---
title: Golden short-term rental rules (Airbnb, Vrbo)
question: "Can I rent out my home or a room on Airbnb in Golden?"
place: Golden, British Columbia, Canada
place_path: ca/bc/golden
category: Housing and renting
owner: shared
sources_read: 2026-11-08
review: machine_checked
canonical: "https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/golden/short-term-rental/"
json: "https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/golden/short-term-rental.json"
---

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

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

**Short answer:** In Golden you need a Town business licence to run a short-term rental or bed and breakfast. In residential zones the rental must be a separate unit with the host living in another unit on the lot; renting a whole single detached house is not allowed. The Province also requires registration.

**Who handles it:** More than one level of government  
**Cost:** Yearly licence by bedrooms (1, 2, 3): B&B $125, $175, $225; residential short-term rental $175, $225, $275; commercial short-term rental $200, $250, $300. Water and sewer rates also rise with a B&B or short-term rental; see the Town page.  
**How long:** A licence is yearly. The Town does not state how long approval takes.  
**Where:**
- Online: Short-Term Rentals and Bed & Breakfasts, Town of Golden, https://www.golden.ca/business-development/business-licences/short-term-rentals-and-bed-breakfasts
- Phone: Business licences, 250-344-2271 ext. 238
- In person: Town Hall, 810 9th Ave. South, Golden, BC

## Key facts

- **Allowed:** Yes, with a Town licence. In R1S, R1D, R2, R2A, R5 and C5 an STR is a separate dwelling unit (suite or duplex half) with the host living in another unit on the lot; renting a whole single detached house is not allowed. Not allowed on a lot with a detached secondary dwelling. C1 to C4 and C6: no resident rule.
  - Source: [Zoning Bylaw Excerpts, B&B and short-term rental, Zones and s. 9.6](https://www.golden.ca/sites/default/files/2024-04/Zoning%20Bylaw%20Excerpts%20BnB%20STR.pdf)
  - Official wording: "STRs and Bed and Breakfasts are permitted in the R1, R1-S, R1-D, R2, R2-A, R5 and C5" … "operated without the permeant resident requirement." … "not be permitted on a Lot where a Detached Secondary Residential Dwelling exists."
  - Source: [Short-Term Rentals and Bed & Breakfasts, Eligibility](https://www.golden.ca/business-development/business-licences/short-term-rentals-and-bed-breakfasts)
  - Official wording: "To operate a short-term rental (STR), the STR must be within your principal residence and you must be occupying the dwelling unit or building during the rental period." … "In a residential zone, a short-term rental is renting a dwelling unit (ex. a secondary suite with its own kitchen) to provide temporary accommodation to the traveling public where another dwelling unit within the building is occupied by a permanent resident." … "Rental of an entire single detached dwelling."
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-08
- **Business licence:** Yes, every STR and B&B needs a Town business licence. Yearly fee by bedrooms (1/2/3): B&B $125/$175/$225; residential STR $175/$225/$275; commercial STR $200/$250/$300.
  - Source: [Short-Term Rentals and Bed & Breakfasts, Fees](https://www.golden.ca/business-development/business-licences/short-term-rentals-and-bed-breakfasts)
  - Official wording: "All STR and B&B operators in Golden are required to have a business license." … "1 bedroom: $125/year" … "3 bedrooms: $225/year" … "1 bedroom: $175/year" … "3 bedrooms: $275/year" … "1 bedroom: $200/year" … "3 bedrooms: $300/year"
  - Source: [Bed and Breakfast and Short Term Rental Regulation Bylaw No. 1438, 2020, s. 4.3](https://www.golden.ca/sites/default/files/2024-04/Bylaw%20No.%201438%202020%20ToG%20Bed%20and%20Breakfast%20and%20Short%20Term%20Rental%20Regulation.pdf)
  - Official wording: "(i) 1 sleeping unit $125"
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-08
- **Provincial registration:** Yes. The Province requires registration for short-term rentals offered for fewer than 90 consecutive days, even where a local licence is needed. Golden is on the Province's exempt list, so the provincial principal-residence rule does not apply; the Town's bylaws set their own resident-host rule.
  - Source: [Principal residence requirement, Province of BC, Business licence exemptions](https://www2.gov.bc.ca/gov/content/housing-tenancy/short-term-rentals/principal-residence-requirement)
  - Official wording: "Provincial registration requirements apply to short-term rentals offered for fewer than 90 consecutive days, regardless of whether a local business licence is required." … "Municipalities exempt from the principal residence requirement" … "Gold River Golden Grand Forks"
  - Source: [Short-Term Rentals and Bed & Breakfasts, Provincial requirements](https://www.golden.ca/business-development/business-licences/short-term-rentals-and-bed-breakfasts)
  - Official wording: "Operators will need to upload a copy of their business licence to their provincial registration dashboard by"
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-08
- **Operating rules:** Two parking spaces for the home plus one per rented room; operator or responsible person reachable 24 hours and responding to complaints within 2 hours; sign visible from the street; neighbours notified; licence number in every listing. Residential: up to 3 bedrooms, 6 guests.
  - Source: [Short-Term Rentals and Bed & Breakfasts, Business Licence Requirements](https://www.golden.ca/business-development/business-licences/short-term-rentals-and-bed-breakfasts)
  - Official wording: "Parking: you must provide two parking spaces for the residence plus an additional parking space for each STR room." … "your valid business licence number must be posted in any website listings, advertisements, and marketing and promotional materials." … "Maximum of six guests."
  - Source: [Bed and Breakfast and Short Term Rental Regulation Bylaw No. 1438, 2020, s. 8.1](https://www.golden.ca/sites/default/files/2024-04/Bylaw%20No.%201438%202020%20ToG%20Bed%20and%20Breakfast%20and%20Short%20Term%20Rental%20Regulation.pdf)
  - Official wording: "ensure the operator or responsible person is available for contact 24 hours a day" … "operate only one short-term rental premise per property;"
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-08
- **Fine:** Bylaw notice (Schedule T): operating without a licence $300 first offence, $400 second, $500 third; $280/$380/$480 if paid within 14 days, $320/$420/$500 after 28 days. Other offences $50 to $500.
  - Source: [Bylaw Notice Enforcement Bylaw, Schedule T](https://golden.civicweb.net/document/129117/)
  - Official wording: "No business licence (1st offence) $300.00 $280.00 $320.00" … "No business licence (2nd offence) $400.00 $380.00 $420.00" … "No business licence (3rd offence) $500.00 $480.00 $500.00"
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-08
- **Bylaw:** Town of Golden Bed and Breakfast and Short Term Rental Regulation Bylaw No. 1438, 2020; Zoning Bylaw No. 1294, 2011, ss. 9.2 and 9.6, as amended by Zoning Amendment Bylaw No. 1437, 2020
  - Source: [Bed and Breakfast and Short Term Rental Regulation Bylaw No. 1438, 2020, s. 1.1](https://www.golden.ca/sites/default/files/2024-04/Bylaw%20No.%201438%202020%20ToG%20Bed%20and%20Breakfast%20and%20Short%20Term%20Rental%20Regulation.pdf)
  - Official wording: "Town of Golden Bed and Breakfast and Short Term Rental" … "Regulation Bylaw No .1438, 2020."
  - Source: [Zoning Bylaw Excerpts, B&B and short-term rental, Zoning excerpt](https://www.golden.ca/sites/default/files/2024-04/Zoning%20Bylaw%20Excerpts%20BnB%20STR.pdf)
  - Official wording: "9.6 Short Term Rentals"
  - Source: [https://golden.civicweb.net/document/126132/, Bylaw 1437, 2020, s. 2 (j)](https://golden.civicweb.net/document/126132/)
  - Official wording: "9.6 Short Term Rentals" … "Dwelling Unit on the Lot while the Short Term"
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-08

## How it works

Every short-term rental (STR) and bed and breakfast (B&B) in Golden needs a Town business licence under [Bylaw No. 1438, 2020](<https://www.golden.ca/sites/default/files/2024-04/Bylaw%20No.%201438%202020%20ToG%20Bed%20and%20Breakfast%20and%20Short%20Term%20Rental%20Regulation.pdf>).

In R1S, R1D, R2, R2A, R5 and C5, an STR is a separate dwelling unit (a suite or duplex half) with the host living in another unit on the lot. Renting a whole single detached house is not allowed in residential zones, and an STR is not allowed on a lot with a detached secondary dwelling. In C1 to C4 and C6 there is no resident rule.

The Province also requires registration for short-term rentals of fewer than 90 consecutive days, even where a local licence is needed. Golden is on the Province's list of municipalities exempt from the provincial principal-residence requirement, so the Town's bylaws set the resident-host rule.

## Steps

1. Check that your zone and home meet the rules above (see the zoning-lookup answer).
2. Apply for the business licence through the Town's short-term rental page.
3. Register with the Province.
4. Follow the operating rules: two parking spaces for the home plus one per rented room; an operator or responsible person reachable 24 hours who responds to complaints within 2 hours; a sign visible from the street; neighbours notified; and the licence number in every listing.
5. Residential limit: up to 3 bedrooms and 6 guests. Commercial zones: up to 3 rooms and 8 guests.

## Good to know

- Also required: display the licence, a floor plan and contact details inside the entry; an annual inspection and declaration form; allow periodic inspections; and keep a guest register.
- A bylaw notice for operating without a licence is $300 first offence, $400 second and $500 third. Other offences are $50 to $500, for example $100 for not displaying the licence.
- Do not rely on 2025 deadlines on the Town page; check the page for current requirements.

## What you'll need

- Floor plan and contact details to display inside the entry
- Annual inspection and declaration form

## Official forms and pages

- [Short-Term Rentals and Bed & Breakfasts, Town of Golden](https://www.golden.ca/business-development/business-licences/short-term-rentals-and-bed-breakfasts)
- [Bed and Breakfast and Short Term Rental Regulation Bylaw No. 1438, 2020 (PDF)](https://www.golden.ca/sites/default/files/2024-04/Bylaw%20No.%201438%202020%20ToG%20Bed%20and%20Breakfast%20and%20Short%20Term%20Rental%20Regulation.pdf)
- [Short-term rentals, principal residence requirement, Province of BC](https://www2.gov.bc.ca/gov/content/housing-tenancy/short-term-rentals/principal-residence-requirement)

## Related questions

- [Golden business licences: who needs one, fees and how to apply](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/golden/business-licence.md)
- [Golden secondary suite and carriage house rules](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/golden/secondary-suite.md)
- [Golden zoning: find your zone and what it allows](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/golden/zoning-lookup.md)
- [Golden bylaw fines and how tickets work](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/golden/bylaw-fines.md)

## The same question elsewhere

- [Short-term rental rules in British Columbia, by municipality](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/short-term-rental.md)
- [Revelstoke](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/revelstoke/short-term-rental.md)
- [Radium Hot Springs](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/radium-hot-springs/short-term-rental.md)
- [Invermere](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/invermere/short-term-rental.md)
- [Nakusp](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/nakusp/short-term-rental.md)
- [New Denver](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/new-denver/short-term-rental.md)
- [Canal Flats](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/canal-flats/short-term-rental.md)

## Sources

- [Short-Term Rentals and Bed & Breakfasts, Town of Golden](https://www.golden.ca/business-development/business-licences/short-term-rentals-and-bed-breakfasts) (read 2026-11-08)
- [Bed and Breakfast and Short Term Rental Regulation Bylaw No. 1438, 2020 (PDF)](https://www.golden.ca/sites/default/files/2024-04/Bylaw%20No.%201438%202020%20ToG%20Bed%20and%20Breakfast%20and%20Short%20Term%20Rental%20Regulation.pdf) (read 2026-11-08)
- [Zoning Bylaw Excerpts, B&B and short-term rental (PDF)](https://www.golden.ca/sites/default/files/2024-04/Zoning%20Bylaw%20Excerpts%20BnB%20STR.pdf) (read 2026-11-08)
- [Bylaw Notice Enforcement Bylaw, Schedule T (PDF)](https://golden.civicweb.net/document/129117/) (read 2026-11-08)
- [Principal residence requirement, Province of BC](https://www2.gov.bc.ca/gov/content/housing-tenancy/short-term-rentals/principal-residence-requirement) (read 2026-11-08)
- [https://golden.civicweb.net/document/126132/](https://golden.civicweb.net/document/126132/) (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. 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/golden/short-term-rental/_