{"title":"Courtenay short-term rental rules (Airbnb, Vrbo)","question":"Can I rent out my home or a room on Airbnb in Courtenay?","slug":"short-term-rental","place":{"path":"ca/bc/courtenay","name":"Courtenay","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, in Courtenay, if you own the property and your principal residence is on it. One short-term rental per parcel, up to 3 bedrooms and 6 guests. You need a City short-term rental business licence ($300 a year) and a provincial registration.","aliases":["airbnb courtenay","vrbo courtenay","short term rental bylaw courtenay","rent a room nightly courtenay"],"cost":"City business licence $300 a year (Bylaw 2523 shows it as $150 plus a $150 Affordable Housing Amenity Reserve Fund offset fee; Bylaw 3212 sets $300 from January 1, 2027). Provincial registration fee is set by the Province.","how_long":null,"where":[{"type":"online","label":"Business licence application","value":"https://digitalsmartforms.ca/f/s/CourtenayBusinessLicenceApplication"},{"type":"email","label":"Business licensing","value":"businesslicence@courtenay.ca"},{"type":"phone","label":"Business licensing","value":"250-703-4835"},{"type":"phone","label":"ServiceBC short-term rental registry","value":"1-833-828-2240"},{"type":"email","label":"Provincial registry","value":"STRregistry@sbc.gov.bc.ca"}],"documents":[],"forms":[{"title":"Short-term rental accommodation","url":"https://www.courtenay.ca/community-and-culture/housing/short-term-rental-accommodation"},{"title":"B.C. short-term rental registry","url":"https://www2.gov.bc.ca/gov/content/housing-tenancy/short-term-rentals/registry"},{"title":"Business Licence Bylaw No. 2523 (consolidated October 24, 2025, PDF)","url":"https://www.courtenay.ca/media/file/2523-business-licence-bylaw-no-2523-consolidated-october-24-2025"},{"title":"Business Licence Bylaw No. 3212, 2026 (from January 1, 2027, PDF)","url":"https://www.courtenay.ca/media/file/3212-business-licence-bylaw-3212-2026-revised-june-24-2026"}],"related":[{"slug":"business-licence","title":"Courtenay business licences: who needs one, fees and how to apply","url":"https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/courtenay/business-licence/"},{"slug":"secondary-suite","title":"Courtenay secondary suite and carriage house rules","url":"https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/courtenay/secondary-suite/"},{"slug":"home-based-business","title":"Courtenay home-based business rules","url":"https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/courtenay/home-based-business/"},{"slug":"zoning-lookup","title":"Courtenay zoning: find your zone and what it allows","url":"https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/courtenay/zoning-lookup/"}],"nearby":[{"place":"ca/bc/comox","name":"Comox","url":"https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/comox/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":"Yes, in a single residential dwelling, a detached accessory dwelling unit, or a secondary suite that is part of a single residential dwelling. Only the parcel owner may operate it, and the owner's principal residence must be on the same parcel. One per parcel; not combined with a bed and breakfast or day care.","short":"Yes, owner's principal residence on same parcel","status":"stated","sources":[{"url":"https://www.courtenay.ca/media/file/zoning-bylaw-3203-consolidated-july-21-2026-1","title":"Zoning Bylaw No. 3203, Part 19 (PDF), City of Courtenay","section":"s. 6.19.1","quotes":["The short-term rental accommodation may only be permitted within the following","dwelling unit types: single residential dwelling, accessory dwelling unit, or secondary suite","No more than one short-term rental accommodation is permitted per parcel;","Short-term rental accommodation is not permitted in combination with bed and breakfast","The short-term rental accommodation shall only be operated by the owner of the parcel;","Short-term rental accommodation is not permitted unless the principal residence of the"]}],"check":{"result":"matched","text_date":"2026-11-06"}},"licence":{"label":"Business licence","value":"Yes: a short-term rental business licence is required, $300 a year. Bylaw 2523 Schedule A shows it as $150 plus a $150 Affordable Housing Amenity Reserve Fund offset fee; Bylaw 3212 (from Jan 1, 2027) sets $300.","short":"Yes, $300 a year","status":"stated","sources":[{"url":"https://www.courtenay.ca/services/bylaws/find-bylaw/short-term-rentals","title":"Short-term rentals, City of Courtenay","section":"Business licence and provincial registration","quotes":["A valid business licence is required to operate a short-term rental in Courtenay. The annual fee is $300."]},{"url":"https://www.courtenay.ca/media/file/2523-business-licence-bylaw-no-2523-consolidated-october-24-2025","title":"Business Licence Bylaw No. 2523 (consolidated October 24, 2025, PDF), City of Courtenay","section":"Schedule A, item 1","quotes":["Short-term rental accommodation.…………………………………………….….. $150.00","Short-term rental accommodation Affordable Housing Amenity Reserve Fund"]},{"url":"https://www.courtenay.ca/media/file/3212-business-licence-bylaw-3212-2026-revised-june-24-2026","title":"Business Licence Bylaw No. 3212, 2026 (PDF), City of Courtenay","section":"Schedule A, Table 3","quotes":["Short Term Rental $300 $300"]}],"check":{"result":"matched","text_date":"2026-11-06"}},"provincial_registration":{"label":"Provincial registration","value":"Yes. Hosts must also register with the Province's short-term rental registry and renew the registration each year.","status":"stated","sources":[{"url":"https://www.courtenay.ca/services/bylaws/find-bylaw/short-term-rentals","title":"Short-term rentals, City of Courtenay","section":"Business licence and provincial registration","quotes":["You must also register with the B.C. short-term rental registration."]},{"url":"https://www2.gov.bc.ca/gov/content/housing-tenancy/short-term-rentals/registry","title":"Short-term rental registry, Province of B.C.","section":"Registration overview","quotes":["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."]}],"check":{"result":"matched","text_date":"2026-11-06"}},"rules":{"label":"Operating rules","value":"Max 3 bedrooms and 6 guests, one booking at a time. Licence, operator contact and a 24-hour phone number posted inside the unit; fire and safety plan posted at exits and in each bedroom. One extra dedicated parking space. No noise, smoke, dust or glare detectable beyond the property boundary.","status":"stated","sources":[{"url":"https://www.courtenay.ca/media/file/zoning-bylaw-3203-consolidated-july-21-2026-1","title":"Zoning Bylaw No. 3203, Part 19 (PDF), City of Courtenay","section":"ss. 6.19.1(4), (8); parking table","quotes":["The maximum number of bedrooms for short-term rental accommodation use is three (3)","shall not allow more than six (6) guests to occupy the dwelling","1 dedicated space per short-term rental operation in addition","No noise, vibration, smoke, dust, odors, heat, glare, electrical or radio disturbance"]},{"url":"https://www.courtenay.ca/media/file/2523-business-licence-bylaw-no-2523-consolidated-october-24-2025","title":"Business Licence Bylaw No. 2523 (consolidated October 24, 2025, PDF), City of Courtenay","section":"s. 12.1(c), (d), (e)","quotes":["Only one booking is permitted at a time, with a maximum occupancy of three (3)","A valid short-term rental accommodation Business Licence must be displayed in a prominent place within the short-term rental accommodation unit","A Fire and Safety plan is required to be posted at entrances and exits from the"]}],"check":{"result":"matched","text_date":"2026-11-06"}},"fine":{"label":"Fine","value":"Operating without a business licence: bylaw notice $500 ($375 if paid within 14 days; $500 after 30 days), listed under Business Licence Bylaw 2523 s. 2.1. No ticket is listed for short-term rental zoning or operating rules.","short":"Notice $500 ($375 if paid in 14 days)","status":"stated","sources":[{"url":"https://www.courtenay.ca/media/file/3185-municipal-enforcement-bylaw-no-3185pdf","title":"Municipal Enforcement Bylaw No. 3185 (PDF), City of Courtenay","section":"Appendix A, Business Licence Bylaw","quotes":["No business licence 2.1 $500.00 $375.00 $500.00 Yes","if received by the City within 14 days of the person receiving or being presumed to have received the bylaw notice, the discounted penalty for early payment","if more than 30 days after the person received or is presumed to have received the bylaw notice, the penalty for late payment"]}],"check":{"result":"matched","text_date":"2026-11-06"}},"bylaw":{"label":"Bylaw","value":"Zoning Bylaw No. 3203, 2026 (s. 6.19); Business Licence Bylaw No. 2523, 2008 (s. 12), replaced from January 1, 2027 by Business Licence Bylaw No. 3212, 2026 (Schedule B, s. 7)","status":"stated","sources":[{"url":"https://www.courtenay.ca/media/file/zoning-bylaw-3203-consolidated-july-21-2026-1","title":"Zoning Bylaw No. 3203, Part 19 (PDF), City of Courtenay","section":"Part 19","quotes":["Part 19 Short-term Rental Accommodation"]},{"url":"https://www.courtenay.ca/media/file/2523-business-licence-bylaw-no-2523-consolidated-october-24-2025","title":"Business Licence Bylaw No. 2523 (consolidated October 24, 2025, PDF), City of Courtenay","section":"s. 12","quotes":["SECTION 12 – SHORT-TERM RENTAL ACCOMMODATIONS"]},{"url":"https://www.courtenay.ca/media/file/3212-business-licence-bylaw-3212-2026-revised-june-24-2026","title":"Business Licence Bylaw No. 3212, 2026 (PDF), City of Courtenay","section":"s. 17.1","quotes":["“Business Licence Bylaw No. 2523, 2008”, as amended, is repealed effective end of day December"]}],"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\n[Zoning Bylaw No. 3203](https://www.courtenay.ca/media/file/zoning-bylaw-3203-consolidated-july-21-2026-1) (s. 6.19) allows a short-term rental (a rental of less than 90 consecutive days) in a single residential dwelling, a detached accessory dwelling unit, or a secondary suite that is part of a single residential dwelling. Only the parcel owner may operate it, and the owner's principal residence must be on the same parcel. It cannot be combined with a bed and breakfast or day care.\n\n## Steps\n\n1. Check you qualify: owner, principal residence on the parcel, one rental per parcel.\n2. Plan for the extra dedicated parking space.\n3. Get a short-term rental business licence from the City: $300 a year.\n4. Register with the Province's short-term rental registry, and renew each year.\n\n## Good to know\n\n- Limits: maximum 3 bedrooms and 6 guests, one booking at a time. No noise, smoke, dust or glare detectable beyond the property boundary.\n- Post inside the unit: the licence, operator contact and a 24-hour phone number; post a fire and safety plan at exits and in each bedroom.\n- Licence bylaws: [Bylaw 2523](https://www.courtenay.ca/media/file/2523-business-licence-bylaw-no-2523-consolidated-october-24-2025) applies until December 31, 2026, [Bylaw 3212](https://www.courtenay.ca/media/file/3212-business-licence-bylaw-3212-2026-revised-june-24-2026) from January 1, 2027. New licences before 2027 fall under 2523; 2027 renewals use 3212. The operating rules are the same.\n- Operating without a business licence: a bylaw notice is $500 ($375 if paid within 14 days). No ticket is listed for the zoning or operating rules; zoning offences can carry up to $50,000 on conviction.","sources":[{"url":"https://www.courtenay.ca/community-and-culture/housing/short-term-rental-accommodation","title":"Short-term rental accommodation, City of Courtenay","accessed":"2026-11-05"},{"url":"https://www.courtenay.ca/media/file/zoning-bylaw-3203-consolidated-july-21-2026-1","title":"Zoning Bylaw No. 3203, Part 19 (PDF), City of Courtenay","accessed":"2026-11-05"},{"url":"https://www.courtenay.ca/media/file/2523-business-licence-bylaw-no-2523-consolidated-october-24-2025","title":"Business Licence Bylaw No. 2523 (consolidated October 24, 2025, PDF), City of Courtenay","accessed":"2026-11-05"},{"url":"https://www.courtenay.ca/media/file/3212-business-licence-bylaw-3212-2026-revised-june-24-2026","title":"Business Licence Bylaw No. 3212, 2026 (PDF), City of Courtenay","accessed":"2026-11-05"},{"url":"https://www.courtenay.ca/media/file/3185-municipal-enforcement-bylaw-no-3185pdf","title":"Municipal Enforcement Bylaw No. 3185 (PDF), City of Courtenay","accessed":"2026-11-05"},{"url":"https://www2.gov.bc.ca/gov/content/housing-tenancy/short-term-rentals/registry","title":"Short-term rental registry, Province of B.C.","accessed":"2026-11-05"},{"url":"https://www.courtenay.ca/services/bylaws/find-bylaw/short-term-rentals","title":"Short-term rentals, City of Courtenay","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/courtenay/short-term-rental/","markdown":"https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/courtenay/short-term-rental.md","json":"https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/courtenay/short-term-rental.json"}}