{"title":"Comox short-term rental rules (Airbnb, Vrbo)","question":"Can I rent out my home or a room on Airbnb in Comox?","slug":"short-term-rental","place":{"path":"ca/bc/comox","name":"Comox","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 Comox you can run a vacation rental only as a home occupation, if you are the owner and live on the same lot, in a low-density residential zone or other listed zone. You need a Town business licence ($300 a year) and a provincial registration number.","aliases":["airbnb comox","vacation rental comox","short term rental comox","vrbo licence comox"],"cost":"Vacation Rental business licence is $300 a year.","how_long":"The Town says the approval process takes around 2 months.","where":[{"type":"online","label":"Vacation Rental Approval Process","value":"https://www.comox.ca/vacationrental"},{"type":"phone","label":"Planning Department","value":"250-339-1118"},{"type":"phone","label":"Building Department (directory)","value":"250-339-2259"},{"type":"in_person","label":"Town Hall","value":"1809 Beaufort Avenue, Comox, BC V9M 1R9","note":"Monday to Friday, 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m."}],"documents":[],"forms":[{"title":"Vacation Rental Approval Process, Town of Comox","url":"https://www.comox.ca/vacationrental"},{"title":"Principal residence requirement, Province of BC","url":"https://www2.gov.bc.ca/gov/content/housing-tenancy/short-term-rentals/principal-residence-requirement"},{"title":"Zoning Bylaw No. 2056 (PDF)","url":"https://www.comox.ca/sites/default/files/2026-09/Consolidated%20Bylaw%202056%20-%20Zoning%20Bylaw_at%20July8%202026%20%281%29.pdf"}],"related":[{"slug":"business-licence","title":"Comox business licences: who needs one, fees and how to apply","url":"https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/comox/business-licence/"},{"slug":"home-based-business","title":"Comox home-based business rules","url":"https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/comox/home-based-business/"},{"slug":"secondary-suite","title":"Comox secondary suite and carriage house rules","url":"https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/comox/secondary-suite/"},{"slug":"zoning-lookup","title":"Comox zoning: find your zone and what it allows","url":"https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/comox/zoning-lookup/"}],"nearby":[{"place":"ca/bc/courtenay","name":"Courtenay","url":"https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/courtenay/short-term-rental/"},{"place":"ca/bc/cumberland","name":"Cumberland","url":"https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/cumberland/short-term-rental/"},{"place":"ca/bc/powell-river","name":"Powell River","url":"https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/powell-river/short-term-rental/"},{"place":"ca/bc/campbell-river","name":"Campbell River","url":"https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/campbell-river/short-term-rental/"},{"place":"ca/bc/port-alberni","name":"Port Alberni","url":"https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/port-alberni/short-term-rental/"},{"place":"ca/bc/qualicum-beach","name":"Qualicum Beach","url":"https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/qualicum-beach/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":"Vacation rental is allowed as a home occupation in the low-density residential zones (R-SSMU, R-WF, R-CL, R-LL) and some other zones, within a dwelling unit on the same lot as the dwelling where the resident operator lives. It must be run by a resident property owner whose principal residence is on the same lot, and no more than one dwelling unit per lot may be used. It can be in a principal dwelling, secondary suite or coach house. Comox is on the Province's list of communities with the principal residence requirement.","short":"Yes, home occupation in some zones, resident owner","status":"stated","sources":[{"url":"https://www.comox.ca/sites/default/files/2026-09/Consolidated%20Bylaw%202056%20-%20Zoning%20Bylaw_at%20July8%202026%20%281%29.pdf","title":"Zoning Bylaw No. 2056 (PDF, current to July 8, 2026), Town of Comox","section":"Table 6.5(1); Table 6.5(3)","quotes":["Vacation Rental Accommodation home occupations are","operated by a resident property","on the same lot as the dwelling unit","which the resident operator resides.","No more than one dwelling unit per lot shall be used for a vacation"]},{"url":"https://www.comox.ca/sites/default/files/2026-09/Consolidated%20Bylaw%202056%20-%20Zoning%20Bylaw_at%20July8%202026%20%281%29.pdf","title":"Zoning Bylaw No. 2056 (PDF, current to July 8, 2026), Town of Comox","section":"Table 9.2(1)","quotes":["(d) Home (iii) Bed and Breakfast Occupation 0.5 spaces per sleeping unit Accommodation (iv) Vacation Rental n/a Accommodation ALL OTHER USES"]},{"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":"Communities with principal residence requirement list","quotes":["Communities with principal residence requirement"]}],"check":{"result":"matched","text_date":"2026-11-06"}},"licence":{"label":"Business licence","value":"Yes. All home occupations, including vacation rentals, must have a valid Town business licence. The Vacation Rental business licence fee is $300 a year. The approval process has six steps (Planning, Building, Fire, Bylaw Officer, Business Licence Inspector, Finance) and takes around 2 months.","short":"Yes, $300 a year","status":"stated","sources":[{"url":"https://www.comox.ca/sites/default/files/2026-09/Consolidated%20Bylaw%202056%20-%20Zoning%20Bylaw_at%20July8%202026%20%281%29.pdf","title":"Zoning Bylaw No. 2056 (PDF, current to July 8, 2026), Town of Comox","section":"Table 6.5(3)(a)","quotes":["All home occupations must have a valid business licence issued by the"]},{"url":"https://www.comox.ca/sites/default/files/2026-06/Bylaw%202058%20Consolidated%20-%20Fees%20and%20Charges%20as%20at%20June%2010%2C%202026.pdf","title":"Fees and Charges Bylaw No. 2058 (PDF, consolidated to June 10, 2026), Town of Comox","section":"Schedule D","quotes":["Vacation Rental Business $300"]},{"url":"https://www.comox.ca/vacationrental","title":"Vacation Rental Approval Process, Town of Comox","section":"Vacation Rental Approval Process","quotes":["create the Business Licence and contact the applicant for payment, which is $300","it currently takes around 2 months to complete"]}],"check":{"result":"matched","text_date":"2026-11-06"}},"provincial_registration":{"label":"Provincial registration","value":"Yes. Provincial registration applies to short-term rentals offered for fewer than 90 consecutive days, whether or not a local business licence is required, and each rental unit needs its own registration number. Compliance with local bylaws is a condition of registration.","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":"Provincial registration","quotes":["Provincial registration requirements apply to short-term rentals offered for fewer than 90 consecutive days, regardless of whether a local business licence is required.","Each short-term rental unit requires its own registration number.","Compliance with local bylaws is a condition of registration."]}],"check":{"result":"matched","text_date":"2026-11-06"}},"rules":{"label":"Operating rules","value":"Six guests at any given time. Resident operator only (the owner must live on the lot). Only one dwelling unit per lot. No non-resident employees (employee rules apply to those working in the home). No nuisance from noise, vibration, smoke, dust, odours, heat, glare or electrical disturbance. Recreational vehicles may not be parked on site for the rental. A vacation rental cannot be on a lot with a care facility. The Town's approval process includes Fire Department and Bylaw Officer in-person inspections and a check for a building permit for the suite or coach house.","status":"stated","sources":[{"url":"https://www.comox.ca/sites/default/files/2026-09/Consolidated%20Bylaw%202056%20-%20Zoning%20Bylaw_at%20July8%202026%20%281%29.pdf","title":"Zoning Bylaw No. 2056 (PDF, current to July 8, 2026), Town of Comox","section":"Table 6.5(3)","quotes":["Six guests at any given time.","On-site parking of recreational vehicles is not permitted.","No accommodation home occupation shall be operated on the same lot as","No non-resident employees."]},{"url":"https://www.comox.ca/vacationrental","title":"Vacation Rental Approval Process, Town of Comox","section":"Vacation Rental Approval Process","quotes":["The Fire Department calls the applicant to set up an in-person inspection.","They check to see if there is a Building Permit for a Secondary Suite or Coach House."]}],"check":{"result":"matched","text_date":"2026-11-06"}},"fine":{"label":"Fine","value":"Business Regulation Bylaw: operating without a business licence is a $450 bylaw notice ($500 after 14 days) or a $500 municipal ticket; not displaying the licence $50 ($100 after 14 days). Zoning breaches such as an unlawful home occupation (s. 6.5): $200 ($250 after 14 days).","short":"Notice $450 ($500 after 14 days); ticket $500","status":"stated","sources":[{"url":"https://www.comox.ca/sites/default/files/2026-08/Bylaw%202004%20Consolidated%20-%20Bylaw%20Notice%20Enforcement%20as%20at%20June%2010%2C%202026.pdf","title":"Bylaw Notice Enforcement Bylaw No. 2004 (PDF, consolidated to June 10, 2026), Town of Comox","section":"Schedule A, A2 and A18","quotes":["No Business Licence 3(1) $450 $500 50%","Unlawful home occupation 200 250 N/A"]},{"url":"https://www.comox.ca/sites/default/files/2026-06/Bylaw%201882%20Consolidated%20-%20Business%20Regulation%20-%20as%20at%20Mar%2018%2C%202026.pdf","title":"Business Regulation Bylaw No. 1882 (PDF, consolidated to March 18, 2026), Town of Comox","section":"s. 11(4)","quotes":["No Business Licence 3(1) $500.00"]}],"check":{"result":"matched","text_date":"2026-11-06"}},"bylaw":{"label":"Bylaw","value":"Zoning Bylaw No. 2056 (s. 6.5 Home Occupations); Business Regulation Bylaw No. 1882; Fees and Charges Bylaw No. 2058 (Schedule D).","status":"stated","sources":[{"url":"https://www.comox.ca/sites/default/files/2026-09/Consolidated%20Bylaw%202056%20-%20Zoning%20Bylaw_at%20July8%202026%20%281%29.pdf","title":"Zoning Bylaw No. 2056 (PDF, current to July 8, 2026), Town of Comox","section":"s. 6.5","quotes":["Town of Comox | Zoning Bylaw No. 2056 6.5 Home Occupations Table 6.5(1) Home Occupation Classifications"]},{"url":"https://www.comox.ca/sites/default/files/2026-06/Bylaw%201882%20Consolidated%20-%20Business%20Regulation%20-%20as%20at%20Mar%2018%2C%202026.pdf","title":"Business Regulation Bylaw No. 1882 (PDF, consolidated to March 18, 2026), Town of Comox","section":"s. 1","quotes":["This Bylaw may be cited as the Comox Business Regulation Bylaw No. 1882."]}],"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\nThe Town of Comox [Zoning Bylaw No. 2056](https://www.comox.ca/sites/default/files/2026-09/Consolidated%20Bylaw%202056%20-%20Zoning%20Bylaw_at%20July8%202026%20%281%29.pdf) treats a vacation rental as a home occupation. It is allowed in the low-density residential zones (R-SSMU, R-WF, R-CL, R-LL) and some other zones, within a dwelling unit on the same lot as the dwelling where the resident operator lives. The operator must be the property owner with a principal residence on that lot, and no more than one dwelling unit per lot may be used. It can be in a principal dwelling, secondary suite or coach house. Comox is also on the Province's list of communities with the principal residence requirement.\n\n## Steps\n\n1. Confirm your zone and that you meet the owner-resident rule (see the zoning-lookup answer).\n2. Follow the Town's Vacation Rental Approval Process (comox.ca/vacationrental). It has six steps (Planning, Building, Fire, Bylaw Officer, Business Licence Inspector, Finance) and takes around 2 months.\n3. Pay the business licence fee, $300 a year. The Town also checks for a building permit for any suite or coach house.\n4. Register with the Province. Provincial registration applies to rentals of fewer than 90 consecutive days, and each rental unit needs its own registration number. Compliance with local bylaws is a condition.\n\n## Good to know\n\n- **Rules:** six guests at any given time; resident operator only; no non-resident employees; no nuisance from noise, vibration, smoke, dust, odours, heat, glare or electrical disturbance; no recreational vehicles parked on site for the rental; not allowed on a lot with a care facility.\n- Fire Department and Bylaw Officer in-person inspections are part of the approval.\n- Operating without a business licence: a bylaw notice is $450 ($500 after 14 days), and a municipal ticket is $500. Not displaying the licence is $50 ($100 after 14 days). An unlawful home occupation under the Zoning Bylaw is $200 ($250 after 14 days).\n- The court penalty for breaching the Business Regulation Bylaw is a minimum of $500 and a maximum of $10,000.\n- No requirement to post the licence number online or name a local contact was found; the Business Regulation Bylaw requires posting the licence at the place of business.","sources":[{"url":"https://www.comox.ca/sites/default/files/2026-09/Consolidated%20Bylaw%202056%20-%20Zoning%20Bylaw_at%20July8%202026%20%281%29.pdf","title":"Zoning Bylaw No. 2056 (PDF, current to July 8, 2026), Town of Comox","accessed":"2026-11-06"},{"url":"https://www.comox.ca/vacationrental","title":"Vacation Rental Approval Process, Town of Comox","accessed":"2026-11-06"},{"url":"https://www.comox.ca/sites/default/files/2026-06/Bylaw%202058%20Consolidated%20-%20Fees%20and%20Charges%20as%20at%20June%2010%2C%202026.pdf","title":"Fees and Charges Bylaw No. 2058 (PDF, consolidated to June 10, 2026), Town of Comox","accessed":"2026-11-06"},{"url":"https://www.comox.ca/sites/default/files/2026-06/Bylaw%201882%20Consolidated%20-%20Business%20Regulation%20-%20as%20at%20Mar%2018%2C%202026.pdf","title":"Business Regulation Bylaw No. 1882 (PDF, consolidated to March 18, 2026), Town of Comox","accessed":"2026-11-06"},{"url":"https://www.comox.ca/sites/default/files/2026-08/Bylaw%202004%20Consolidated%20-%20Bylaw%20Notice%20Enforcement%20as%20at%20June%2010%2C%202026.pdf","title":"Bylaw Notice Enforcement Bylaw No. 2004 (PDF, consolidated to June 10, 2026), Town of Comox","accessed":"2026-11-06"},{"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":"2026-11-06"}],"sources_read":"2026-11-06","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/comox/short-term-rental/","markdown":"https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/comox/short-term-rental.md","json":"https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/comox/short-term-rental.json"}}