Lake Cowichan short-term rental rules (Airbnb, Vrbo)
Can I rent out my home or a room on Airbnb in Lake Cowichan?
In Lake Cowichan short-term vacation rentals (31 days or less) are listed in the Zoning Bylaw only for one site, Lot 1, Section 6, Plan 5631 (C-3 zone). Residential zones do not list them. A business licence is required, and provincial registration rules apply.
Key facts
| Allowed | Only where the zoning bylaw allows it. It defines short-term vacation rentals (31 days or less) and lists them only for Lot 1, Section 6, Plan 5631 (C-3 zone). Residential zones do not list them; some allow a bed and breakfast (owner-occupied, two rooms, no cooking facilities). The Province's principal residence requirement does not apply here (exempt-communities list).Zoning Bylaw No. 1055-2021, consolidated February 24, 2026, Part III definitions; C-3 site-specific; Part VI; Official Community Plan Bylaw No. 1097-2023, Tourism policy 7) · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-08Official wordingoffered for rent to the travelling public on a temporary Short term vacation rentals applicable to Lot 1, Section 6, Plan 5631 only. In any zone or property in which a Short-Term Vacation Rental is permitted Short-term vacation rental in existing private residences may be supported subject to licensing, |
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| Business licence | Yes. Operators must comply with the Town's business licensing bylaw. The annual business licence fee is $100 ($125 if paid after the end of February; $50 for new businesses after July 1). No separate short-term rental fee is set.Zoning Bylaw No. 1055-2021, consolidated February 24, 2026, Part VI; Business Licence Bylaw No. 777-2003, Schedule A · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-08Official wordingCompliance with the Bylaw for the licensing and regulating of businesses in the Town of $100.00 $125.00 $50.00 From every other business operated and permitted in any |
| Provincial registration | Provincial registration rules apply to short-term rentals under 90 consecutive days, with a registration number for each unit. Lake Cowichan is on the Province's exempt-communities list, so the principal residence requirement does not apply here; local rules still apply.Short-term rentals: principal residence requirement, Province of BC, Exempt communities list; Business licence exemptions · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-08Official wordingLake Cowichan Provincial registration requirements apply to short-term rentals offered for fewer than 90 consecutive days Each short-term rental unit requires its own registration number. |
| Operating rules | Parking must meet Schedule B off-street parking. Tenants may not sublet units. A business licence is required. No guest or bedroom limits are stated.Zoning Bylaw No. 1055-2021, consolidated February 24, 2026, Part VI · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-08Official wordingCompliance with the parking requirements of the Schedule B Off-Street Parking Spaces; Subletting of units by tenants is not permitted. |
| Fine | Operating without a business licence: $100 ticket (Business Licence Bylaw Schedule C, s. 3.1). On conviction, a fine of $50 to $2,000, and not less than $50 for each day a continuing offence is continued.Business Licence Bylaw No. 777-2003, Schedule C; s. 15 · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-08Official wordingNo business license 3.1 $100.00 not less than Fifty Dollars ($50.00) and not more than Two Thousand Dollars ($2000.00) DOLLARS ($50.00) for each day that the offence is continued. |
| Bylaw | Zoning Bylaw No. 1055-2021 (definition and Part VI); Business Licence Bylaw No. 777-2003Zoning Bylaw No. 1055-2021, consolidated February 24, 2026, Part VI; Business Licence Bylaw No. 777-2003, s. 1 · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-08Official wordingCONDITIONS FOR SHORT TERM VACATION RENTALS Business Licence Bylaw No. |
How it works
The Zoning Bylaw defines a short-term vacation rental as a rental of 31 days or less. It lists them only for Lot 1, Section 6, Plan 5631 (C-3 zone). Residential zones do not list them. Some allow a bed and breakfast (owner-occupied, two rooms, no cooking facilities). The Official Community Plan says short-term rentals in existing residences "may be supported" subject to licensing and other criteria set by Council, but no residential zone lists them.
Operators must have a Town business licence under the Business Licence Bylaw. Parking must meet the Schedule B off-street parking rules, and tenants may not sublet units. No guest or bedroom limits are stated.
Steps
- Check your zoning with the Town (see the zoning-lookup answer) before you advertise.
- Get a business licence (see the business-licence answer).
- Check the Province's short-term rental registration rules, which apply to rentals under 90 consecutive days.
Good to know
- The Province's principal residence requirement does not apply here: Lake Cowichan is on the Province's list of exempt communities (page updated September 21, 2026; list as of June 1, 2026). Check the provincial page for the current list. Local rules still apply, and provincial registration is separate.
- Operating without a business licence: a $100 ticket. On conviction, a fine of $50 to $2,000, and not less than $50 for each day a continuing offence is continued.
- No short-term-rental ticket is listed. A breach of the Zoning Bylaw is a fine under the Offence Act.
Official forms and pages
The same question in other places
Ladysmith · Duncan · North Cowichan · Nanaimo · Lantzville · North Saanich
Short-term rental rules in British Columbia, by municipality →
Sources
- Zoning Bylaw No. 1055-2021, consolidated February 24, 2026 (PDF) (read 2026-11-08)
- Official Community Plan Bylaw No. 1097-2023 (PDF) (read 2026-11-08)
- Business Licence Bylaw No. 777-2003 (PDF) (read 2026-11-08)
- Short-term rentals: principal residence requirement, Province of BC (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.