{"title":"Dawson Creek short-term rental rules (Airbnb, Vrbo)","question":"Can I rent out my home or a room short-term (Airbnb) in Dawson Creek?","slug":"short-term-rental","place":{"path":"ca/bc/dawson-creek","name":"Dawson Creek","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. Dawson Creek's Zoning Bylaw allows short-term rentals (under 30 days) in all residential zones, but you need a City business licence ($239.78 per unit or room in 2026) and must register with the Province. Dawson Creek is on the Province's exempt list, so the principal-residence rule does not apply.","aliases":["airbnb dawson creek","vrbo licence","short term rental licence","vacation rental bylaw","bed and breakfast dawson creek"],"cost":"City business licence: $239.78 per unit or room in 2026, plus taxes. Provincial registration: $100 a year for your principal residence and $450 a year for a secondary unit.","how_long":null,"where":[{"type":"phone","label":"Business licences (Development Services)","value":"250-784-3618"},{"type":"in_person","label":"Development Services, temporary offices (City Hall is relocated)","value":"Unit 1C, 11000 8 Street, Dawson Creek, BC V1G 4K6","note":"Counter hours are not published on the pages read."},{"type":"email","label":"Provincial short-term rental registry","value":"STRregistry@sbc.gov.bc.ca"}],"documents":[],"forms":[{"title":"Short-term rental registration (Province)","url":"https://www2.gov.bc.ca/gov/content/housing-tenancy/short-term-rentals/registry"},{"title":"Principal residence requirement and exempt communities (Province)","url":"https://www2.gov.bc.ca/gov/content/housing-tenancy/short-term-rentals/principal-residence-requirement"},{"title":"Annual Business Licence & Regulation Bylaw 4288 (PDF)","url":"https://dawsoncreek.civicweb.net/document/112101"},{"title":"Zoning Bylaw 4625 (PDF)","url":"https://dawsoncreek.civicweb.net/document/143791"}],"related":[{"slug":"business-licence","title":"Dawson Creek business licences: who needs one, fees and how to apply","url":"https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/dawson-creek/business-licence/"},{"slug":"home-based-business","title":"Dawson Creek home-based business rules","url":"https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/dawson-creek/home-based-business/"}],"nearby":[{"place":"ca/bc/pouce-coupe","name":"Pouce Coupe","url":"https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/pouce-coupe/short-term-rental/"},{"place":"ca/bc/taylor","name":"Taylor","url":"https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/taylor/short-term-rental/"},{"place":"ca/bc/fort-st-john","name":"Fort St. John","url":"https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/fort-st-john/short-term-rental/"},{"place":"ca/bc/chetwynd","name":"Chetwynd","url":"https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/chetwynd/short-term-rental/"},{"place":"ca/bc/tumbler-ridge","name":"Tumbler Ridge","url":"https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/tumbler-ridge/short-term-rental/"},{"place":"ca/bc/hudsons-hope","name":"Hudson's Hope","url":"https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/hudsons-hope/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. Short-term rentals (under 30 days) are permitted in all residential zones. The City sets no principal-residence rule in the documents read, and the Province lists Dawson Creek as exempt from the provincial principal residence requirement.","short":"Yes, all residential zones","status":"stated","sources":[{"url":"https://dawsoncreek.civicweb.net/document/143791","title":"Zoning Bylaw 4625, 2026 (PDF)","section":"s. 5.16.1","quotes":["Short-term rentals are permitted in all residential zones."]},{"url":"https://dawsoncreek.civicweb.net/document/143791","title":"Zoning Bylaw 4625, 2026 (PDF)","section":"Definition","quotes":["SHORT TERM RENTAL means the rental of a dwelling unit or portion thereof for periods of less than 30 days."]},{"url":"https://www2.gov.bc.ca/gov/content/housing-tenancy/short-term-rentals/principal-residence-requirement","title":"Provincial principal residence requirement, Province of British Columbia","section":"Exempt communities","quotes":["Daajing Giids Dawson Creek Enderby"]}],"check":{"result":"matched","text_date":"2026-11-06"}},"licence":{"label":"Business licence","value":"Yes, a City business licence is required. Fee 2026: $239.78 per unit or room ($244.58 in 2027), plus taxes. Owners need a licence unless a property management company manages the unit.","short":"Yes, $239.78 per unit or room a year","status":"stated","sources":[{"url":"https://dawsoncreek.civicweb.net/document/143791","title":"Zoning Bylaw 4625, 2026 (PDF)","section":"s. 5.16.2","quotes":["Short-term rentals are required to hold a City business license."]},{"url":"https://dawsoncreek.civicweb.net/document/136171","title":"Fees and Charges Bylaw 3932 (consolidated), Schedule F (PDF)","section":"Schedule F, 01-04","quotes":["Short-term rentals (per unit or room) $235.08 $239.78 $244.58 $249.47","ALL FEES ARE PLUS APPLICABLE TAXES"]},{"url":"https://dawsoncreek.civicweb.net/document/112101","title":"Annual Business Licence & Regulation Bylaw 4288, 2016 (PDF)","section":"s. 12.3","quotes":["All owners of a rental unit are required to obtain a business licence unless the rental unit is managed by a property management company."]}],"check":{"result":"matched","text_date":"2026-11-06"}},"provincial_registration":{"label":"Provincial registration","value":"Yes. Short-term rental hosts must register with the Province and renew yearly, for stays under 90 consecutive days, whether or not a local licence is needed. Provincial fees are $100 a year for your principal residence and $450 a year for a secondary unit.","status":"stated","sources":[{"url":"https://www2.gov.bc.ca/gov/content/housing-tenancy/short-term-rentals/registry","title":"Short-term rental registration, Province of British Columbia","section":"Registration","quotes":["Short-term rental hosts, platforms and strata hotel platforms in B.C. must register and pay annual registration fees.","you must renew it each year to continue operating."]},{"url":"https://www2.gov.bc.ca/gov/content/housing-tenancy/short-term-rentals/principal-residence-requirement","title":"Provincial principal residence requirement, Province of British Columbia","section":"Business licence exemptions","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.","Fee: $100 annually","Fee: $450 annually"]}],"check":{"result":"matched","text_date":"2026-11-06"}},"rules":{"label":"Operating rules","value":"At licence application, give a contact who can respond 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, and a parking plan for each rented unit or room. List the City licence number on every online listing. Fire safety: posted evacuation plan, smoke alarms, fire extinguisher on each floor, carbon monoxide detector if gas appliances, compliant bedroom windows.","status":"stated","sources":[{"url":"https://dawsoncreek.civicweb.net/document/112101","title":"Annual Business Licence & Regulation Bylaw 4288, 2016 (PDF)","section":"s. 12.4","quotes":["Contact information for someone who is able to respond to incidents 24 hours a day, 7 days a week; and","A parking plan showing the location of parking spaces for each rented unit/room"]},{"url":"https://dawsoncreek.civicweb.net/document/112101","title":"Annual Business Licence & Regulation Bylaw 4288, 2016 (PDF)","section":"s. 12.5-12.6","quotes":["Operators of short-term rentals or rooming houses are required to meet the following fire safety","Operators listing a short-term rental online are required to list the City of Dawson Creek business licence number on every online listing."]}],"check":{"result":"matched","text_date":"2026-11-06"}},"fine":{"label":"Fine","value":"Bylaw notices (Bylaw 4277): no licence $125 ($100 if paid within 14 days, $150 late); failing to list the licence number online $100 ($50 early, $150 late); failing fire safety requirements $200 ($150 early, $300 late). Municipal ticket (Bylaw 4278): fire safety failure $750.","short":"Notice $125 ($100 if paid in 14 days)","status":"stated","sources":[{"url":"https://dawsoncreek.civicweb.net/document/112178","title":"Bylaw Notice Enforcement Bylaw 4277, Schedule B (PDF)","section":"Schedule B","quotes":["4288 3.1 Fail to obtain and maintain a licence 125 100 150 Yes","4288 12.6 Fail to list Business licence number 100 50 150 Yes","4288 12.5 Fail to meet Fire Safety requirements 200 150 300 Yes"]},{"url":"https://dawsoncreek.civicweb.net/document/112527","title":"Municipal Ticket Information System Bylaw 4278, Schedule (PDF)","section":"Schedule D","quotes":["4288 12.5 Fail to meet Fire Safety requirements 750"]},{"url":"https://dawsoncreek.civicweb.net/document/112101","title":"Annual Business Licence & Regulation Bylaw 4288, 2016 (PDF)","section":"s. 23.9","quotes":["A person who contravenes any provision of this bylaw is liable to a fine of not more than $10,000.00 and not less than $100.00 for each offence."]}],"check":{"result":"matched","text_date":"2026-11-06"}},"bylaw":{"label":"Bylaw","value":"Zoning Bylaw No. 4625, 2026 (s. 5.16); Annual Business Licence & Regulation Bylaw No. 4288, 2016 (s. 12); Fees and Charges Bylaw No. 3932, 2007 (Schedule F); provincial Short-Term Rental Accommodations Act","status":"stated","sources":[{"url":"https://dawsoncreek.civicweb.net/document/143791","title":"Zoning Bylaw 4625, 2026 (PDF)","section":"s. 1","quotes":["This Bylaw may be cited as “ZONING BYLAW NO. 4625, 2026"]},{"url":"https://dawsoncreek.civicweb.net/document/112101","title":"Annual Business Licence & Regulation Bylaw 4288, 2016 (PDF)","section":"s. 1.1","quotes":["ANNUAL BUSINESS LICENCE & REGULATION BYLAW NO. 4288, 2016"]},{"url":"https://www2.gov.bc.ca/gov/content/housing-tenancy/short-term-rentals/registry","title":"Short-term rental registration, Province of British Columbia","section":"Helpful links","quotes":["Learn more about B.C.'s Short-Term Rental Accommodations Act"]}],"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 4625](https://dawsoncreek.civicweb.net/document/143791) (s. 5.16) permits short-term rentals, meaning rentals under 30 days, in all residential zones. A City business licence is required under [Bylaw 4288](https://dawsoncreek.civicweb.net/document/112101) (s. 12), unless a property management company manages the unit, and operators must follow provincial rules. The Province lists Dawson Creek as exempt from its principal-residence requirement, so you do not need to live in the unit. Registration with the Province still applies.\n\n## Steps\n\n1. Apply for a City business licence for each rental unit or room. Give a contact who can respond 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, and a parking plan for each unit or room.\n2. Meet the fire safety rules: a posted evacuation plan, smoke alarms, a fire extinguisher on each floor, a carbon monoxide detector if you have gas appliances, and compliant bedroom windows.\n3. Register with the Province's short-term rental registry and renew yearly. This applies to stays under 90 consecutive days, whether or not a local licence is needed.\n4. List the City licence number on every online listing.\n\n## Good to know\n\n- A unit offered for both short-term and long-term rental pays the short-term fee.\n- Bylaw notices (Bylaw 4277): no licence $125 ($100 if paid within 14 days, $150 late); not listing the licence number online $100 ($50 early, $150 late); failing fire safety requirements $200 ($150 early, $300 late). A municipal ticket (Bylaw 4278) for a fire safety failure is $750.\n- The bylaw sets no guest or bedroom limit that we found. Zoning s. 5.16 offences are not itemized in the ticket schedules, and the general zoning ticket is $500 as a bylaw notice or $750 as a municipal ticket.","sources":[{"url":"https://dawsoncreek.civicweb.net/document/143791","title":"Zoning Bylaw 4625, 2026 (PDF)","accessed":"2026-11-05"},{"url":"https://dawsoncreek.civicweb.net/document/112101","title":"Annual Business Licence & Regulation Bylaw 4288, 2016 (PDF)","accessed":"2026-11-05"},{"url":"https://dawsoncreek.civicweb.net/document/136171","title":"Fees and Charges Bylaw 3932 (consolidated), Schedule F (PDF)","accessed":"2026-11-05"},{"url":"https://dawsoncreek.civicweb.net/document/112178","title":"Bylaw Notice Enforcement Bylaw 4277, Schedule B (PDF)","accessed":"2026-11-05"},{"url":"https://dawsoncreek.civicweb.net/document/112527","title":"Municipal Ticket Information System Bylaw 4278, Schedule (PDF)","accessed":"2026-11-05"},{"url":"https://www2.gov.bc.ca/gov/content/housing-tenancy/short-term-rentals/principal-residence-requirement","title":"Provincial principal residence requirement, Province of British Columbia","accessed":"2026-11-05"},{"url":"https://www2.gov.bc.ca/gov/content/housing-tenancy/short-term-rentals/registry","title":"Short-term rental registration, Province of British Columbia","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/dawson-creek/short-term-rental/","markdown":"https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/dawson-creek/short-term-rental.md","json":"https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/dawson-creek/short-term-rental.json"}}