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

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

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

**Short answer:** In Kimberley you need a City licence for each short-term rental unit ($300 a year), and rentals are allowed only where zoning permits. You must also register with the Province. Kimberley and the Kimberley Alpine Resort are exempt from the provincial principal-residence rule.

**Who handles it:** Municipal (City of Kimberley, https://www.kimberley.ca)  
**Cost:** Unit licence $300 a year; $50 to name a Responsible Person other than the owner; short-term rental manager licence $75 a year.  
**How long:** Licences are for the calendar year. The bylaw says renew before January 15; the City page says before January 1.  
**Where:**
- Email: Submit applications, srcashier@kimberley.ca
- In person: City Hall, 340 Spokane Street, Kimberley, BC V1A 2E8
- Phone: Short-term rental complaint hotline, (778) 745-0434
- Email: Planning (zoning questions), planning@kimberley.ca

## Key facts

- **Allowed:** Only where zoning allows, with a licence. Bylaw 1850: bed and breakfast (operator's principal residence, up to four bedrooms) in RS; tourist accommodation in RSTA, RMTA-1/2, DMU-2 (max two units) and some CD zones. Alpine Resort Bylaw 2016: RRSTA, RTA and lodge-type zones. Check your zone.
  - Source: [Zoning Bylaw No. 1850, 1994 (consolidated to Jan. 14, 2026), s. 3.04](https://kimberley.civicweb.net/document/133474)
  - Official wording: "BED AND BREAKFAST means the use of a single unit dwelling that includes:" … "not more than four bedrooms" … "the use of the dwelling as the principle residence of the bed and breakfast"
  - Source: [Zoning Bylaw No. 1850, 1994 (consolidated to Jan. 14, 2026), s. 7.04B(3)](https://kimberley.civicweb.net/document/133474)
  - Official wording: "tourist accommodation only as an accessory use to the principal dwelling unit" … "of a single unit dwelling;"
  - Source: [Zoning Bylaw No. 1850, 1994 (consolidated to Jan. 14, 2026), s. 7.04(3)](https://kimberley.civicweb.net/document/133474)
  - Official wording: "bed and breakfast as an accessory use to the principal dwelling unit of a single"
  - Source: [Zoning Bylaw No. 1850, 1994 (consolidated to Jan. 14, 2026), s. 7.06(1)](https://kimberley.civicweb.net/document/133474)
  - Official wording: "multiple unit dwellings may be used for" … "tourist accommodation when such dwellings are not occupied for residential use."
  - Source: [Zoning Bylaw No. 1850, 1994 (consolidated to Jan. 14, 2026), s. 7.09C(7)(b)](https://kimberley.civicweb.net/document/133474)
  - Official wording: "Tourist accommodations are limited to a maximum of two (2) units per parcel"
  - Source: [Zoning Bylaw No. 1850, 1994 (consolidated to Jan. 14, 2026), s. 7.25 CD-6](https://kimberley.civicweb.net/document/133474)
  - Official wording: "Tourist accommodation may only be permitted as an accessory use"
  - Source: [Short-Term Rentals](https://www.kimberley.ca/development/projects/short-term-rentals)
  - Official wording: "The City of Kimberley currently allows short-term rentals in several of its neighbourhoods, most of which are located in the area surrounding the alpine resort."
  - Source: [Alpine Resort Zoning Bylaw No. 2016, 1999 (consolidated to Jan. 14, 2026), s. 7.11A RRSTA(9)](https://kimberley.civicweb.net/document/133475)
  - Official wording: "A single unit dwelling may be used for tourist accommodation of not more than eight guests when not occupied for residential use."
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06
- **Business licence:** Yes. A licence is required for each short-term rental unit: $300 per year, plus $50 to designate a Responsible Person other than the owner; a Short-Term Rental Manager licence is $75 per year. Calendar-year licences; the bylaw says renew before January 15, the City page says before January 1. The operator must own the property. (Sources differ: The City page says renewals are due before January 1 and that 2025 renewals were due January 15, 2026; the bylaw says January 15. First-year fee may be pro-rated quarterly if liable after February 1 (s. 6.4). Strata approval and proof of principal residence (B&B zones) are required with the application.)
  - Source: [Short-Term Rental Unit Business Licence and Regulation Bylaw No. 2697, 2021, s. 6.3, 6.5](https://kimberley.civicweb.net/document/88262)
  - Official wording: "Short-Term Rental Unit" … "$300 per annum plus $50 to designate a Responsible" … "Short-Term Rental Manager" … "$75 per annum" … "A Person must not carry on business as an Operator unless the Person holds" … "prior to January 15 of the following year." … "Short-Term Rental Manager $75 per annum"
  - Source: [Short-Term Rental Unit Business Licence and Regulation Bylaw No. 2697, 2021, s. 6.1](https://kimberley.civicweb.net/document/88262)
  - Official wording: "prior to January 15 of the following year."
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06
- **Provincial registration:** Yes. Provincial registration applies to short-term rentals offered for fewer than 90 consecutive days, even where a local licence is held. Kimberley is on the Province's exempt list for the principal residence requirement (not for registration), as is Kimberley Alpine Resort, so hosts need not use their principal residence under the provincial rule; the City's own bylaw still requires B&B operators to live there.
  - Source: [Short-term rentals, principal residence requirement, Province of BC, Business licence exemptions](https://www2.gov.bc.ca/gov/content/housing-tenancy/short-term-rentals/principal-residence-requirement)
  - Official wording: "Provincial registration requirements apply to short-term rentals offered for fewer than 90 consecutive days, regardless of whether a local business licence is required."
  - Source: [Short-term rentals, principal residence requirement, Province of BC, Exempt from the provincial principal residence requirement](https://www2.gov.bc.ca/gov/content/housing-tenancy/short-term-rentals/principal-residence-requirement)
  - Official wording: "must register with the Short-Term Rental Registry, but are exempt from the principal residence requirement:" … "Communities under 10,000 population and ski resort areas"
  - Source: [Short-term rentals, principal residence requirement, Province of BC, List of exempt communities](https://www2.gov.bc.ca/gov/content/housing-tenancy/short-term-rentals/principal-residence-requirement)
  - Official wording: "Municipalities exempt from the principal residence requirement" … "Kimberley Kitimat Ladysmith" … "Kimberley Alpine Resort"
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06
- **Operating rules:** Display the licence, floor plan and Responsible Person's name and phone in the entryway; include the licence number, approved habitable room count and maximum occupancy in all advertising; no more than 12 guests and one booking at a time; Responsible Person reachable 24 hours and on site within 2 hours of a request; notify neighbours; keep a guest registry; parking per zoning; no sleeping in vehicles or tents.
  - Source: [Short-Term Rental Unit Business Licence and Regulation Bylaw No. 2697, 2021, ss. 7.1, 8.5, 9.1, 9.2](https://kimberley.civicweb.net/document/88262)
  - Official wording: "includes the licence number of a valid licence issued for that premises" … "approved maximum occupancy." … "within" … "two hours of being requested" … "ensure no more than twelve (12) Guests are present at the Short Term" … "ensure no more than one booking is permitted within the Short-Term" … "notify neighboring property owners and residents on all adjacent sides" … "keep a written registry of all Guests" … "rent out any habitable room or provide any sleeping accommodation"
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06
- **Fine:** Not confirmed. No ticket amount for short-term rentals is stated.
- **Bylaw:** Short-Term Rental Unit Business Licence and Regulation Bylaw No. 2697, 2021 (adopted Nov. 8, 2021); Zoning Bylaw No. 1850 and Alpine Resort Zoning Bylaw No. 2016.
  - Source: [Short-Term Rental Unit Business Licence and Regulation Bylaw No. 2697, 2021, s. 1.1](https://kimberley.civicweb.net/document/88262)
  - Official wording: "Short-Term Rental Unit Business" … "Licence and Regulation Bylaw, No. 2697, 2021"
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06

## How it works

[Bylaw 2697](https://kimberley.civicweb.net/document/88262) requires a licence for each short-term rental unit, meaning a dwelling unit rented for less than 28 days. Rentals are allowed only where zoning permits. Under [Zoning Bylaw 1850](https://kimberley.civicweb.net/document/133474): a bed and breakfast (the operator's principal residence, up to four bedrooms) in RS, and tourist accommodation in RSTA, RMTA-1 and 2, DMU-2 (maximum two units) and some CD zones. The [Alpine Resort Zoning Bylaw 2016](https://kimberley.civicweb.net/document/133475) covers the resort area: RRSTA, RTA and lodge-type zones. Check your zone with Planning.

## Steps

1. Ask Planning (planning@kimberley.ca) whether your zone allows it. The operator must own the property.
2. Complete the unit application or renewal form, with proof of ownership, strata approval if any, and a floor plan. B&B operators also show proof of principal residence.
3. Email it to srcashier@kimberley.ca or take it to City Hall, and pay $300.
4. Register with the Province as well. Provincial registration applies to rentals under 90 consecutive days, even with a local licence.

## Good to know

- Province: Kimberley and the Kimberley Alpine Resort are on the exempt list for the principal-residence rule, so that rule does not apply. Registration still does. The City's bylaw still requires B&B operators to live in the unit.
- Rules: display the licence, floor plan and Responsible Person's name and phone in the entryway; put the licence number, approved habitable rooms and maximum occupancy in every advertisement; no more than 12 guests and one booking at a time; the Responsible Person must be reachable 24 hours and on site within 2 hours of a request; keep a guest registry; no sleeping in vehicles or tents.
- A first-year fee may be pro-rated quarterly if you become liable after February 1.
- Renewal: the bylaw says before January 15 and the City page says before January 1. Confirm with the City.
- Fines: Bylaw 2697 says a violation is liable to the ticket bylaw fine and, on conviction, up to $50,000, up to 6 months in prison, or both. No ticket amount for short-term rentals is stated.
- Report a problem rental at (778) 745-0434.

## What you'll need

- Proof of ownership of the property
- For a bed and breakfast, proof that the unit is your principal residence
- Strata approval, if the property is in a strata
- Floor plan

## Official forms and pages

- [Short-Term Rentals page](https://www.kimberley.ca/development/projects/short-term-rentals)
- [Short-Term Rental Unit Business Licence and Regulation Bylaw No. 2697, 2021 (PDF)](https://kimberley.civicweb.net/document/88262)
- [Zoning Bylaw No. 1850 (PDF)](https://kimberley.civicweb.net/document/133474)
- [Alpine Resort Zoning Bylaw No. 2016 (PDF)](https://kimberley.civicweb.net/document/133475)

## Related questions

- [Kimberley business licences: who needs one, fees and how to apply](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/kimberley/business-licence.md)
- [Kimberley secondary suite and carriage house rules](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/kimberley/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)
- [Cranbrook](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/cranbrook/short-term-rental.md)
- [Canal Flats](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/canal-flats/short-term-rental.md)
- [Fernie](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/fernie/short-term-rental.md)
- [Creston](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/creston/short-term-rental.md)
- [Kaslo](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/kaslo/short-term-rental.md)
- [Elkford](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/elkford/short-term-rental.md)

## Sources

- [Short-Term Rental Unit Business Licence and Regulation Bylaw No. 2697, 2021 (PDF), City of Kimberley](https://kimberley.civicweb.net/document/88262) (read 2026-11-05)
- [Short-Term Rentals, City of Kimberley](https://www.kimberley.ca/development/projects/short-term-rentals) (read 2026-11-05)
- [Zoning Bylaw No. 1850, 1994 (consolidated to Jan. 14, 2026) (PDF), City of Kimberley](https://kimberley.civicweb.net/document/133474) (read 2026-11-05)
- [Alpine Resort Zoning Bylaw No. 2016, 1999 (consolidated to Jan. 14, 2026) (PDF), City of Kimberley](https://kimberley.civicweb.net/document/133475) (read 2026-11-05)
- [Short-term rentals, principal residence requirement, Province of BC](https://www2.gov.bc.ca/gov/content/housing-tenancy/short-term-rentals/principal-residence-requirement) (read 2026-11-05)

_Checked by script, not yet by a person: the official wording behind 5 of 6 facts was matched to the official text; 1 could not be confirmed. Gov Handbook is an independent guide, not affiliated with City of Kimberley. How answers are checked: https://govhandbook.com/methods/ · Canonical page: https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/kimberley/short-term-rental/_