---
title: Lions Bay short-term rental rules (Airbnb, Vrbo)
question: "Can I rent out my home or a room on Airbnb in Lions Bay?"
place: Lions Bay, British Columbia, Canada
place_path: ca/bc/lions-bay
category: Housing and renting
owner: shared
sources_read: 2026-11-08
review: machine_checked
canonical: "https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/lions-bay/short-term-rental/"
json: "https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/lions-bay/short-term-rental.json"
---

# Lions Bay short-term rental rules (Airbnb, Vrbo)

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

**Short answer:** In Lions Bay a short-term rental (under one month) is not allowed unless the owner gets a temporary use permit from the Village. It is not allowed in a secondary suite. The Province also requires short-term rentals to be registered.

**Who handles it:** More than one level of government  
**Cost:** Temporary use permit $500; renewal $250. The CAO may require $2,500 security.  
**How long:** The Village does not state a processing time. A first permit lasts up to 1 year, renewable for 1 year; later permits up to 3 years.  
**Where:**
- Phone: Village Office, 604-921-9333
- Email: Village Office, reception@lionsbay.ca
- Online: Province of BC, short-term rentals, https://www2.gov.bc.ca/gov/content/housing-tenancy/short-term-rentals/principal-residence-requirement

## Key facts

- **Allowed:** Not unless the owner gets a temporary use permit (TUP), granted by the CAO. Not allowed in a houseboat, secondary suite, or on a parcel with a child home care business, or on a parcel with a property line less than 50 m from a school or daycare. Lions Bay is on the Province's list of communities exempt from the principal residence requirement.
  - Source: [Zoning and Development Bylaw No. 520, 2017 (Consolidation BL650), s. 4.3.7, 4.6.1, 4.6.2](https://www.lionsbay.ca/sites/2/files/2026-07/Bylaw%20520%20-%20Zoning%20and%20Development%20Certified%20%20%28Consolidation%20BL650%29.pdf)
  - Official wording: "short term rentals; except where authorized under a temporary use permit;" … "The CAO may grant a temporary use permit for a short term rental subject to the short" … "No short term rental is permitted as an accessory commercial use for a" … "houseboat, secondary suite or on a parcel that contains a child home care" … "No short term rental is permitted on a parcel with a property line that less than"
  - Source: [Principal residence requirement, Province of British Columbia, List of exempt communities (Municipalities exempt)](https://www2.gov.bc.ca/gov/content/housing-tenancy/short-term-rentals/principal-residence-requirement)
  - Official wording: "Municipalities exempt from the principal residence requirement" … "Lions Bay"
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-08
- **Business licence:** No business licence is mentioned; the local approval is a temporary use permit. TUP fee $500, renewal $250 (Fees Bylaw Schedule 2). The CAO may require $2,500 security.
  - Source: [Fees Bylaw No. 497, 2016 (Consolidation BL665), Schedule 2](https://www.lionsbay.ca/sites/2/files/2026-06/Bylaw%20497%20-%20Fees%20%28Consolidation%20BL665%29.pdf)
  - Official wording: "Temporary Use Permit $500 plus $250 for renewal application"
  - Source: [Zoning and Development Bylaw No. 520, 2017 (Consolidation BL650), s. 4.6.4(a)](https://www.lionsbay.ca/sites/2/files/2026-07/Bylaw%20520%20-%20Zoning%20and%20Development%20Certified%20%20%28Consolidation%20BL650%29.pdf)
  - Official wording: "the deposit of security of $2,500 in the form of cash deposit, bond, irrevocable"
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-08
- **Provincial registration:** The Province says registration applies to short-term rentals offered for fewer than 90 consecutive days, whether or not a local business licence is required. Lions Bay is exempt from the Province's principal residence requirement, which is a separate rule.
  - Source: [Principal residence requirement, Province of British Columbia, 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: [Principal residence requirement, Province of British Columbia, List of exempt communities](https://www2.gov.bc.ca/gov/content/housing-tenancy/short-term-rentals/principal-residence-requirement)
  - Official wording: "Kimberley Kitimat Ladysmith Lake Cowichan Lantzville Lillooet Lions Bay Logan Lake Lumby Mackenzie Masset Merritt Midway"
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-08
- **Operating rules:** One short term rental per parcel; two guests per bedroom meeting Building Code minimums; one sign at most; two extra off-street parking spaces; sewer or septic able to handle the demand. The CAO may set quiet hours, management and safety conditions. First TUP: up to 1 year, renewable for 1 year; later permits up to 3 years.
  - Source: [Zoning and Development Bylaw No. 520, 2017 (Consolidation BL650), s. 4.6.2, 4.6.4, 4.6.6](https://www.lionsbay.ca/sites/2/files/2026-07/Bylaw%20520%20-%20Zoning%20and%20Development%20Certified%20%20%28Consolidation%20BL650%29.pdf)
  - Official wording: "A maximum of one (1) short term rental is permitted on a parcel." … "A maximum of two (2) guests per bedroom that meets the minimum" … "two (2) off-street parking spaces shall be provided and maintained" … "establishment of quiet hours guests of the short term rental;" … "The term of the first temporary use permit issued in respect of a parcel shall be no"
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-08
- **Fine:** Bylaw notice: short-term rental without a Temporary Use Permit $475 ($450 if paid within 14 days, $500 after 28 days). Use prohibited in all zones: $475.
  - Source: [Bylaw Notice Enforcement Bylaw No. 385 (Consolidation 640), Schedule A, Zoning and Development Bylaw No. 520, 2017](https://www.lionsbay.ca/sites/2/files/2026-06/Bylaw%20385%20-Bylaw%20Notice%20Enforcement%20Bylaw%20%28Consolidation%20640%29.pdf)
  - Official wording: "Short-term rental without a Temporary Use $475 $450 $500 NO"
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-08
- **Bylaw:** Zoning and Development Bylaw No. 520, 2017 (s. 4.3.7 and 4.6, as amended by Bylaw No. 641, 2025); Fees Bylaw No. 497, 2016, Schedule 2.
  - Source: [Zoning and Development Bylaw No. 520, 2017 (Consolidation BL650), s. 1.1](https://www.lionsbay.ca/sites/2/files/2026-07/Bylaw%20520%20-%20Zoning%20and%20Development%20Certified%20%20%28Consolidation%20BL650%29.pdf)
  - Official wording: "This bylaw may be cited for all purposes as “Zoning and Development Bylaw No.520, 2017"."
  - Source: [Zoning and Development Bylaw No. 520, 2017 (Consolidation BL650), amending list](https://www.lionsbay.ca/sites/2/files/2026-07/Bylaw%20520%20-%20Zoning%20and%20Development%20Certified%20%20%28Consolidation%20BL650%29.pdf)
  - Official wording: "Removes Short Term Rental Policy and clarifies"
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-08

## How it works

In Lions Bay, short-term rental means a dwelling unit used for paying guests for less than one month. Under the Village's [Zoning and Development Bylaw No. 520, 2017](https://www.lionsbay.ca/sites/2/files/2026-07/Bylaw%20520%20-%20Zoning%20and%20Development%20Certified%20%20%28Consolidation%20BL650%29.pdf), it is not allowed unless the owner gets a temporary use permit (TUP), granted by the CAO. No business licence is mentioned; the local approval is the TUP.

It is not allowed in a houseboat or secondary suite, on a parcel with a child home care business, or on a parcel whose property line is less than 50 m from a school or daycare.

## Steps

1. Contact the Village Office about a temporary use permit and pay the $500 fee.
2. Neighbours within 50 m are notified and have two weeks to comment. The CAO decides, and may require $2,500 security.
3. Register with the Province (see below).

## Good to know

- Rules: one short-term rental per parcel; two guests per bedroom meeting Building Code minimums; one sign at most; two extra off-street parking spaces; sewer or septic able to handle the demand. The CAO may set quiet hours and management and safety conditions.
- You may ask Council to reconsider a CAO decision within 30 days.
- Province: registration applies to short-term rentals offered for fewer than 90 consecutive days, whether or not a local business licence is required. Lions Bay is on the Province's list of communities exempt from the principal residence requirement, which is a separate rule.
- Fine: a bylaw notice for a short-term rental without a TUP is $475 ($450 if paid within 14 days, $500 after 28 days). A court fine of up to $10,000 is also possible.

## Official forms and pages

- [Zoning and Development Bylaw No. 520, 2017 (PDF)](https://www.lionsbay.ca/sites/2/files/2026-07/Bylaw%20520%20-%20Zoning%20and%20Development%20Certified%20%20%28Consolidation%20BL650%29.pdf)
- [Province of BC, principal residence requirement](https://www2.gov.bc.ca/gov/content/housing-tenancy/short-term-rentals/principal-residence-requirement)

## Related questions

- [Lions Bay secondary suite and carriage house rules](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/lions-bay/secondary-suite.md)
- [Lions Bay zoning: find your zone and what it allows](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/lions-bay/zoning-lookup.md)
- [Lions Bay bylaw fines and how tickets work](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/lions-bay/bylaw-fines.md)

## The same question elsewhere

- [Short-term rental rules in British Columbia, by municipality](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/short-term-rental.md)
- [Bowen Island](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/bowen-island/short-term-rental.md)
- [District of North Vancouver](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/north-vancouver-district/short-term-rental.md)
- [North Vancouver](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/north-vancouver/short-term-rental.md)
- [Gibsons](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/gibsons/short-term-rental.md)
- [Squamish](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/squamish/short-term-rental.md)
- [Vancouver](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/vancouver/short-term-rental.md)

## Sources

- [Zoning and Development Bylaw No. 520, 2017 (Consolidation BL650) (PDF), Village of Lions Bay](https://www.lionsbay.ca/sites/2/files/2026-07/Bylaw%20520%20-%20Zoning%20and%20Development%20Certified%20%20%28Consolidation%20BL650%29.pdf) (read 2026-11-08)
- [Fees Bylaw No. 497, 2016 (Consolidation BL665) (PDF), Village of Lions Bay](https://www.lionsbay.ca/sites/2/files/2026-06/Bylaw%20497%20-%20Fees%20%28Consolidation%20BL665%29.pdf) (read 2026-11-08)
- [Bylaw Notice Enforcement Bylaw No. 385 (Consolidation 640) (PDF), Village of Lions Bay](https://www.lionsbay.ca/sites/2/files/2026-06/Bylaw%20385%20-Bylaw%20Notice%20Enforcement%20Bylaw%20%28Consolidation%20640%29.pdf) (read 2026-11-08)
- [Principal residence requirement, Province of British Columbia](https://www2.gov.bc.ca/gov/content/housing-tenancy/short-term-rentals/principal-residence-requirement) (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. 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/lions-bay/short-term-rental/_