Lions Bay short-term rental rules (Airbnb, Vrbo)
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.
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.Zoning and Development Bylaw No. 520, 2017 (Consolidation BL650), s. 4.3.7, 4.6.1, 4.6.2; Principal residence requirement, Province of British Columbia, List of exempt communities (Municipalities exempt) · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-08Official wordingshort 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 Municipalities exempt from the principal residence requirement Lions Bay |
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| 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.Fees Bylaw No. 497, 2016 (Consolidation BL665), Schedule 2; Zoning and Development Bylaw No. 520, 2017 (Consolidation BL650), s. 4.6.4(a) · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-08Official wordingTemporary Use Permit $500 plus $250 for renewal application the deposit of security of $2,500 in the form of cash deposit, bond, irrevocable |
| 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.Principal residence requirement, Province of British Columbia, Business licence exemptions; Principal residence requirement, Province of British Columbia, List of exempt communities · 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. Kimberley Kitimat Ladysmith Lake Cowichan Lantzville Lillooet Lions Bay Logan Lake Lumby Mackenzie Masset Merritt Midway |
| 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.Zoning and Development Bylaw No. 520, 2017 (Consolidation BL650), s. 4.6.2, 4.6.4, 4.6.6 · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-08Official wordingA 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 |
| 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.Bylaw Notice Enforcement Bylaw No. 385 (Consolidation 640), Schedule A, Zoning and Development Bylaw No. 520, 2017 · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-08Official wordingShort-term rental without a Temporary Use $475 $450 $500 NO |
| 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.Zoning and Development Bylaw No. 520, 2017 (Consolidation BL650), s. 1.1; Zoning and Development Bylaw No. 520, 2017 (Consolidation BL650), amending list · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-08Official wordingThis bylaw may be cited for all purposes as “Zoning and Development Bylaw No.520, 2017". Removes Short Term Rental Policy and clarifies |
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, 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
- Contact the Village Office about a temporary use permit and pay the $500 fee.
- Neighbours within 50 m are notified and have two weeks to comment. The CAO decides, and may require $2,500 security.
- 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
The same question in other places
Bowen Island · District of North Vancouver · North Vancouver · Gibsons · Squamish · Vancouver
Short-term rental rules in British Columbia, by municipality →
Sources
- Zoning and Development Bylaw No. 520, 2017 (Consolidation BL650) (PDF), Village of Lions Bay (read 2026-11-08)
- Fees Bylaw No. 497, 2016 (Consolidation BL665) (PDF), Village of Lions Bay (read 2026-11-08)
- Bylaw Notice Enforcement Bylaw No. 385 (Consolidation 640) (PDF), Village of Lions Bay (read 2026-11-08)
- 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.