{"title":"Gibsons short-term rental rules (Airbnb, Vrbo)","question":"Can I rent out my home or a room on Airbnb in Gibsons?","slug":"short-term-rental","place":{"path":"ca/bc/gibsons","name":"Gibsons","region":{"code":"bc","name":"British Columbia"},"country":{"code":"ca","name":"Canada"}},"category":{"slug":"housing-and-renting","name":"Housing and renting"},"owner":"municipal","owner_label":"Municipal","owner_body":{"name":"Town of Gibsons","url":"https://www.gibsons.ca"},"short_answer":"Yes, in Gibsons, with a Town business licence. Outside the CM-1 zone, a short-term rental must be your principal residence, or be one of up to 35 non-principal-residence licences. Gibsons is on the Province's exempt list, but the Town's own rule still applies.","aliases":["airbnb gibsons","short term rental licence gibsons","vacation rental gibsons","str rules gibsons"],"cost":"Principal residence: $200 a year. Non-principal residence (entire unit): $2,000 a year. New applicants also pay a one-time $400 application fee. Fine without a licence: bylaw notice $200.","how_long":"No official page states a processing time. Renewal applications for non-principal-residence short-term rentals are due by November 1.","where":[{"type":"online","label":"Short-term rentals, Town of Gibsons","value":"https://gibsons.ca/business/str/"},{"type":"in_person","label":"Town Hall, Town of Gibsons","value":"474 South Fletcher Road, Gibsons, BC V0N 1V0","note":"Monday to Friday, 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. (the hours the Town gives for in-person submissions, excluding holidays)"},{"type":"phone","label":"Planning and Development","value":"604-886-2274"},{"type":"email","label":"Planning and Development","value":"planning@gibsons.ca"}],"documents":[],"forms":[{"title":"Short-term rentals, Town of Gibsons","url":"https://gibsons.ca/business/str/"},{"title":"Policy 3.18, Short-Term Rental Business Licence Allocation Policy (PDF)","url":"https://gibsons.ca/wp-content/uploads/2026/08/Policy-3.18-Short-Term-Rental-Business-Licence-Allocation-Policy_2026-V3.pdf"},{"title":"Principal residence requirement, Province of BC","url":"https://www2.gov.bc.ca/gov/content/housing-tenancy/short-term-rentals/principal-residence-requirement"}],"related":[{"slug":"business-licence","title":"Gibsons business licences: who needs one, fees and how to apply","url":"https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/gibsons/business-licence/"},{"slug":"home-based-business","title":"Gibsons home-based business rules","url":"https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/gibsons/home-based-business/"},{"slug":"secondary-suite","title":"Gibsons secondary suite and carriage house rules","url":"https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/gibsons/secondary-suite/"},{"slug":"zoning-lookup","title":"Gibsons zoning: find your zone and what it allows","url":"https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/gibsons/zoning-lookup/"}],"nearby":[{"place":"ca/bc/bowen-island","name":"Bowen Island","url":"https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/bowen-island/short-term-rental/"},{"place":"ca/bc/lions-bay","name":"Lions Bay","url":"https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/lions-bay/short-term-rental/"},{"place":"ca/bc/sechelt","name":"Sechelt","url":"https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/sechelt/short-term-rental/"},{"place":"ca/bc/north-vancouver-district","name":"District of North Vancouver","url":"https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/north-vancouver-district/short-term-rental/"},{"place":"ca/bc/north-vancouver","name":"North Vancouver","url":"https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/north-vancouver/short-term-rental/"},{"place":"ca/bc/vancouver","name":"Vancouver","url":"https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/vancouver/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, in any zone allowing residential use, with a Town business licence. Outside CM-1: a principal-residence STR may use up to two bedrooms while the operator is home, or the whole home up to three months a year. Non-principal-residence STRs (including a separate unit on the owner's property) are capped at 35 licences. CM-1 has no such limits.","short":"Yes, any residential zone, with business licence","status":"stated","sources":[{"url":"https://gibsons.civicweb.net/document/89468/","title":"Zoning Bylaw No. 1342, 2025, Town of Gibsons","section":"s. 3.7.4","quotes":["Short-Term Rentals are permitted in any zone that permits a Residential Use","is only permitted for three months in a calendar year.","limited to no more than two Bedrooms at a time.","no more than 35 Dwelling Units"]},{"url":"https://www2.gov.bc.ca/gov/content/housing-tenancy/short-term-rentals/principal-residence-requirement","title":"Principal residence requirement, Province of BC","section":"Exempt communities","quotes":["Fruitvale Gibsons Gold River"]},{"url":"https://gibsons.ca/business/str/","title":"Short-term rentals, Town of Gibsons","section":"Licence types","quotes":["Outside the CM-1 Mixed-Use Commercial Lower Gibsons Zone, the Town has established a maximum of 35 Non-Principal-Residence STR Business Licenses.","A separate Dwelling Unit on the same property as the owner’s principal residence is considered a Non-Principal Residence STR under the Town of Gibsons’ STR regulations."]}],"check":{"result":"matched","text_date":"2026-11-06"}},"licence":{"label":"Business licence","value":"Required. Principal residence: $200 a year. Non-principal residence (entire unit): $2,000 a year. New applicants also pay a one-time $400 application fee.","short":"Yes, $200 a year (principal residence)","status":"stated","sources":[{"url":"https://gibsons.civicweb.net/document/60436/","title":"Business Licence Bylaw No. 666, 1992 (consolidated), Town of Gibsons","section":"Schedule A","quotes":["ENTIRE UNIT (PRINCIPAL RESIDENCE) .................................................. $200.00","ENTIRE UNIT (NON-PRINCIPAL RESIDENCE) ……………………………..$2,000.00","A one-time application fee of $400 shall apply to all new applications for a"]},{"url":"https://gibsons.civicweb.net/document/89468/","title":"Zoning Bylaw No. 1342, 2025, Town of Gibsons","section":"s. 3.7.4(1.7)","quotes":["A valid Town Business Licence is required for the conduct of any Short-Term Rental"]}],"check":{"result":"matched","text_date":"2026-11-06"}},"provincial_registration":{"label":"Provincial registration","value":"Yes. Hosts must register with the Province's Short-Term Rental Registry using the Town business licence number; this does not replace the Town licence. Gibsons is on the Province's exempt list, so the provincial principal-residence rule does not apply here, but the Town's own rules do.","status":"stated","sources":[{"url":"https://gibsons.ca/business/str/","title":"Short-term rentals, Town of Gibsons","section":"Provincial registry","quotes":["Before operating, Short-Term Rental operators must register with the Province’s Short-Term Rental Registry using the Business License number issued by the Town of Gibsons.","Registration with the Provincial Short-Term Rental Registry does not replace the requirement to obtain a Town of Gibsons Business License."]},{"url":"https://www2.gov.bc.ca/gov/content/housing-tenancy/short-term-rentals/principal-residence-requirement","title":"Principal residence requirement, Province of BC","section":"List of exempt communities","quotes":["Fruitvale Gibsons Gold River"]}],"check":{"result":"matched","text_date":"2026-11-06"}},"rules":{"label":"Operating rules","value":"Parking: 1 space per bedroom used (max 4) plus each operator vehicle present. Display the licence number in every listing. Name a responsible person (18 or older). Post contacts, parking plan and fire safety plan in the unit. No outside sign beyond one 0.3 m². Not in an RV, tent or boat.","status":"stated","sources":[{"url":"https://gibsons.civicweb.net/document/89468/","title":"Zoning Bylaw No. 1342, 2025, Town of Gibsons","section":"s. 4.1.5(3)","quotes":["Each bedroom used as Short-Term Rental, up to a maximum requirement of 4"]},{"url":"https://gibsons.civicweb.net/document/60436/","title":"Business Licence Bylaw No. 666, 1992 (consolidated), Town of Gibsons","section":"Part III, s. 6(b)","quotes":["must conspicuously display their Licence number in any listing, medium or material used for Short-Term Rental"]},{"url":"https://gibsons.civicweb.net/document/60436/","title":"Business Licence Bylaw No. 666, 1992 (consolidated), Town of Gibsons","section":"Part III, s. 5(c)","quotes":["can be anyone over the age of 18"]},{"url":"https://gibsons.civicweb.net/document/89468/","title":"Zoning Bylaw No. 1342, 2025, Town of Gibsons","section":"s. 3.7.4(1.5), (1.4)","quotes":["except for a single sign not exceeding 0.3 m² in area.","Short-Term Rental is not permitted in a Recreational Vehicle, motor vehicle, tent,"]}],"check":{"result":"matched","text_date":"2026-11-06"}},"fine":{"label":"Fine","value":"Bylaw notice: $200 for operating a short-term rental without a business licence ($150 if paid early, $300 if late); the same $200/$150/$300 for other zoning breaches such as operating outside the principal residence. Court: $200 to $10,000 under the Business Licence Bylaw.","short":"Notice $200 ($150 if paid early)","status":"stated","sources":[{"url":"https://gibsons.civicweb.net/document/104779/","title":"Bylaw Notice Enforcement Bylaw No. 1125 (consolidated), Town of Gibsons","section":"Schedule A, Bylaw 1342","quotes":["1342 3.7.4.1.7 STR no business licence $200 $150 $300 Yes","Operate STR outside of Principal"]},{"url":"https://gibsons.civicweb.net/document/60436/","title":"Business Licence Bylaw No. 666, 1992 (consolidated), Town of Gibsons","section":"Part II, s. 13(a)","quotes":["fine of not less than $200.00 and not more than $10,000 or imprisonment"]}],"check":{"result":"matched","text_date":"2026-11-06"}},"bylaw":{"label":"Bylaw","value":"Zoning Bylaw No. 1342, 2025 (s. 3.7.4 and 4.1.5) and Business Licence Bylaw No. 666, 1992 (Part III, Schedule A)","status":"stated","sources":[{"url":"https://gibsons.civicweb.net/document/89468/","title":"Zoning Bylaw No. 1342, 2025, Town of Gibsons","section":"s. 3.7.4","quotes":["3.7.3. Home Occupations ................................................................................................... 3-10 3.7.4. Short-Term Rentals ................................................................................................... 3-11 3.8. Uses Permitted and Uses Prohibited in All Zones ........................................................... 3-12","Zoning Bylaw Bylaw No. 1342 | 2025 Consolidated for convenience to include 1342-01 - June 2026"]},{"url":"https://gibsons.civicweb.net/document/60436/","title":"Business Licence Bylaw No. 666, 1992 (consolidated), Town of Gibsons","section":"title","quotes":["BUSINESS LICENCE BYLAW NO. 666"]}],"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\nShort-term rentals are allowed in any zone that allows residential use, with a Town business licence. The rules are in [Zoning Bylaw 1342](https://gibsons.civicweb.net/document/89468/) (s. 3.7.4) and [Business Licence Bylaw 666](https://gibsons.civicweb.net/document/60436/).\n\nOutside the CM-1 zone, a principal-residence short-term rental may use up to two bedrooms while the operator is home, or the whole home up to three months a year. Non-principal-residence rentals (including a separate unit on the owner's property) are capped at 35 licences. The CM-1 zone has no such limits. Not allowed in an RV, vehicle, tent or boat.\n\nThe Province's exempt list includes Gibsons, so the provincial principal-residence rule does not apply here, but the Town's own rule does. Hosts must also register with the Province's Short-Term Rental Registry using the Town business licence number. That does not replace the Town licence.\n\n## Steps\n\n1. Check whether your property is in the Town and whether your zone allows it.\n2. Apply for the licence through the Town (see its short-term rental page). Only individuals can hold one.\n3. Register with the provincial registry using your Town licence number.\n4. Show the licence number in every listing.\n\n## Good to know\n\n- Licence fees: $200 a year for a principal residence (also for part of a unit), $2,000 a year for an entire non-principal-residence unit, plus a one-time $400 application fee for new applicants.\n- Licences are not transferable and expire on sale or change of operator.\n- Parking: 1 space per bedroom used (maximum 4), plus each operator vehicle present. Name a responsible person aged 18 or older. Post contacts, a parking plan and a fire safety plan in the unit. No outside sign beyond one 0.3 m². The unit must be legally permitted.\n- Fine: a bylaw notice is $200 for operating without a licence ($150 if paid early, $300 if late), and the same for other zoning breaches such as operating outside the principal residence. In court, $200 to $10,000 under the Business Licence Bylaw.","sources":[{"url":"https://gibsons.ca/business/str/","title":"Short-term rentals, Town of Gibsons","accessed":"2026-11-06"},{"url":"https://gibsons.civicweb.net/document/89468/","title":"Zoning Bylaw No. 1342, 2025, Town of Gibsons","accessed":"2026-11-06"},{"url":"https://gibsons.civicweb.net/document/60436/","title":"Business Licence Bylaw No. 666, 1992 (consolidated), Town of Gibsons","accessed":"2026-11-06"},{"url":"https://gibsons.civicweb.net/document/104779/","title":"Bylaw Notice Enforcement Bylaw No. 1125 (consolidated), Town of Gibsons","accessed":"2026-11-06"},{"url":"https://www2.gov.bc.ca/gov/content/housing-tenancy/short-term-rentals/principal-residence-requirement","title":"Principal residence requirement, Province of BC","accessed":"2026-11-06"}],"sources_read":"2026-11-06","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/gibsons/short-term-rental/","markdown":"https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/gibsons/short-term-rental.md","json":"https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/gibsons/short-term-rental.json"}}