---
title: Grand Forks short-term rental rules (Airbnb, Vrbo)
question: "Can I rent out my home or a room on Airbnb in Grand Forks?"
place: Grand Forks, British Columbia, Canada
place_path: ca/bc/grand-forks
category: Housing and renting
owner: shared
sources_read: 2026-11-05
review: machine_checked
canonical: "https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/grand-forks/short-term-rental/"
json: "https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/grand-forks/short-term-rental.json"
---

# Grand Forks short-term rental rules (Airbnb, Vrbo)

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

**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.

**Who handles it:** More than one level of government  
**Cost:** Provincial registration: $100 a year for your principal residence, $450 a year for a secondary unit. City business licence: $75 a year.  
**Where:**
- Phone: City Hall (zoning and business licence questions), 250-442-8266
- Phone: Province of BC short-term rental registry (Service BC), 1-833-828-2240 (Monday to Friday, 7:30 a.m. to 5 p.m.)
- Email: Province of BC short-term rental registry, STRregistry@sbc.gov.bc.ca

## Key facts

- **Allowed:** 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.
  - Source: [Zoning Bylaw No. 2039, 2018, unofficial consolidation (Amendments A1-A40), s. 2 definition](https://www.grandforks.ca/wp-content/uploads/By2039-Zoning-Bylaw-CONSOLIDATED.pdf)
  - Official wording: "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;"
  - Source: [Zoning Bylaw No. 2039, 2018, unofficial consolidation (Amendments A1-A40), s. 36.1](https://www.grandforks.ca/wp-content/uploads/By2039-Zoning-Bylaw-CONSOLIDATED.pdf)
  - Official wording: "bed and breakfast accommodations;"
  - Source: [Zoning Bylaw No. 2039, 2018, unofficial consolidation (Amendments A1-A40), s. 49.2](https://www.grandforks.ca/wp-content/uploads/By2039-Zoning-Bylaw-CONSOLIDATED.pdf)
  - Official wording: "47.2 The following uses and no others are permitted in a HC zone: hotels or motels; restaurants;"
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06
- **Business licence:** 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.
  - Source: [Business Licence and Regulation Bylaw No. 2126, s. 3 and Schedule A](https://www.grandforks.ca/wp-content/uploads/Bylaw2126Business-Licence-Bylaw-1.pdf)
  - Official wording: "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: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06
- **Provincial registration:** 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.
  - Source: [Short-term rental registration, Province of British Columbia, Registration overview](https://www2.gov.bc.ca/gov/content/housing-tenancy/short-term-rentals/registry)
  - Official wording: "Short-term rental hosts, platforms and strata hotel platforms in B.C. must register and pay annual registration fees."
  - Source: [Provincial principal residence requirement, Province of British Columbia, Registration fees](https://www2.gov.bc.ca/gov/content/housing-tenancy/short-term-rentals/principal-residence-requirement)
  - Official wording: "Fee: $100 annually" … "Fee: $450 annually" … "Provincial registration requirements apply to short-term rentals offered for fewer than 90 consecutive days"
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06
- **Operating rules:** 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.
  - Source: [Provincial principal residence requirement, Province of British Columbia, Exempt municipalities](https://www2.gov.bc.ca/gov/content/housing-tenancy/short-term-rentals/principal-residence-requirement)
  - Official wording: "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"
  - Source: [Zoning Bylaw No. 2039, 2018, unofficial consolidation (Amendments A1-A40), Table 2](https://www.grandforks.ca/wp-content/uploads/By2039-Zoning-Bylaw-CONSOLIDATED.pdf)
  - Official wording: "Bed and breakfast" … "one space for every bedroom offered to the patrons"
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06
- **Fine:** 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.
  - Source: [Business Licence and Regulation Bylaw No. 2126, s. 39-40](https://www.grandforks.ca/wp-content/uploads/Bylaw2126Business-Licence-Bylaw-1.pdf)
  - Official wording: "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"
  - Source: [Municipal Ticket Information Bylaw No. 2073 (PDF, consolidated December 12, 2022), Schedule S](https://www.grandforks.ca/wp-content/uploads/Bylaw2073Municipal-Ticket-Information-Bylaw-CONSOLIDATED-2.pdf)
  - Official wording: "Operating business without a valid licence $100.00"
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06
- **Bylaw:** Business Licence and Regulation Bylaw No. 2126; Zoning Bylaw No. 2039, 2018; and the Province's Short-Term Rental Accommodations Act
  - Source: [Business Licence and Regulation Bylaw No. 2126, title](https://www.grandforks.ca/wp-content/uploads/Bylaw2126Business-Licence-Bylaw-1.pdf)
  - Official wording: "BUSINESS LICENCE AND REGULATION BYLAW NO. 2126"
  - Source: [Zoning Bylaw No. 2039, 2018, unofficial consolidation (Amendments A1-A40), title](https://www.grandforks.ca/wp-content/uploads/By2039-Zoning-Bylaw-CONSOLIDATED.pdf)
  - Official wording: "ZONING BYLAW NO. 2039, 2018"
  - Source: [Short-term rental registration, Province of British Columbia, overview](https://www2.gov.bc.ca/gov/content/housing-tenancy/short-term-rentals/registry)
  - Official wording: "Short-Term Rental Accommodations Act"
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06

## How it works

The 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.

The 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.

## Steps

1. Register with the Province's short-term rental registry (Service BC, 1-833-828-2240).
2. Ask City Hall (250-442-8266) whether your zone allows what you plan.
3. 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.

## Good to know

- A bed and breakfast may offer at most 3 bedrooms, with one parking space per bedroom offered.
- No City rules were found on guest numbers, posting a licence number or a local contact.
- 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.

## Official forms and pages

- [Short-term rental registration, Province of British Columbia](https://www2.gov.bc.ca/gov/content/housing-tenancy/short-term-rentals/registry)
- [Zoning Bylaw No. 2039, consolidated (PDF)](https://www.grandforks.ca/wp-content/uploads/By2039-Zoning-Bylaw-CONSOLIDATED.pdf)
- [Business Licence and Regulation Bylaw No. 2126 (PDF)](https://www.grandforks.ca/wp-content/uploads/Bylaw2126Business-Licence-Bylaw-1.pdf)

## Related questions

- [Grand Forks business licences: who needs one, fees and how to apply](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/grand-forks/business-licence.md)
- [Grand Forks home-based business rules](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/grand-forks/home-based-business.md)
- [Grand Forks secondary suite and carriage house rules](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/grand-forks/secondary-suite.md)

## The same question elsewhere

- [Short-term rental rules in British Columbia, by municipality](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/short-term-rental.md)
- [Midway](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/midway/short-term-rental.md)
- [Rossland](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/rossland/short-term-rental.md)
- [Warfield](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/warfield/short-term-rental.md)
- [Trail](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/trail/short-term-rental.md)
- [Montrose](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/montrose/short-term-rental.md)
- [Castlegar](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/castlegar/short-term-rental.md)

## Sources

- [Zoning Bylaw No. 2039, 2018, unofficial consolidation (Amendments A1-A40) (PDF), City of Grand Forks](https://www.grandforks.ca/wp-content/uploads/By2039-Zoning-Bylaw-CONSOLIDATED.pdf) (read 2026-11-05)
- [Business Licence and Regulation Bylaw No. 2126 (PDF), City of Grand Forks](https://www.grandforks.ca/wp-content/uploads/Bylaw2126Business-Licence-Bylaw-1.pdf) (read 2026-11-05)
- [Municipal Ticket Information Bylaw No. 2073 (PDF, consolidated December 12, 2022), City of Grand Forks](https://www.grandforks.ca/wp-content/uploads/Bylaw2073Municipal-Ticket-Information-Bylaw-CONSOLIDATED-2.pdf) (read 2026-11-05)
- [Short-term rental registration, Province of British Columbia](https://www2.gov.bc.ca/gov/content/housing-tenancy/short-term-rentals/registry) (read 2026-11-05)
- [Provincial principal residence requirement, Province of British Columbia](https://www2.gov.bc.ca/gov/content/housing-tenancy/short-term-rentals/principal-residence-requirement) (read 2026-11-05)
- [Contact The City, City of Grand Forks](https://www.grandforks.ca/contact-the-city/) (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. 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/grand-forks/short-term-rental/_