GovHandbook

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

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

Fort St. John, British ColumbiaChecked against official textSources read 2026-11-05

Short answer

Fort St. John is exempt from the Province's principal-residence requirement, but hosts must still register with the Province. The Zoning Bylaw never names short-term rentals; it bans "commercial temporary accommodation" in residential zones, which probably covers them (our inference). Ask the City before you list.

Key facts

AllowedThe provincial principal residence requirement does not apply in Fort St. John (Province lists it as exempt). Zoning prohibits 'commercial temporary accommodation' (stays of 30 days or less) in residential zones (s. 4.2.6); it does not name short-term rentals. Owner-occupied bed and breakfasts are allowed where a zone lists them.B.C.'s short-term rental principal residence requirement, Province of British Columbia, Overview; Zoning Bylaw No. 2470, 2019 (PDF, consolidated), s. 4.2.6; Zoning Bylaw No. 2470, 2019 (PDF, consolidated), s. 3.0 definition · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06
Official wording
B.C. has a provincial principal residence requirement in some areas of the province which limits short-term rentals to:
Plus one secondary suite or accessory dwelling unit on the same property
Fort St. John
Municipalities exempt from the principal residence requirement
Commercial temporary accommodation is prohibited in residential zones.
COMMERCIAL TEMPORARY ACCOMMODATION means accommodation for the travelling public for a period
not exceeding 30 continuous days or 30 days in a calendar year.
Business licenceA bed and breakfast must hold a valid City business licence (Business Licence Bylaw s. 7.1). The fee schedule has no B&B line: regular $150, home occupation (business) $125; the bylaw does not say which applies to a B&B.Business Licence Bylaw No. 2563, 2021, s. 7.1; Business Licence Bylaw No. 2563, 2021, Schedule A; Zoning Bylaw No. 2470, 2019 (PDF, consolidated), s. 3.0 definition of Home Occupation - Business · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06
Official wording
Bed and Breakfasts shall be permitted in accordance with the Zoning Bylaw and all
persons operating a Bed and Breakfast must comply with the regulations in the Zoning
must obtain and hold a valid and subsisting business licence.
Table 1.0 Licence Type Fees Regular Business Licence $150.00 Home Occupations - Business and Office $125.00 Mobile Vendor $125.00
occupation – business includes a bed
Provincial registrationYes. Hosts offering stays of fewer than 90 consecutive days must register with the Province and renew each year. Fee $100 a year for the host's principal residence, $450 for a secondary unit on the property.Short-term rental registration, Province of British Columbia, Registration overview; B.C.'s short-term rental principal residence requirement, Province of British Columbia, Registration fees · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06
Official wording
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.
Fee: $100 annually
Fee: $450 annually
Provincial registration requirements apply to short-term rentals offered for fewer than 90 consecutive days, regardless of whether a local business licence is required.
Operating rulesBed and breakfast rules (Zoning s. 4.23): owner must occupy the single-detached dwelling, up to 3 guest rooms, one extra off-street parking space per guest bedroom, no guest stay over 30 consecutive days, and a City business licence.Zoning Bylaw No. 2470, 2019 (PDF, consolidated), s. 4.23.1 · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06
Official wording
The principal single-detached dwelling unit on the parcel containing the bed and
The maximum of three (3) guest rooms shall be permitted in a bed and breakfast;
One additional off-street parking space must be provided for each bedroom used for
The maximum length of stay for any guest may not exceed 30 consecutive days.
FineBylaw notice for operating a business without a licence: $200 ($150 if paid within 14 days; $250 if paid late). Zoning Schedule B lists 'Unlawful land use' (includes s. 4.2) at $100 per offence per day; it has no row for the s. 4.23 bed and breakfast rules.Business Licence Bylaw No. 2563, 2021, Schedule B; Zoning Bylaw No. 2470, 2019 (PDF, consolidated), Schedule B · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06
Official wording
Days) (1-14 Days) (31-60 Days (50% of Collections Penalty) 60+) Operating a Business 5.1 $200.00 $150.00 $250.00 Yes without a Licence Business Licence not
Collections Penalty) 60+) Operating a Business 5.1 $200.00 $150.00 $250.00 Yes without a Licence Business Licence not 5.10 $100.00 $50.00 $150.00 Yes
14.2, 15.2, 16.2, 17.2, 18.2, 19.2, 20.2, Unlawful land use 21.2, 22.2, 23.2, 24.2, 25.2, 26.2, 27.2, $100.00/offence/day 28.2, 29.2, 30.7.2, 30.8.2, 30.9.2,
infringement 4.2, 7.2, 8.2, 9.2, 10.2, 11.2, 12.2, 13.2, 14.2, 15.2, 16.2, 17.2, 18.2, 19.2, 20.2,
BylawZoning Bylaw No. 2470, 2019 (s. 4.2 and 4.23); Business Licence Bylaw No. 2563, 2021 (s. 7.1); Short-Term Rental Accommodations Act (B.C.)Zoning Bylaw No. 2470, 2019 (PDF, consolidated), s. 4.23; Business Licence Bylaw No. 2563, 2021, s. 7.1 · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06
Official wording
4.23 Bed and Breakfasts
SECTION 7 - SPECIAL BUSINESS LICENCE REQUIREMENTS Bed and Breakfast 7.1 Bed and Breakfasts shall be permitted in accordance with the Zoning Bylaw and all
CITY OF FORT ST. JOHN BYLAW NO. 2563, 2021 BUSINESS LICENCE BYLAW

How it works

Three layers apply. The Province's principal residence requirement does not apply in Fort St. John, because the Province lists it as exempt. The Province still requires registration for stays of fewer than 90 consecutive days. The City's Zoning Bylaw prohibits "commercial temporary accommodation" (stays of 30 days or less) in residential zones (s. 4.2.6). It does not name short-term rentals, so applying that ban to them is our inference; ask Development Services (250-787-8150) whether it covers yours.

Steps

  1. Ask Development Services whether your zone and your type of rental are allowed.
  2. If you plan an owner-occupied bed and breakfast, check that your zone lists it, and apply for a City business licence.
  3. Register with the Province's short-term rental registry and renew each year.
  4. Keep your City business licence posted in a visible location.

Good to know

  • Provincial registration is required of hosts offering stays of fewer than 90 consecutive days. The fee is $100 a year for the host's principal residence and $450 for a secondary unit on the property. Without it, listings are removed and bookings cancelled.
  • A bed and breakfast is a Home Occupation – Business under the Zoning Bylaw ($125 licence). The Business Licence Bylaw (s. 7.1) requires a licence, but its fee schedule has no B&B line (regular $150, home occupation $125).
  • Bed and breakfast rules (Zoning s. 4.23): the owner must live in the single-detached dwelling, up to 3 guest rooms, one extra off-street parking space per guest bedroom, and no guest stay over 30 consecutive days.
  • Operating without a business licence: a bylaw notice is $200 ($150 if paid within 14 days; $250 if paid late). The Zoning Bylaw lists "unlawful land use" at $100 per offence per day. No fine specific to short-term rentals was found.
  • The City's pages do not say whether a licence number must be posted in a listing, or whether a local contact is needed.
  • The Province's exempt list can change; check its page.

Official forms and pages

The same question in other places

Taylor · Dawson Creek · Pouce Coupe · Hudson's Hope · Chetwynd · Tumbler Ridge

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

Sources

  1. Building Permits (Planning and Engineering phone), City of Fort St. John (read 2026-11-05)
  2. B.C.'s short-term rental principal residence requirement, Province of British Columbia (read 2026-11-05)
  3. Short-term rental registration, Province of British Columbia (read 2026-11-05)
  4. Zoning Bylaw No. 2470, 2019 (PDF, consolidated) (read 2026-11-05)
  5. Business Licence Bylaw No. 2563, 2021 (PDF) (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. How answers are checked.