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

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

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

**Short answer:** In the City of Duncan, short-term rentals are allowed only in the Low Density Residential zone, in the host's personal residence. You need a City business licence, the City's signed commitment (24/7 contact, licence number in ads) and Provincial registration.

**Who handles it:** More than one level of government  
**Cost:** City business licence: $100 a year if paid before March 1 ($125 after; $50 for new licences issued after July 1). No separate short-term rental fee was found. Provincial registration: $100 a year for your principal residence, $450 for a secondary unit.  
**Where:**
- Email: Business licences, licence@duncan.ca
- In person: City Hall, 200 Craig Street, Duncan, BC V9L 1W3
- Phone: Provincial short-term rental line (Service BC), 1-833-828-2240
- Email: Provincial short-term rental registry, STRregistry@sbc.gov.bc.ca

## Key facts

- **Allowed:** Only in the Low Density Residential zone, in a single-unit dwelling or an attached or detached secondary suite; one per parcel or strata. The host must declare it is their personal residence, and the provincial rules and Short-Term Rental Accommodations Act apply.
  - Source: [Zoning Bylaw No. 3166, 2017, section 3.19, s. 3.19](https://duncan.civicweb.net/document/175322)
  - Official wording: "Where permitted in a zone, a short-term rental is only permitted subject to compliance" … "A short-term rental is only permitted in a single-unit dwelling, attached secondary suite," … "The maximum number of short-term rentals per parcel or entire building strata is one"
  - Source: [Zoning Bylaw No. 3166, 2017, section 3.19, s. 4.2.1 LDR uses](https://duncan.civicweb.net/document/175322)
  - Official wording: "3.19.1 Where permitted in a zone, a short-term rental is only permitted subject to compliance with all requirements and provisions of the Short-Term Rental Accommodations Act and this bylaw."
  - Source: [Short Term Rental Business Licence Commitment, Short-Term Rental Business Licence Commitment](https://duncan.ca/wp-content/uploads/2025/06/Short-Term-Rental-Committment.pdf)
  - Official wording: "The rental premises is my personal residence and that the Business Licence will be cancelled and short-term"
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06
- **Business licence:** Yes. Owners must hold a City of Duncan Business Licence and complete the Short Term Rental Business Licence Commitment. Annual licence fee $100 if paid before March 1 ($125 after; $50 for new licences issued after July 1).
  - Source: [Business Licences, Business Licences page](https://duncan.ca/businesses/business-licences/)
  - Official wording: "Owners of a short term rental unit are required to hold a City of Duncan Business Licence and complete the Short Term Rental Business Licence Commitment"
  - Source: [Fees and Charges Bylaw No. 3212, 2020 (PDF, consolidated to August 24, 2026), Schedule D](https://duncan.civicweb.net/document/181386)
  - Official wording: "1. From every business operated" … "$100.00" … "$125.00" … "$50.00"
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06
- **Provincial registration:** Yes. Short-term rental hosts must register with the Province and pay annual fees ($100 a year for the host's principal residence; $450 for a secondary unit). Duncan is on the province's list of communities with the principal residence requirement (as of June 1, 2026).
  - Source: [Short-term rental principal residence requirement, Province of British Columbia, Provincial short-term rental pages](https://www2.gov.bc.ca/gov/content/housing-tenancy/short-term-rentals/principal-residence-requirement)
  - Official wording: "Fee: $100 annually" … "Fee: $450 annually" … "Communities with principal residence requirement" … "Duncan"
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06
- **Operating rules:** Parking: 1 space per guest room. One short-term rental per parcel or strata, in a single-unit dwelling or a suite. Licence commitment: give guests a 24/7 emergency contact and City bylaws, meet fire and safety equipment rules, and show the licence number in all advertising. No guest or bedroom limit found.
  - Source: [Zoning Bylaw No. 3166, 2017, section 3.19, s. 3.28.1, 3.19](https://duncan.civicweb.net/document/175322)
  - Official wording: "Short-Term Rental" … "1 per guest room" … "The maximum number of short-term rentals per parcel or entire building strata is one"
  - Source: [Short Term Rental Business Licence Commitment](https://duncan.ca/wp-content/uploads/2025/06/Short-Term-Rental-Committment.pdf)
  - Official wording: "Emergency contact name and phone number (to be available 24/7)." … "A valid Business Licence Number will be included in any advertising, listing or promotional material relating to"
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06
- **Fine:** Bylaw notice for an unlawful bed and breakfast (Zoning s. 3.19): $100 ($75 within 14 days, $125 late). Using land contrary to the zoning bylaw: $400. No business licence: $100 ($75 early, $125 late). Municipal ticket for using land contrary to the zoning bylaw: $1,000.
  - Source: [Bylaw Notice Enforcement Bylaw, Schedule A - Zoning and Business Licence](https://duncan.civicweb.net/document/181059)
  - Official wording: "3.19" … "Unlawful bed and breakfast" … "$100.00" … "$75.00" … "$125.00" … "Use, occupy or permit a person to use or" … "$400.00" … "No business licence"
  - Source: [https://duncan.civicweb.net/document/37465/, Schedule B - Zoning](https://duncan.civicweb.net/document/37465/)
  - Official wording: "Use, occupy or permit use or occupation contrary to" … "$1,000.00"
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06
- **Bylaw:** Zoning Bylaw No. 3166, 2017 s. 3.19; Business Licence Regulation Bylaw No. 3117, 2014; provincial Short-Term Rental Accommodations Act
  - Source: [Zoning Bylaw No. 3166, 2017, section 3.19, s. 3.19](https://duncan.civicweb.net/document/175322)
  - Official wording: "permanent residents of the premises; and (b) advertisement by means of a sign. 3.19 Short-Term Rentals 3166.11 3.19.1 Where permitted in a zone, a short-term rental is only permitted subject to compliance"
  - Source: [Business Licence Regulation Bylaw No. 3117, 2014, Title](https://duncan.civicweb.net/document/37455/)
  - Official wording: "Business Licence Regulation Bylaw No. 3117, 2014"
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06

## How it works

The City of Duncan's [Zoning Bylaw](https://duncan.civicweb.net/document/175322) allows a short-term rental only in the Low Density Residential zone, in a single-unit dwelling or an attached or detached secondary suite. Only one is allowed per parcel or strata. The host must declare it is their personal residence, and the Province's Short-Term Rental Accommodations Act applies. The zoning use lists for the Medium and High Density Residential zones do not include short-term rental.

## Steps

1. Confirm your property is zoned Low Density Residential (see the City's zoning map).
2. Register with the Province and get a registration number. Duncan is on the Province's list of communities with the principal residence requirement (as of June 1, 2026). Registration applies to stays under 90 consecutive days.
3. Complete the City's Short Term Rental Business Licence Commitment.
4. Apply for a City business licence in person at City Hall, by email (licence@duncan.ca) or by mail, and pay the fee.

## Good to know

- Under the commitment you must give guests a 24/7 emergency contact and the City's bylaws, meet fire and safety equipment rules, and show your licence number in all advertising.
- Parking is 1 space per guest room. No guest or bedroom limit was found.
- Business licences are processed within 2 weeks after payment.
- Fines: a bylaw notice of $100 for operating without a business licence, and $400 for using land contrary to the zoning bylaw (a municipal ticket for that is $1,000).

## What you'll need

- Short Term Rental Business Licence Commitment (City form)
- Business Licence Application
- Provincial short-term rental registration number

## Official forms and pages

- [Short Term Rental Business Licence Commitment (PDF)](https://duncan.ca/wp-content/uploads/2025/06/Short-Term-Rental-Committment.pdf)
- [Business Licences, City of Duncan](https://duncan.ca/businesses/business-licences/)
- [Zoning Bylaw No. 3166, 2017 (PDF)](https://duncan.civicweb.net/document/175322)
- [Short-term rentals, Province of BC](https://www2.gov.bc.ca/gov/content/housing-tenancy/short-term-rentals)

## Related questions

- [Duncan business licences: who needs one, fees and how to apply](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/duncan/business-licence.md)
- [Duncan secondary suite and carriage house rules](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/duncan/secondary-suite.md)

## The same question elsewhere

- [Short-term rental rules in British Columbia, by municipality](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/short-term-rental.md)
- [North Cowichan](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/north-cowichan/short-term-rental.md)
- [Ladysmith](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/ladysmith/short-term-rental.md)
- [North Saanich](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/north-saanich/short-term-rental.md)
- [Lake Cowichan](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/lake-cowichan/short-term-rental.md)
- [Sidney](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/sidney/short-term-rental.md)
- [Central Saanich](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/central-saanich/short-term-rental.md)

## Sources

- [Zoning Bylaw No. 3166, 2017 (PDF), section 3.19](https://duncan.civicweb.net/document/175322) (read 2026-11-05)
- [Short Term Rental Business Licence Commitment (PDF), City of Duncan](https://duncan.ca/wp-content/uploads/2025/06/Short-Term-Rental-Committment.pdf) (read 2026-11-05)
- [Fees and Charges Bylaw No. 3212, 2020 (PDF, consolidated to August 24, 2026)](https://duncan.civicweb.net/document/181386) (read 2026-11-05)
- [Business Licences, City of Duncan](https://duncan.ca/businesses/business-licences/) (read 2026-11-05)
- [Business Licence Regulation Bylaw No. 3117, 2014 (PDF), City of Duncan](https://duncan.civicweb.net/document/37455/) (read 2026-11-05)
- [Bylaw Notice Enforcement Bylaw (PDF), City of Duncan](https://duncan.civicweb.net/document/181059) (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)
- [https://duncan.civicweb.net/document/37465/](https://duncan.civicweb.net/document/37465/) (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/duncan/short-term-rental/_