{"title":"Grand Forks short-term rental rules (Airbnb, Vrbo)","question":"Can I rent out my home or a room on Airbnb in Grand Forks?","slug":"short-term-rental","place":{"path":"ca/bc/grand-forks","name":"Grand Forks","region":{"code":"bc","name":"British Columbia"},"country":{"code":"ca","name":"Canada"}},"category":{"slug":"housing-and-renting","name":"Housing and renting"},"owner":"shared","owner_label":"More than one level of government","owner_body":null,"short_answer":"In Grand Forks you must register with the Province, and the City's Zoning Bylaw has no short-term rental use. It does allow bed and breakfasts (up to 3 bedrooms, in the owner's principal residence) in R-1, R-1A, R-2, R-4, R-4A and AUC zones. Grand Forks is exempt from the provincial principal-residence rule.","aliases":["airbnb grand forks","vacation rental grand forks","short term rental bylaw grand forks","bed and breakfast grand forks"],"cost":"Provincial registration: $100 a year for your principal residence, $450 a year for a secondary unit. City business licence: $75 a year.","how_long":null,"where":[{"type":"phone","label":"City Hall (zoning and business licence questions)","value":"250-442-8266"},{"type":"phone","label":"Province of BC short-term rental registry (Service BC)","value":"1-833-828-2240","note":"Monday to Friday, 7:30 a.m. to 5 p.m."},{"type":"email","label":"Province of BC short-term rental registry","value":"STRregistry@sbc.gov.bc.ca"}],"documents":[],"forms":[{"title":"Short-term rental registration, Province of British Columbia","url":"https://www2.gov.bc.ca/gov/content/housing-tenancy/short-term-rentals/registry"},{"title":"Zoning Bylaw No. 2039, consolidated (PDF)","url":"https://www.grandforks.ca/wp-content/uploads/By2039-Zoning-Bylaw-CONSOLIDATED.pdf"},{"title":"Business Licence and Regulation Bylaw No. 2126 (PDF)","url":"https://www.grandforks.ca/wp-content/uploads/Bylaw2126Business-Licence-Bylaw-1.pdf"}],"related":[{"slug":"business-licence","title":"Grand Forks business licences: who needs one, fees and how to apply","url":"https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/grand-forks/business-licence/"},{"slug":"home-based-business","title":"Grand Forks home-based business rules","url":"https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/grand-forks/home-based-business/"},{"slug":"secondary-suite","title":"Grand Forks secondary suite and carriage house rules","url":"https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/grand-forks/secondary-suite/"}],"nearby":[{"place":"ca/bc/midway","name":"Midway","url":"https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/midway/short-term-rental/"},{"place":"ca/bc/rossland","name":"Rossland","url":"https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/rossland/short-term-rental/"},{"place":"ca/bc/warfield","name":"Warfield","url":"https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/warfield/short-term-rental/"},{"place":"ca/bc/trail","name":"Trail","url":"https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/trail/short-term-rental/"},{"place":"ca/bc/montrose","name":"Montrose","url":"https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/montrose/short-term-rental/"},{"place":"ca/bc/castlegar","name":"Castlegar","url":"https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/castlegar/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":"The Zoning Bylaw has no short-term rental use. It permits bed and breakfast accommodations (a home occupation renting up to 3 bedrooms, in the owner's principal residence) in R-1, R-1A, R-2, R-4, R-4A and AUC zones, and hotels and motels in the HC, CC and TC zones.","short":"No STR use; B&B allowed in some zones","status":"stated","sources":[{"url":"https://www.grandforks.ca/wp-content/uploads/By2039-Zoning-Bylaw-CONSOLIDATED.pdf","title":"Zoning Bylaw No. 2039, 2018, unofficial consolidation (Amendments A1-A40) (PDF), City of Grand Forks","section":"s. 2 definition","quotes":["Bed And Breakfast means a home occupation that offers a maximum of 3 bedrooms, for rent","for the principal residence of the owner.","The following uses and no others are permitted in a HC zone:","hotels and motels;"]},{"url":"https://www.grandforks.ca/wp-content/uploads/By2039-Zoning-Bylaw-CONSOLIDATED.pdf","title":"Zoning Bylaw No. 2039, 2018, unofficial consolidation (Amendments A1-A40) (PDF), City of Grand Forks","section":"s. 36.1","quotes":["bed and breakfast accommodations;"]},{"url":"https://www.grandforks.ca/wp-content/uploads/By2039-Zoning-Bylaw-CONSOLIDATED.pdf","title":"Zoning Bylaw No. 2039, 2018, unofficial consolidation (Amendments A1-A40) (PDF), City of Grand Forks","section":"s. 49.2","quotes":["47.2 The following uses and no others are permitted in a HC zone: hotels or motels; restaurants;"]}],"check":{"result":"matched","text_date":"2026-11-06"}},"licence":{"label":"Business licence","value":"A business licence is required to carry on any business, and the bylaw does not mention short-term rentals. The standard annual fee is $75.","short":"Yes (all businesses), $75 a year","status":"stated","sources":[{"url":"https://www.grandforks.ca/wp-content/uploads/Bylaw2126Business-Licence-Bylaw-1.pdf","title":"Business Licence and Regulation Bylaw No. 2126 (PDF), City of Grand Forks","section":"s. 3 and Schedule A","quotes":["3. No person (for clarity, including a registered society) may carry on any business in the City","1. Annual licence fee is $75.00 unless otherwise set out below."]}],"check":{"result":"matched","text_date":"2026-11-06"}},"provincial_registration":{"label":"Provincial registration","value":"Yes. Short-term rental hosts must register with the Province and pay an annual fee: $100 for the host's principal residence (renting a room or the whole unit while away) and $450 for a secondary unit such as a suite or cottage. It applies to stays under 90 consecutive days.","status":"stated","sources":[{"url":"https://www2.gov.bc.ca/gov/content/housing-tenancy/short-term-rentals/registry","title":"Short-term rental registration, Province of British Columbia","section":"Registration overview","quotes":["Short-term rental hosts, platforms and strata hotel platforms in B.C. must register and pay annual registration fees."]},{"url":"https://www2.gov.bc.ca/gov/content/housing-tenancy/short-term-rentals/principal-residence-requirement","title":"Provincial principal residence requirement, Province of British Columbia","section":"Registration fees","quotes":["Fee: $100 annually","Fee: $450 annually","Provincial registration requirements apply to short-term rentals offered for fewer than 90 consecutive days"]}],"check":{"result":"matched","text_date":"2026-11-06"}},"rules":{"label":"Operating rules","value":"The provincial principal residence requirement does not apply in Grand Forks (listed as exempt) unless the City opts in. City rules found: a bed and breakfast may offer at most 3 bedrooms, in the owner's principal residence, with one parking space per bedroom offered.","status":"stated","sources":[{"url":"https://www2.gov.bc.ca/gov/content/housing-tenancy/short-term-rentals/principal-residence-requirement","title":"Provincial principal residence requirement, Province of British Columbia","section":"Exempt municipalities","quotes":["The expandable menu below lists the communities and land where the Province's principal residence requirement will not apply, unless the local government chooses to opt-in.","Golden Grand Forks Granisle"]},{"url":"https://www.grandforks.ca/wp-content/uploads/By2039-Zoning-Bylaw-CONSOLIDATED.pdf","title":"Zoning Bylaw No. 2039, 2018, unofficial consolidation (Amendments A1-A40) (PDF), City of Grand Forks","section":"Table 2","quotes":["Bed and breakfast","one space for every bedroom offered to the patrons"]}],"check":{"result":"matched","text_date":"2026-11-06"}},"fine":{"label":"Fine","value":"Operating without a business licence: court fine of $3,000 to $50,000 under Bylaw 2126 s. 40. The ticket schedule still lists only repealed Bylaw 1384 ($100), so no ticket amount is yet listed for Bylaw 2126.","short":"No ticket; $3,000 to $50,000 in court","status":"stated","sources":[{"url":"https://www.grandforks.ca/wp-content/uploads/Bylaw2126Business-Licence-Bylaw-1.pdf","title":"Business Licence and Regulation Bylaw No. 2126 (PDF), City of Grand Forks","section":"s. 39-40","quotes":["is liable, if proceedings are brought","to pay a fine up to the maximum fine amount of $50,000 and not less than $3,000"]},{"url":"https://www.grandforks.ca/wp-content/uploads/Bylaw2073Municipal-Ticket-Information-Bylaw-CONSOLIDATED-2.pdf","title":"Municipal Ticket Information Bylaw No. 2073 (PDF, consolidated December 12, 2022), City of Grand Forks","section":"Schedule S","quotes":["Operating business without a valid licence $100.00"]}],"check":{"result":"matched","text_date":"2026-11-06"}},"bylaw":{"label":"Bylaw","value":"Business Licence and Regulation Bylaw No. 2126; Zoning Bylaw No. 2039, 2018; and the Province's Short-Term Rental Accommodations Act","status":"stated","sources":[{"url":"https://www.grandforks.ca/wp-content/uploads/Bylaw2126Business-Licence-Bylaw-1.pdf","title":"Business Licence and Regulation Bylaw No. 2126 (PDF), City of Grand Forks","section":"title","quotes":["BUSINESS LICENCE AND REGULATION BYLAW NO. 2126"]},{"url":"https://www.grandforks.ca/wp-content/uploads/By2039-Zoning-Bylaw-CONSOLIDATED.pdf","title":"Zoning Bylaw No. 2039, 2018, unofficial consolidation (Amendments A1-A40) (PDF), City of Grand Forks","section":"title","quotes":["ZONING BYLAW NO. 2039, 2018"]},{"url":"https://www2.gov.bc.ca/gov/content/housing-tenancy/short-term-rentals/registry","title":"Short-term rental registration, Province of British Columbia","section":"overview","quotes":["Short-Term Rental Accommodations Act"]}],"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\nThe Province requires short-term rental hosts to register and pay an annual fee, for stays under 90 consecutive days: $100 for the host's principal residence (a room, or the whole unit while away) and $450 for a secondary unit such as a suite or cottage. Grand Forks is listed as exempt from the provincial principal-residence requirement unless the City opts in. Hosts must still follow all local bylaws.\n\nThe City's [Zoning Bylaw 2039](https://www.grandforks.ca/wp-content/uploads/By2039-Zoning-Bylaw-CONSOLIDATED.pdf) has no short-term rental use. It permits bed and breakfast accommodation (a home occupation renting up to 3 bedrooms, in the owner's principal residence) in R-1, R-1A, R-2, R-4, R-4A and AUC zones, and hotels and motels in HC, CC and TC zones. It does not say whether other short-term rentals are allowed.\n\n## Steps\n\n1. Register with the Province's short-term rental registry (Service BC, 1-833-828-2240).\n2. Ask City Hall (250-442-8266) whether your zone allows what you plan.\n3. Get a City business licence. [Bylaw 2126](https://www.grandforks.ca/wp-content/uploads/Bylaw2126Business-Licence-Bylaw-1.pdf) requires one to carry on any business and does not mention short-term rentals. The annual fee is $75, and a bed and breakfast counts as a home occupation.\n\n## Good to know\n\n- A bed and breakfast may offer at most 3 bedrooms, with one parking space per bedroom offered.\n- No City rules were found on guest numbers, posting a licence number or a local contact.\n- No ticket amount applies to operating without a licence under Bylaw 2126 yet. Enforcement is a court fine of $3,000 to $50,000. The ticket schedule still lists only repealed Bylaw 1384.","sources":[{"url":"https://www.grandforks.ca/wp-content/uploads/By2039-Zoning-Bylaw-CONSOLIDATED.pdf","title":"Zoning Bylaw No. 2039, 2018, unofficial consolidation (Amendments A1-A40) (PDF), City of Grand Forks","accessed":"2026-11-05"},{"url":"https://www.grandforks.ca/wp-content/uploads/Bylaw2126Business-Licence-Bylaw-1.pdf","title":"Business Licence and Regulation Bylaw No. 2126 (PDF), City of Grand Forks","accessed":"2026-11-05"},{"url":"https://www.grandforks.ca/wp-content/uploads/Bylaw2073Municipal-Ticket-Information-Bylaw-CONSOLIDATED-2.pdf","title":"Municipal Ticket Information Bylaw No. 2073 (PDF, consolidated December 12, 2022), City of Grand Forks","accessed":"2026-11-05"},{"url":"https://www2.gov.bc.ca/gov/content/housing-tenancy/short-term-rentals/registry","title":"Short-term rental registration, Province of British Columbia","accessed":"2026-11-05"},{"url":"https://www2.gov.bc.ca/gov/content/housing-tenancy/short-term-rentals/principal-residence-requirement","title":"Provincial principal residence requirement, Province of British Columbia","accessed":"2026-11-05"},{"url":"https://www.grandforks.ca/contact-the-city/","title":"Contact The City, City of Grand Forks","accessed":"2026-11-05"}],"sources_read":"2026-11-05","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/grand-forks/short-term-rental/","markdown":"https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/grand-forks/short-term-rental.md","json":"https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/grand-forks/short-term-rental.json"}}