---
title: Kent short-term rental rules (Airbnb, Vrbo)
question: "Can I rent out my home or a room on Airbnb in Kent?"
place: Kent, British Columbia, Canada
place_path: ca/bc/kent
category: Housing and renting
owner: shared
sources_read: 2026-11-06
review: machine_checked
canonical: "https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/kent/short-term-rental/"
json: "https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/kent/short-term-rental.json"
---

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

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

**Short answer:** Yes, in the District of Kent with a business licence. You may rent your principal residence for 28 days or less. The licence is $125 a year for a Guest Unit or $500 for a Principal Residence. You must also register with the Province.

**Who handles it:** More than one level of government  
**Cost:** Annual business licence: Guest Unit $125; Principal Residence $500 (the fees bylaw also lists Non-Principal at $700). Provincial registration fees also apply.  
**How long:** Not stated.  
**Where:**
- Phone: Business Licence Inspector, 604-796-2235
- In person: Municipal Hall, 7170 Cheam Avenue, Agassiz, BC V0M 1A0 (Monday to Friday, 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.)
- Phone: Planning and Development Services, 604-796-2235
- Email: Planning and Development Services, planning@kentbc.ca

## Key facts

- **Allowed:** Yes, with a business licence. A home owner or principal resident may rent their principal residence for 28 days or less. Two classes: Guest Unit (principal resident must be on site) and Principal Residence. Permitted zones: A, A1, RR1, RR2, RR3, RL, MR and CD2. The Province's principal residence requirement also applies to Kent.
  - Source: [Short Term Rentals, intro](https://www.kentbc.ca/business-and-development/short-term-rentals/)
  - Official wording: "a home owner or principal resident may rent their principal residence for 28 days or less"
  - Source: [Short Term Rentals, Permitted Zones](https://www.kentbc.ca/business-and-development/short-term-rentals/)
  - Official wording: "Guest Unit and Principal Residence short term rental uses are permitted in the zones listed below."
  - Source: [Short-term rental principal residence requirement, Province of BC, List of communities with principal residence requirement](https://www2.gov.bc.ca/gov/content/housing-tenancy/short-term-rentals/principal-residence-requirement)
  - Official wording: "Communities with principal residence requirement" … "Kent"
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06
- **Business licence:** Yes. Annual business licence: Guest Unit $125; Principal Residence $500 (Non-Principal $700 in the fees bylaw). Fees are paid when the application is filed, then yearly.
  - Source: [Short Term Rentals, Licence Fees](https://www.kentbc.ca/business-and-development/short-term-rentals/)
  - Official wording: "Guest Unit $125" … "Principal Residence $500" … "Fees must be paid at the time the application is filed, then annually as per"
  - Source: [Fees and Charges Bylaw No. 1717, 2023 (PDF, consolidated), Sch. B, Short-term Commercial Accommodation](https://media-003-ca.cdn.govstack.com/kentbc-ca/media/0tcgzwdh/bylaw1717consolidated.pdf)
  - Official wording: "Year Guest Unit $125 $112.50 $137.50 Principal $500 $450 $550 Non-Principal $700 $630 $770 Retail Cannabis Sales Column A Column B Column C"
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06
- **Provincial registration:** Yes. Hosts must also register with the Province's Short-term Rental Registry and pay annual registration fees.
  - Source: [Short Term Rentals, To get a licence](https://www.kentbc.ca/business-and-development/short-term-rentals/)
  - Official wording: "Register your short term rental business and pay annual registration fees with the Province through their Short-term Rental Registration."
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06
- **Operating rules:** Guest Unit: principal resident on site, rooms rented one fewer than bedrooms (max 4), max 6 guests. Principal Residence: up to 5 bedrooms, max 10 guests, 24-hour contact and responsible person within 2 hours. Both: 1 parking space per room rented (max 4), licence displayed, licence number in all marketing, one sign.
  - Source: [Short Term Rentals, Regulation Summary](https://www.kentbc.ca/business-and-development/short-term-rentals/)
  - Official wording: "Maximum number of occupants" … "1 space per room rented to a maximum of 4 spaces" … "Display 24 hour contact phone number"
  - Source: [Short Term Rentals, Eligibility Requirements](https://www.kentbc.ca/business-and-development/short-term-rentals/)
  - Official wording: "available 24 hours a day to respond to guest or any nuisance complaint within two hours of notification."
  - Source: [Zoning Bylaw No. 1219, 2001 (PDF, consolidated October 6, 2025), s. 7.13.1(e)](https://media-003-ca.cdn.govstack.com/kentbc-ca/media/5aefsox2/zoning-bylaw_consolidated-october-6-2025.pdf)
  - Official wording: "have no more than one (1) sign as prescribed in the Sign Bylaw."
  - Source: [Business Licencing and Regulation Bylaw No. 1747, 2025, s. 3.13(a)](https://media-003-ca.cdn.govstack.com/kentbc-ca/media/4ngnwdaz/bylaw1747.pdf)
  - Official wording: "ensure all market materials includes the District of Kent business licence number;"
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06
- **Fine:** The District's Short Term Rentals page and guide say operators may face fines of up to $500 per day, per offence. No ticket schedule was found; Business Licencing Bylaw 1747 s. 20.4 allows court fines up to $10,000 per offence.
  - Source: [Short Term Rentals, Compliance](https://www.kentbc.ca/business-and-development/short-term-rentals/)
  - Official wording: "Operators may face fines of up to $500 per day, per offence." … "Operate or market a short term rental without a valid business licence"
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06
- **Bylaw:** Business Licencing and Regulation Bylaw No. 1747, 2025 (s. 3.13) and Zoning Bylaw No. 1219, 2001 (s. 7.13)
  - Source: [Business Licencing and Regulation Bylaw No. 1747, 2025, s. 1.1](https://media-003-ca.cdn.govstack.com/kentbc-ca/media/4ngnwdaz/bylaw1747.pdf)
  - Official wording: "Business Licencing and Regulation"
  - Source: [Zoning Bylaw No. 1219, 2001 (PDF, consolidated October 6, 2025), s. 7.13](https://media-003-ca.cdn.govstack.com/kentbc-ca/media/5aefsox2/zoning-bylaw_consolidated-october-6-2025.pdf)
  - Official wording: "1726, 2023 • private schools • wineries, breweries, and distilleries 1730, 2024  7.13 Short-term Rentals .1 All short-term rental uses shall: (a) comply with the licencing requirements of the Business Licencing and Regulation" … "Zoning Bylaw No. 1219, 2001 February 2002"
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06

## How it works

A home owner or principal resident may rent their principal residence for 28 days or less, with a business licence under [Business Licencing and Regulation Bylaw No. 1747](https://media-003-ca.cdn.govstack.com/kentbc-ca/media/4ngnwdaz/bylaw1747.pdf) (section 3.13). There are two classes: Guest Unit (the principal resident must be on site) and Principal Residence. Short-term rental is permitted in the A, A1, RR1, RR2, RR3, RL, MR and CD2 zones. It is not permitted inside an accessory dwelling unit on ALR land. Kent is on the Province's list of communities where the [principal residence requirement](https://www2.gov.bc.ca/gov/content/housing-tenancy/short-term-rentals/principal-residence-requirement) applies.

Annual licence fees, set in the [Fees and Charges Bylaw No. 1717](https://media-003-ca.cdn.govstack.com/kentbc-ca/media/0tcgzwdh/bylaw1717consolidated.pdf): Guest Unit $125, Principal Residence $500 (Non-Principal $700 in the fees bylaw). Fees are paid when you file, then yearly.

## Steps

1. Check that your zone permits short-term rental (see the zoning-lookup answer).
2. Apply for the business licence from the Licence Inspector, 604-796-2235. See the District's [Short Term Rentals page](https://www.kentbc.ca/business-and-development/short-term-rentals/).
3. Register with the Province's Short-term Rental Registry and pay the annual registration fee.

## Good to know

- Guest Unit: principal resident on site, rooms rented one fewer than bedrooms (maximum 4), at most 6 guests.
- Principal Residence: up to 5 bedrooms, at most 10 guests, a 24-hour contact and a responsible person within 2 hours.
- Both: 1 parking space per room rented (maximum 4), licence displayed, licence number in all marketing, and one sign.
- The District's web page says operators may face fines of up to $500 per day, per offence. Kent posts no ticket schedule; the business licence bylaw allows court fines up to $10,000 per offence.

## Official forms and pages

- [Short Term Rentals, District of Kent](https://www.kentbc.ca/business-and-development/short-term-rentals/)
- [Business Licencing and Regulation Bylaw No. 1747, 2025 (PDF)](https://media-003-ca.cdn.govstack.com/kentbc-ca/media/4ngnwdaz/bylaw1747.pdf)
- [Fees and Charges Bylaw No. 1717, 2023 (PDF, consolidated)](https://media-003-ca.cdn.govstack.com/kentbc-ca/media/0tcgzwdh/bylaw1717consolidated.pdf)
- [Zoning Bylaw No. 1219, 2001 (PDF, consolidated October 6, 2025)](https://media-003-ca.cdn.govstack.com/kentbc-ca/media/5aefsox2/zoning-bylaw_consolidated-october-6-2025.pdf)
- [Short-term rental principal residence requirement, Province of BC](https://www2.gov.bc.ca/gov/content/housing-tenancy/short-term-rentals/principal-residence-requirement)

## Related questions

- [Kent business licences: who needs one, fees and how to apply](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/kent/business-licence.md)
- [Kent secondary suite and carriage house rules](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/kent/secondary-suite.md)
- [Kent zoning: find your zone and what it allows](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/kent/zoning-lookup.md)
- [Kent home-based business rules](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/kent/home-based-business.md)

## The same question elsewhere

- [Short-term rental rules in British Columbia, by municipality](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/short-term-rental.md)
- [Harrison Hot Springs](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/harrison-hot-springs/short-term-rental.md)
- [Chilliwack](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/chilliwack/short-term-rental.md)
- [Hope](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/hope/short-term-rental.md)
- [Abbotsford](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/abbotsford/short-term-rental.md)
- [Mission](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/mission/short-term-rental.md)
- [Maple Ridge](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/maple-ridge/short-term-rental.md)

## Sources

- [Short Term Rentals, District of Kent](https://www.kentbc.ca/business-and-development/short-term-rentals/) (read 2026-11-06)
- [Business Licencing and Regulation Bylaw No. 1747, 2025 (PDF)](https://media-003-ca.cdn.govstack.com/kentbc-ca/media/4ngnwdaz/bylaw1747.pdf) (read 2026-11-06)
- [Fees and Charges Bylaw No. 1717, 2023 (PDF, consolidated)](https://media-003-ca.cdn.govstack.com/kentbc-ca/media/0tcgzwdh/bylaw1717consolidated.pdf) (read 2026-11-06)
- [Zoning Bylaw No. 1219, 2001 (PDF, consolidated October 6, 2025)](https://media-003-ca.cdn.govstack.com/kentbc-ca/media/5aefsox2/zoning-bylaw_consolidated-october-6-2025.pdf) (read 2026-11-06)
- [Short-term rental principal residence requirement, Province of BC](https://www2.gov.bc.ca/gov/content/housing-tenancy/short-term-rentals/principal-residence-requirement) (read 2026-11-06)

_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/kent/short-term-rental/_