GovHandbook

Fort St James short-term rental rules (Airbnb, Vrbo)

Can I rent out my home or a room on Airbnb in Fort St James?

Fort St James, British ColumbiaChecked against official textSources read 2026-11-08

Short answer

Fort St James's Zoning Bylaw has no short-term rental use. Bed and breakfasts are allowed in a single detached dwelling in R1, R2, RR1, RR1A, RR2 and RR3 zones, and tourist accommodation in C2 and C3. You need a District business licence and must register with the Province's registry.

Key facts

AllowedThe Zoning Bylaw has no short-term rental use. Bed and breakfasts are allowed in a single detached dwelling in R1, R2, RR1, RR1A, RR2 and RR3 zones; tourist accommodation is a permitted use in the C2 and C3 commercial zones.Zoning Bylaw No. 1101, 2025, s. 2.14; s. 3.2; C2 and C3 permitted uses · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-08
Official wording
the accessory use of a single detached
dwelling for the commercial provision of temporary accommodation of visitors.
The principal use of the dwelling shall be a single detached dwelling.
Tourist accommodation.
Business licenceA business licence is required to carry on any business in the District (Business Licence Bylaw s. 3.2). The fee schedule has no short-term rental or bed and breakfast class; hotels and motels pay $10 per room (minimum $60) a year.Business Licence Bylaw No. 1000, 2018, s. 3.2; Schedule A · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-08
Official wording
no person shall carry on any business within the District unless
Apartment Building, Hotel or Motel (3 or more units or
Per unit, room or pad
$10.00
Minimum Licence fee
Provincial registrationFort St. James is on the Province's list of municipalities exempt from the principal residence requirement. Hosts must still register with the Province's Short-Term Rental Registry for stays under 90 consecutive days.Principal residence requirement, Short-Term Rentals, Province of BC, List of exempt communities · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-08
Official wording
Municipalities exempt from the principal residence requirement
Fort St. James
Provincial registration requirements apply to short-term rentals offered for fewer than 90 consecutive days
must register with the Short-Term Rental Registry, but are exempt from the principal residence requirement
Operating rulesFor a bed and breakfast: the operator must live in the dwelling, with at most three bedrooms and six guests; no outside changes that show it is a B&B, apart from a sign up to 1 m²; parking of 1 space per room available.Zoning Bylaw No. 1101, 2025, s. 3.2 a; s. 9.4 · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-08
Official wording
The dwelling shall be occupied by the operator of the bed and breakfast
No more than three bedrooms to accommodate a maximum of six bed and
a sign not exceeding 1 square metre may be permitted on the lot.
Bed and Breakfast • 1 per room available
Fine$100 for carrying on business without a valid business licence; $50 for failing to post the licence.Business Licence Bylaw No. 1000, 2018, Schedule B · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-08
Official wording
Carry on business without valid and
$100.00
Fail to post licence
$50.00
BylawZoning Bylaw No. 1101, 2025 (s. 3.2) and Business Licence Bylaw No. 1000, 2018Zoning Bylaw No. 1101, 2025, s. 3.2; Business Licence Bylaw No. 1000, 2018, Title · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-08
Official wording
3.2 Bed and breakfasts
DISTRICT OF FORT ST. JAMES BUSINESS LICENCE BYLAW NO. 1000, 2018 The Council of the District of Fort St. James enacts as follows:

How it works

Zoning Bylaw No. 1101 has no short-term rental use. It allows bed and breakfasts in a single detached dwelling in R1, R2, RR1, RR1A, RR2 and RR3 zones, and tourist accommodation as a permitted use in the C2 and C3 commercial zones. Whether renting a whole house counts as a bed and breakfast or something else is not stated, so ask the District office.

A business licence is required to carry on any business in the District (Business Licence Bylaw, s. 3.2). Its fee schedule has no short-term rental or bed and breakfast class, and which class applies is not stated.

Steps

  1. Call the District office (250-996-8233) to ask whether your plan fits the zoning for your lot.
  2. Apply for a District business licence.
  3. Register with the Province's Short-Term Rental Registry for stays under 90 consecutive days. Fort St James is on the Province's list of municipalities exempt from the principal residence requirement.

Good to know

  • For a bed and breakfast: the operator must live in the dwelling, with at most three bedrooms and six guests; no outside changes that show it is a B&B, apart from a sign up to 1 m²; parking of 1 space per room available.
  • Hotels and motels pay $10 per room (minimum $60) a year. Retail and "any business not specifically mentioned" is $100 (0 to 200 m²) to $300.
  • The Business Licence Bylaw's ticket for carrying on business without a valid licence is $100, and $50 for failing to post the licence. A different bylaw notice amount may exist.
  • No separate short-term rental rules (such as posting a licence number or naming a local contact) were found.

Official forms and pages

The same question in other places

Vanderhoof · Fraser Lake · Burns Lake · Prince George · Mackenzie · Granisle

Short-term rental rules in British Columbia, by municipality →

Sources

  1. Zoning Bylaw No. 1101, 2025 (PDF), District of Fort St James (read 2026-11-08)
  2. Business Licence Bylaw No. 1000, 2018 (PDF), District of Fort St James (read 2026-11-08)
  3. Principal residence requirement, Short-Term Rentals, 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.