in B.C. must register and pay annual registration fees.
Operating rulesThe 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.Business Licence Bylaw No. 1812 (Part 7, Short Term Rentals), Part 7(b); Business Licensing, Short-Term Rental Inspections · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06
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
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
FineNo 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.Bylaw Notice Enforcement Bylaw No. 1911, 2021 (consolidated to March 9, 2026), Schedule B, Business Licence Bylaw 1812; Municipal Ticket Information Bylaw No. 1314, 2010 (consolidated to April 8, 2022), Schedule 2, Business License Bylaw 1812 · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06
Official wording
Fail to obtain business license 6(b)(c)(g) $200.00 $160.00 $240.00
Fail to obtain a business license 6 (b)(c)(g) $200
BylawBusiness 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)Business Licence Bylaw No. 1812 (Part 7, Short Term Rentals); Land Use Bylaw No. 151, 1989 (consolidated to August 24, 2026), s. 2.1.10; Fees and Charges Bylaw No. 1603 (consolidated to April 13, 2026), Schedule I · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06
Official wording
City of Colwood Business License Bylaw No.1812, 2020
Part 7: Short Term Rentals
Colwood Land Use Bylaw No. 151, 1989
Fees and Charges Bylaw, No. 1603, 2016

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 (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

The same question in other places

View Royal · Esquimalt · Langford · Victoria · Metchosin · Highlands

Short-term rental rules in British Columbia, by municipality →

Sources

  1. Business Licensing, City of Colwood (read 2026-11-05)
  2. Business Licence Bylaw No. 1812 (Part 7, Short Term Rentals) (PDF) (read 2026-11-05)
  3. Fees and Charges Bylaw No. 1603 (consolidated to April 13, 2026) (read 2026-11-05)
  4. Land Use Bylaw No. 151, 1989 (consolidated to August 24, 2026) (PDF) (read 2026-11-05)
  5. Short-term rentals, Province of British Columbia (read 2026-11-05)
  6. B.C.'s short-term rental principal residence requirement, Province of British Columbia (read 2026-11-05)
  7. Bylaw Notice Enforcement Bylaw No. 1911, 2021 (consolidated to March 9, 2026) (read 2026-11-05)
  8. Municipal Ticket Information Bylaw No. 1314, 2010 (consolidated to April 8, 2022) (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. How answers are checked.