Houston short-term rental rules (Airbnb, Vrbo)
Can I rent out my home or a room on Airbnb in Houston?
Short answer
In Houston, a vacation rental is a permitted home occupation in zones R1, R2, A1, A2 and C1, and a bed and breakfast in R1, A1 and A2. You need a District business licence ($20 per unit per year) and provincial registration. Houston is exempt from the provincial principal residence rule.
Key facts
| Allowed | Vacation rental is a permitted home occupation in zones R1, R2, A1, A2 and C1 (one accommodation home occupation per lot); bed and breakfast in R1, A1 and A2. Houston is on the Province's exempt list, so the provincial principal residence requirement does not apply.Sources differ: Houston is on the Province's exempt list (not the list where the rule applies); list as of June 1, 2026. The Zoning page says vacation rentals are permitted in R1 and both Rural zones only; the bylaw also lists R2 and C1, and the bylaw governs. R3 allows only standard home occupations.Zoning Bylaw No. 1225, 2026, ss. 6.4(1) and zone lists (9.1, 9.2, 10.1, 10.2, 11.1); Short-term rental principal residence requirement, Province of British Columbia, "List of exempt communities", Municipalities exempt from the principal residence requirement · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-08Official wordingVacation Rental Accommodation Home Occupation Bed and Breakfast Accommodation Home Occupation Municipalities exempt from the principal residence requirement Hope Houston Hudson’s Hope |
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| Business licence | Yes. Anyone supplying short-term, long-term or tourist accommodation must have a District business licence. Accommodation Rental Fee: $20 per unit per year (2026 to 2028), for accommodation rented for less than 30 days.Business Licence Bylaw No. 1220, 2025, s. 4.14; Bylaw No. 1221, 2025, Business Licence Fees, Schedule A-3, Schedule A-3, fee table and definitions · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-08Official wordingA person who supplies residential or temporary rental accommodations must obtain a business licence from the District of Houston. Per year $20. 00/unit $20.00/unit $20.00/unit Accommodation Rental Fee means a residential or temporary rental accommodation rented for less than 30 days |
| Provincial registration | Yes. Hosts must register with the Province's Short-Term Rental Registry for stays under 90 consecutive days, even in communities exempt from the principal residence requirement. Fee per unit: $100 a year (principal residence), $450 (secondary unit).Short-term rental principal residence requirement, Province of British Columbia, "Business licence exemptions", "Types of exemptions" and fee sections · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-08Official wordingProvincial registration requirements apply to short-term rentals offered for fewer than 90 consecutive days, regardless of whether a local business licence is required. must register with the Short-Term Rental Registry, but are exempt from the principal residence requirement: Municipalities with populations under 10,000 and not within 15 km of a larger municipality (listed below) Fee: $100 annually Fee: $450 annually |
| Operating rules | One accommodation home occupation per lot. Vacation rental: one dwelling unit per lot. Bed and breakfast: host's single detached home, two guests per sleeping unit, up to three sleeping units, stays up to 31 consecutive days, no non-resident employees. Licence application must name the property manager if not the applicant (s. 4.15).Zoning Bylaw No. 1225, 2026, s. 6.4(5) and (6); Business Licence Bylaw No. 1220, 2025, Business Licence Bylaw No. 1220, s. 4.15 · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-08Official wordingoccupy no more than one dwelling unit per lot. be limited to two guests per sleeping unit, up to a maximum of three sleeping units, for periods of up to 31 consecutive days; not employ any on-site, non-resident employees. name and contact information of the property manager if different from the |
| Fine | Bylaw notice for operating without a business licence (Business Licence Bylaw s. 3.2): $200, or $150 if paid within 14 days; $250 if paid late.Bylaw No. 1230, 2026, Schedule A, Business Licence Bylaw No. 1220 bylaw notice amounts, Schedule A, Business Licence Bylaw No. 1220, 2025 · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-08Official wordingFailure to Obtain License 3.2 $ 200.00 $ 150.00 5 250.00 Yes |
| Bylaw | Zoning Bylaw No. 1225, 2026 (s. 6.4, home occupations) and Business Licence Bylaw No. 1220, 2025 (s. 4.14).Zoning Bylaw No. 1225, 2026, s. 1.1; Business Licence Bylaw No. 1220, 2025, s. 6.5 · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-08Official wordingThis Bylaw will be cited as “Zoning Bylaw No. 1225, 2026.” This bylaw may be cited as "Business Licence Bylaw No. 1220, 2025". |
How it works
Houston treats short-term rentals as home occupations under the Zoning Bylaw No. 1225, 2026. A vacation rental (one dwelling unit per lot) is permitted in R1, R2, A1, A2 and C1; a bed and breakfast is permitted in R1, A1 and A2. Only one accommodation home occupation is allowed per lot, and R3 allows standard home occupations only.
Houston is on the Province's list of communities exempt from the provincial principal residence requirement (list as of June 1, 2026), so that rule does not apply here.
Steps
- Confirm your zone allows your type of rental (see the zoning-lookup answer).
- Get a District business licence. Anyone supplying short-term, long-term or tourist accommodation needs one (Business Licence Bylaw No. 1220, 2025). Name the property manager on the application if it is not you.
- Register with the Province's Short-Term Rental Registry for stays under 90 consecutive days, even in exempt communities. The fee is $100 a year per unit for a principal residence and $450 for a secondary unit.
Good to know
- Bed and breakfast: your own single detached home, two guests per sleeping unit, up to three sleeping units, stays up to 31 consecutive days, no non-resident employees. Parking is 1 space per sleeping unit.
- The licence must be posted in a prominent place at the premises. Late renewals after February 28 pay a $25 late fee.
- Operating without a business licence: a bylaw notice is $200, or $150 if paid within 14 days; $250 if paid late. On conviction a fine of up to $50,000 is possible.
- The District's Zoning page lists fewer zones for vacation rentals than the bylaw does. The bylaw governs; confirm with the District.
- We found no rule on guest numbers for vacation rentals, or on posting a licence number or local contact.
Official forms and pages
The same question in other places
Telkwa · Smithers · Granisle · Burns Lake · New Hazelton · Hazelton
Short-term rental rules in British Columbia, by municipality →
Sources
- Zoning Bylaw No. 1225, 2026 (PDF), District of Houston (read 2026-11-08)
- Business Licence Bylaw No. 1220, 2025 (PDF), District of Houston (read 2026-11-08)
- Bylaw No. 1221, 2025 (PDF), Business Licence Fees, Schedule A-3 (read 2026-11-08)
- Bylaw No. 1230, 2026 (PDF), Schedule A, Business Licence Bylaw No. 1220 bylaw notice amounts (read 2026-11-08)
- Short-term rental principal residence requirement, Province of British Columbia (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. How answers are checked.