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

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

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

**Short answer:** In Coquitlam, the City licenses short-term rentals only as a sleeping unit in the host's own dwelling, and the host must live there. You need a home-based business licence ($100.80 a year), an inspection, and a provincial registration. The City does not address whole-home rentals.

**Who handles it:** More than one level of government  
**Cost:** City home-based business licence $100.80 a year (Level One). Provincial registration is $100 a year for your principal residence and $450 for a separate secondary unit.  
**How long:** Provincial registration must be renewed each year. City licences last one year.  
**Where:**
- Online: City Business Licences (short-term rental licence), https://www.coquitlam.ca/602/Business-Licences
- Online: Provincial short-term rental registry, https://www2.gov.bc.ca/gov/content/housing-tenancy/short-term-rentals/registry
- Phone: Service BC short-term rental help, 1-833-828-2240
- Phone: Planning and Development (zoning questions), 604-927-3430

## Key facts

- **Allowed:** The City licenses short-term rentals as a sleeping unit that is part of the host's dwelling (bed and breakfast, Airbnb private room): a permanent resident must live in and operate it, with no separate cooking facilities. Whole-home rentals are not addressed. The Province's principal residence requirement also applies in Coquitlam.
  - Source: [Business Licences, Short-Term Rental Business Licence](https://www.coquitlam.ca/602/Business-Licences)
  - Official wording: "At least one permanent resident of the home must live in and operate the short-term rental" … "Rental space must not have separate cooking facilities. Shared cooking facilities are permitted." … "Examples of short-term rentals include but are not limited to bed and breakfasts and Airbnb® private room rentals."
  - Source: [Short-term rental principal residence requirement, Province of British Columbia, List of communities](https://www2.gov.bc.ca/gov/content/housing-tenancy/short-term-rentals/principal-residence-requirement)
  - Official wording: "Central Saanich Chilliwack Coldstream Colwood Comox Coquitlam Courtenay Columbia Shuswap Regional District Electoral Area B (Revelstoke Rural) Cowichan Valley Regional District Electoral Area A (Mill Bay/Malahat)"
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06
- **Business licence:** Yes. All short-term rentals need a home-based business licence and an inspection. The fee is $100.80 a year (Level One, which lists bed and breakfast and home occupation).
  - Source: [Business Licences, Short-Term Rental Business Licence](https://www.coquitlam.ca/602/Business-Licences)
  - Official wording: "All short-term rentals require a home-based business licence and an inspection"
  - Source: [Fees and Charges Bylaw No. 5484, 2025, Schedule K, Schedule K, Part 1, Level One](https://publicdocs.coquitlam.ca/coquitlamdoc/getdocIF.asp?doc=6285879)
  - Official wording: "A. Level One" … "bed and breakfast; Christmas tree sales (licence valid December only); home occupation" … "(a) general $ 100.80" … "All 2026 Rates are effective as of April 1, 2026"
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06
- **Provincial registration:** Yes. Short-term rental hosts in B.C. must register with the Province and renew each year. The fee is $100 a year for the host's principal residence and $450 for a separate secondary unit.
  - Source: [Short-term rental registration, Province of British Columbia, Registration overview](https://www2.gov.bc.ca/gov/content/housing-tenancy/short-term-rentals/registry)
  - Official wording: "Short-term rental hosts, platforms and strata hotel platforms in B.C. must register and pay annual registration fees." … "If you have a short-term rental registration, you must renew it each year to continue operating."
  - Source: [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: "The unit the host lives in is their principal residence. The guests have access to the host's space (bedroom, bathroom, kitchen, and living room). Fee: $100 annually This includes:" … "Any accommodation that is separate from the home where the host lives, sleeps, and eats is considered a secondary unit, even if it is located on the same property or connected by an interior door. Guests stay in their own private space and do not have access to the host's bedroom, bathroom, or kitchen. Fee: $450 annually This includes:"
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06
- **Operating rules:** A maximum of two guests or one family at a time; rental space under 40% of the home's residential floor area; no separate cooking facilities; no increase in noise, parking or traffic that affects the neighbourhood; at least one permanent resident lives in and operates it; inspection before approval.
  - Source: [Business Licences, Short-Term Rental Business Licence](https://www.coquitlam.ca/602/Business-Licences)
  - Official wording: "A maximum of two guests or one family is permitted to stay at any one time" … "Rental space must be less than 40% of the residential floor area" … "No noise, parking, pedestrian and/or vehicular traffic increases that impact the residential neighbourhood are allowed"
  - Source: [Zoning Bylaw 3000, Part 5, s. 508, s. 508(1)](https://www.coquitlam.ca/DocumentCenter/View/1170)
  - Official wording: "must not accommodate more than two boarders per dwelling unit;" … "must be completely enclosed within a building."
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06
- **Fine:** Without a business licence: bylaw notice $500 (no early-payment discount; 50% compliance-agreement discount where entered); municipal ticket $1,000. Operating contrary to a licence condition: bylaw notice $500, municipal ticket $1,000.
  - Source: [Bylaw Notice Enforcement Bylaw No. 3749, Business Licence Bylaw schedule](https://publicdocs.coquitlam.ca/coquitlamdoc/getdocIF.asp?doc=6303017)
  - Official wording: "No business licence 5.1 n/a 500 50%" … "Operate contrary to condition 11.4 n/a 500 50%"
  - Source: [Municipal Ticket Information Bylaw No. 4320, Schedule B-4](https://publicdocs.coquitlam.ca/coquitlamdoc/getdocIF.asp?doc=6303001)
  - Official wording: "No business licence 5.1 1000"
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06
- **Bylaw:** Business Licence Bylaw No. 4344, 2013; Zoning Bylaw No. 3000, 1996 (s. 508, boarding); provincial Short-Term Rental Accommodations Act
  - Source: [Business Licence Bylaw No. 4344, 2013 (PDF, consolidated December 20, 2021), s. 1.1](https://publicdocs.coquitlam.ca/coquitlamdoc/getdocIF.asp?doc=4296525)
  - Official wording: "Business Licence Bylaw No. 4344, 2013"
  - Source: [Zoning Bylaw 3000, Part 5, s. 508, s. 508(1)](https://www.coquitlam.ca/DocumentCenter/View/1170)
  - Official wording: "rooms. 508 Accessory Uses (1) Boarding Use A boarding use: (a) must not accommodate more than two boarders per dwelling unit;"
  - Source: [Short-term rental registration, Province of British Columbia, Subscribe](https://www2.gov.bc.ca/gov/content/housing-tenancy/short-term-rentals/registry)
  - Official wording: "Short-Term Rental Accommodations Act"
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06

## How it works

The City of Coquitlam licenses short-term rentals as a sleeping unit that is part of the host's dwelling, such as a bed and breakfast or an Airbnb private room. All short-term rentals need a home-based business licence and an inspection. The City's rules describe only room rentals in the host's home. They do not say whether whole-home or separate-suite short-term rentals are allowed, so ask Business Licensing or Planning. The Zoning Bylaw allows "boarding", including bed and breakfast, as an accessory use. Coquitlam is also on the Province's principal residence list, so the provincial rules apply.

## Steps

1. Check the City's rules below and confirm zoning with Planning and Development at 604-927-3430.
2. Apply for a home-based business licence from the City ([Business Licence Bylaw 4344](https://publicdocs.coquitlam.ca/coquitlamdoc/getdocIF.asp?doc=4296525)). The fee is $100.80 a year, and the City inspects before approval.
3. Register with the Province and renew each year: $100 for your principal residence, $450 for a separate secondary unit. Unregistered listings are removed and bookings cancelled.
4. Display the business licence on the premises.

## Good to know

- City conditions: a maximum of two guests or one family at a time; rental space under 40% of the home's residential floor area; no separate cooking facilities; no increase in noise, parking or traffic that affects the neighbourhood; at least one permanent resident lives in and operates it.
- A late licence application adds 25% of the fee.
- Without a business licence, or contrary to a licence condition, a bylaw notice is $500 (no early-payment discount) or a municipal ticket is $1,000.
- The Business Licence Bylaw copy is a December 2021 consolidation, so later amendments are possible.
- Service BC answers registry questions at 1-833-828-2240.

## Official forms and pages

- [Business Licences, City of Coquitlam](https://www.coquitlam.ca/602/Business-Licences)
- [Principal residence requirement (Province)](https://www2.gov.bc.ca/gov/content/housing-tenancy/short-term-rentals/principal-residence-requirement)
- [Business Licence Bylaw 4344 (PDF)](https://publicdocs.coquitlam.ca/coquitlamdoc/getdocIF.asp?doc=4296525)

## Related questions

- [Coquitlam business licences: who needs one, fees and how to apply](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/coquitlam/business-licence.md)
- [Coquitlam home-based business rules](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/coquitlam/home-based-business.md)
- [Coquitlam secondary suite and carriage house rules](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/coquitlam/secondary-suite.md)
- [Coquitlam zoning: find your zone and what it allows](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/coquitlam/zoning-lookup.md)

## The same question elsewhere

- [Short-term rental rules in British Columbia, by municipality](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/short-term-rental.md)
- [Port Coquitlam](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/port-coquitlam/short-term-rental.md)
- [Port Moody](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/port-moody/short-term-rental.md)
- [Belcarra](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/belcarra/short-term-rental.md)
- [Anmore](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/anmore/short-term-rental.md)
- [New Westminster](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/new-westminster/short-term-rental.md)
- [Burnaby](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/burnaby/short-term-rental.md)

## Sources

- [Business Licences, City of Coquitlam](https://www.coquitlam.ca/602/Business-Licences) (read 2026-11-05)
- [Business Licence Bylaw No. 4344, 2013 (PDF, consolidated December 20, 2021), City of Coquitlam](https://publicdocs.coquitlam.ca/coquitlamdoc/getdocIF.asp?doc=4296525) (read 2026-11-05)
- [Fees and Charges Bylaw No. 5484, 2025, Schedule K (PDF), City of Coquitlam](https://publicdocs.coquitlam.ca/coquitlamdoc/getdocIF.asp?doc=6285879) (read 2026-11-05)
- [Zoning Bylaw 3000, Part 5, s. 508 (PDF), City of Coquitlam](https://www.coquitlam.ca/DocumentCenter/View/1170) (read 2026-11-05)
- [Bylaw Notice Enforcement Bylaw No. 3749 (PDF), City of Coquitlam](https://publicdocs.coquitlam.ca/coquitlamdoc/getdocIF.asp?doc=6303017) (read 2026-11-05)
- [Municipal Ticket Information Bylaw No. 4320 (PDF), City of Coquitlam](https://publicdocs.coquitlam.ca/coquitlamdoc/getdocIF.asp?doc=6303001) (read 2026-11-05)
- [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)
- [Short-term rental registration, Province of British Columbia](https://www2.gov.bc.ca/gov/content/housing-tenancy/short-term-rentals/registry) (read 2026-11-05)
- [Rezonings and Zoning Bylaw Text Amendments, City of Coquitlam](https://www.coquitlam.ca/260/Rezonings-Zoning-Bylaw-Text-Amendments) (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/coquitlam/short-term-rental/_