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

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

Grand Forks, British ColumbiaChecked against official textSources read 2026-11-05

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.

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.Zoning Bylaw No. 2039, 2018, unofficial consolidation (Amendments A1-A40), s. 2 definition; Zoning Bylaw No. 2039, 2018, unofficial consolidation (Amendments A1-A40), s. 36.1; Zoning Bylaw No. 2039, 2018, unofficial consolidation (Amendments A1-A40), s. 49.2 · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06 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; bed and breakfast accommodations; 47.2 The following uses and no others are permitted in a HC zone: hotels or motels; restaurants;
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.Business Licence and Regulation Bylaw No. 2126, s. 3 and Schedule A · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06 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.
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.Short-term rental registration, Province of British Columbia, Registration overview; Provincial 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. Fee: $100 annually Fee: $450 annually Provincial registration requirements apply to short-term rentals offered for fewer than 90 consecutive days
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.Provincial principal residence requirement, Province of British Columbia, Exempt municipalities; Zoning Bylaw No. 2039, 2018, unofficial consolidation (Amendments A1-A40), Table 2 · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06 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 Bed and breakfast one space for every bedroom offered to the patrons
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.Business Licence and Regulation Bylaw No. 2126, s. 39-40; Municipal Ticket Information Bylaw No. 2073 (PDF, consolidated December 12, 2022), Schedule S · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06 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 Operating business without a valid licence $100.00
Bylaw	Business Licence and Regulation Bylaw No. 2126; Zoning Bylaw No. 2039, 2018; and the Province's Short-Term Rental Accommodations ActBusiness Licence and Regulation Bylaw No. 2126, title; Zoning Bylaw No. 2039, 2018, unofficial consolidation (Amendments A1-A40), title; Short-term rental registration, Province of British Columbia, overview · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06 Official wording BUSINESS LICENCE AND REGULATION BYLAW NO. 2126 ZONING BYLAW NO. 2039, 2018 Short-Term Rental Accommodations Act

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 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

Register with the Province's short-term rental registry (Service BC, 1-833-828-2240).
Ask City Hall (250-442-8266) whether your zone allows what you plan.
Get a City business licence. Bylaw 2126 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

The same question in other places

Midway · Rossland · Warfield · Trail · Montrose · Castlegar

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

Sources

Zoning Bylaw No. 2039, 2018, unofficial consolidation (Amendments A1-A40) (PDF), City of Grand Forks (read 2026-11-05)
Business Licence and Regulation Bylaw No. 2126 (PDF), City of Grand Forks (read 2026-11-05)
Municipal Ticket Information Bylaw No. 2073 (PDF, consolidated December 12, 2022), City of Grand Forks (read 2026-11-05)
Short-term rental registration, Province of British Columbia (read 2026-11-05)
Provincial principal residence requirement, Province of British Columbia (read 2026-11-05)
Contact The City, City of Grand Forks (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.