Cumberland short-term rental rules (Airbnb, Vrbo)
Can I rent out my home or a room on Airbnb in Cumberland?
Short answer
In the Village of Cumberland short-term rental is allowed only as an accommodation home occupation in limited zones, and you need a Village Tier 3 Accommodation Business Licence ($300 application, $125 a year) and provincial registration. The operator must live on the lot.
Key facts
| Allowed | Yes, as an accommodation home occupation in R-1 and R-2 (only in the Figure 10-1 area), in MU-2, and on two lots in MU-1 on Dunsmuir Avenue. The resident operator must live on the lot and be present; one dwelling unit per lot.Zoning Bylaw No. 1238, 2025, consolidated July 27, 2026, Table 10.2(1) and footnote 5; Table 6.4(2); Business Licences, Key Requirements · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-08Official wordingShort-Term Rental Accommodation S5 S5 -- -- -- -- Short-term rental accommodation home occupations are only be permitted in the areas indicated in Figure 10-1. No more than one dwelling unit per lot shall be used for a short-term rental accommodation home occupation. Short-Term Rental -- 14 S -- Short-term rental accommodation is permitted for the lots legally described as: The owner/operator of an accommodation home occupation must be the principal resident of the property where the business operates. |
|---|---|
| Business licence | Yes, a Village business licence is required. Tier 3 Accommodation Business Licence: $300 application fee and $125 yearly fee.Business Licensing and Regulation Bylaw No. 1239, 2025, amended by Bylaw No. 1262, s. 4.5.1; Fees Bylaw No. 1110, 2019, consolidated 2025, Schedule C · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-08Official wordingA person must not carry on business as an operator of a Short-Term Rental unless the Tier 3 – Accommodation Business Licence Application Fee $300 Yearly Licence Fee $125 |
| Provincial registration | Yes. The Village licence requires compliance with the provincial Short-term Rental Accommodations Act, and the provincial registration number must be shown in advertisements. Cumberland is on the Province's list of communities where the principal residence requirement applies (list as of June 1, 2026).Business Licensing and Regulation Bylaw No. 1239, 2025, amended by Bylaw No. 1262, s. 4.5.1, 4.5.2(a); Principal residence requirement, Province of BC, List of communities where the principal residence requirement applies · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-08Official wordingdisplay a valid Village of Cumberland business licence number in all advertisements or listings related to the Short-Term Rental and any applicable Provincial Short-Term The expandable menu below lists the communities where the principal residence requirement applies (as of June 1, 2026). |
| Operating rules | Two guests per sleeping unit, up to three sleeping units; no non-resident employees. Parking: 0.6 spaces per sleeping unit. Display the Village licence number (and provincial registration number) in all listings, and post an outdoor sign with the name and phone number of the person managing the rental. A local contact must be available for complaints. Renewal requires confirming compliance.Zoning Bylaw No. 1238, 2025, consolidated July 27, 2026, Table 6.4(2); Table 9.4.1(2); Business Licensing and Regulation Bylaw No. 1239, 2025, amended by Bylaw No. 1262, s. 4.5.2(b), 4.5.3; Business Licensing and Regulation Bylaw No. 1239, 2025, amended by Bylaw No. 1262, s. 2.4, Local Contact · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-08Official wordingTwo guests per Two guests per sleeping unit, up to a sleeping unit, up to a 0.6 spaces per sleeping unit display an outdoor sign on the premises identifying the name and a phone number of the person managing the rental.; The local contact must be available to respond |
| Fine | Failure to comply with the short-term rental rules: $200 ($100 if paid early). Failing to display the licence number in advertising: $200 ($100). Failing to display the sign: $100 ($50). Operating without a valid business licence: $200 ($100).Municipal Ticket Information Amendment Bylaw No. 1244, Schedule C (as replaced by Bylaw 1244) · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-08Official wordingFailure to comply short term rental 4.5.1 $200 $100 Failure to advertise licence number 4.5.2 $200 Failure to display sign 4.5.2 $100 Operating without valid business licence 3.1.1 $200 $100 |
| Bylaw | Business Licensing and Regulation Bylaw No. 1239, 2025 (s. 4.5); Zoning Bylaw No. 1238, 2025 (s. 6.4, Table 10.2(1)); Fees Bylaw No. 1110, 2019 (Schedule C)Business Licensing and Regulation Bylaw No. 1239, 2025, amended by Bylaw No. 1262, s. 1.1; Zoning Bylaw No. 1238, 2025, consolidated July 27, 2026, s. 1.1 · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-08Official wordingThis Bylaw shall be cited as the “Business Licensing and Regulation Bylaw No. 1239, This Bylaw may be cited as “Village of Cumberland Zoning Bylaw No. 1238, 2025”. |
How it works
Short-term rental is allowed in Cumberland as an accommodation home occupation under Zoning Bylaw No. 1238: in R-1 and R-2 (only in the area shown in Figure 10-1), in MU-2, and on two lots in MU-1 on Dunsmuir Avenue. The resident operator must live on the lot and be present, with one dwelling unit per lot.
A Village business licence is required under the Business Licensing and Regulation Bylaw No. 1239. It also requires compliance with the provincial Short-term Rental Accommodations Act. Cumberland is on the Province's list of communities where the principal residence requirement applies (list as of June 1, 2026).
Steps
- Check that your zone and lot allow it (see the zoning-lookup answer).
- Apply for the Tier 3 Accommodation Business Licence ($300 application fee, $125 yearly) at the Village Office or by email to info@cumberland.ca.
- Register with the Province and show the provincial registration number in advertisements.
- Follow the operating rules below.
Good to know
- Two guests per sleeping unit, up to three sleeping units. No non-resident employees. Parking is 0.6 spaces per sleeping unit.
- Show the Village licence number and the provincial registration number in all listings, and post an outdoor sign with the name and phone number of the person managing the rental. A local contact must be available for complaints. Renewal requires confirming compliance.
- Fines under the Municipal Ticket Information Bylaw: failing to comply with the short-term rental rules $200 ($100 if paid early); no licence number in advertising $200 ($100); no sign $100 ($50); operating without a valid business licence $200 ($100). The early amount applies if paid by the 30th day after the ticket is served.
Official forms and pages
The same question in other places
Courtenay · Comox · Campbell River · Powell River · Port Alberni · Qualicum Beach
Short-term rental rules in British Columbia, by municipality →
Sources
- Business Licences, Village of Cumberland (read 2026-11-08)
- Business Licensing and Regulation Bylaw No. 1239, 2025, amended by Bylaw No. 1262 (PDF) (read 2026-11-08)
- Zoning Bylaw No. 1238, 2025, consolidated July 27, 2026 (PDF) (read 2026-11-08)
- Fees Bylaw No. 1110, 2019, consolidated 2025 (PDF) (read 2026-11-08)
- Municipal Ticket Information Amendment Bylaw No. 1244 (PDF) (read 2026-11-08)
- Principal residence requirement, Province of BC (read 2026-11-08)
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.