Mackenzie short-term rental rules (Airbnb, Vrbo)
Can I rent out my home or a room on Airbnb in Mackenzie?
Short answer
In Mackenzie, short-term rentals are allowed only as a bed and breakfast in an owner-occupied single-detached home in the A2, RR1, RR2 and R1 zones, with a District business licence ($159 a year). The District has no short-term rental bylaw in force. You must also register with the Province.
Key facts
| Allowed | Only as a bed and breakfast: owner-occupied single-detached dwelling, in the A2, RR1, RR2 and R1 zones. Suites cannot be rented by the day or week (longer than one month only). Mackenzie is on the Province's exempt list, so the provincial principal residence rule does not apply. The District has no short-term rental bylaw yet; new rules are out for feedback.Zoning Bylaw No. 1368, 2017, Bed and Breakfasts and Suites (Section 4); Short-term rentals, principal residence requirement, Province of BC, List of exempt communities, Municipalities exempt from the principal residence requirement; Proposed short-term rental regulations, Have Your Say · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-08Official wordingA bed and breakfast must be conducted wholly within a single detached dwelling The day-to-day or week-to-week occupancy of suites is prohibited. Municipalities exempt from the principal residence requirement Lumby Mackenzie Masset The expandable menu below lists the communities and land where the Province's principal residence requirement will not apply, unless the local government chooses to opt-in. Council is seeking feedback on the proposed amendments before considering adoption of the bylaws. |
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| Business licence | A business licence is required to carry on a business. A bed and breakfast is in Category Five at $159 a year. The bylaw has no short-term rental category; renting a home or suite under the Residential Tenancy Act is exempt from a licence.Business Licence Bylaw No. 1355, 2016, consolidated, s. 4.1 and s. 4.2(i); Business Licence Bylaw No. 1355, 2016, consolidated, Schedule A, Category Five · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-08Official wordinga Person shall not carry on a Business within the Municipality unless the Person holds a valid Licence. the renting of a singly family dwelling, secondary suite or duplex, if the rental A business must pay the following fee for $159.00 Bed and breakfast |
| Provincial registration | Yes. Hosts must register with the Province if they offer stays of fewer than 90 consecutive days, whether or not a local licence is required. Registration is $100 a year for the host's principal residence and $450 for a secondary unit.Short-term rentals, principal residence requirement, Province of BC, Business licence exemptions · 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. Fee: $100 annually Fee: $450 annually |
| Operating rules | B&B: owner lives in the house; up to 3 guest rooms and 6 adult guests; one extra parking space per bedroom used; breakfast is the only meal; no stay over 30 consecutive days; no change to the outside of the property.Sources differ: Conflict flagged: the Business Licence Bylaw (2016) s. 17.4 caps a B&B at 2 rooms and 4 people in an 'RB1' zone and 3 rooms and 6 people in an 'RRB1' zone, and refers to Zoning Bylaw 1114, 2006. The current Zoning Bylaw 1368 has no RB1 or RRB1 zone and allows 3 rooms and 6 adults. Value follows the Zoning Bylaw. No rule on posting a licence number or a local contact found.Zoning Bylaw No. 1368, 2017, Bed and Breakfasts (Section 4); Business Licence Bylaw No. 1355, 2016, consolidated, s. 17.4 · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-08Official wordingThe maximum number of guest rooms permitted in a bed and breakfast will be three accommodating up to a maximum of six adult guests combined Breakfast will be the only meal permitted to be served to guests The maximum length of stay for any guest will not exceed thirty (30) consecutive days provide no more than 2 guest rooms to accommodate a maximum of 4 persons if the provide no more than 3 guest rooms to accommodate a maximum of 6 persons if the |
| Fine | $100 for carrying on business without a licence; $50 for failing to display a licence (Municipal Ticket Information Bylaw, Schedule 3).Municipal Ticket Information Bylaw No. 1465, with amendments, Schedule 3 (Business Licence Bylaw) · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-08Official wordingCarry on business without a Licence. 4.1 $100 Failure to display a Licence. 8. $50 |
| Bylaw | Zoning Bylaw No. 1368, 2017 (Bed and Breakfasts and Suites); Business Licence Bylaw No. 1355, 2016. No short-term rental bylaw is in force.Bylaws and Regulations, Frequently requested bylaws · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-08Official wordingBylaw No. 1355, Amended by 1390, 1399, 1475 Bylaw No. 1368, Amended by 1517, 1518 |
How it works
The District of Mackenzie has no short-term rental bylaw in force. The Zoning Bylaw (No. 1368) allows renting rooms only as a bed and breakfast, in an owner-occupied single-detached dwelling in the A2, RR1, RR2 and R1 zones. Suites cannot be rented by the day or week; rentals must be longer than one month.
Mackenzie is on the Province's list of municipalities exempt from the principal residence rule, unless the District opts in. Provincial registration still applies. The District has put proposed short-term rental regulations out for feedback; none are in force, so check its website for updates.
Steps
- Confirm your zone is A2, RR1, RR2 or R1 (see the zoning-lookup answer).
- Get a District business licence. A bed and breakfast is Category Five, $159 a year, under the Business Licence Bylaw.
- Register with the Province if you offer stays shorter than 90 consecutive days: $100 a year for your principal residence, $450 for a secondary unit.
Good to know
- Bed and breakfast rules: the owner lives in the house; up to 3 guest rooms and 6 adult guests; one extra parking space per bedroom used; breakfast is the only meal; no stay over 30 consecutive days; no change to the outside of the property.
- The Business Licence Bylaw gives older, lower limits for some zones (2 rooms and 4 people), citing a zoning bylaw that has been replaced. Confirm the limit with the District.
- Fine for operating without a licence: $100 (municipal ticket). Failing to display a licence: $50.
- No rule on posting a licence number or naming a local contact was found.
Official forms and pages
The same question in other places
Chetwynd · Hudson's Hope · Tumbler Ridge · Fort St James · Vanderhoof · Prince George
Short-term rental rules in British Columbia, by municipality →
Sources
- Zoning Bylaw No. 1368, 2017 (PDF), District of Mackenzie (read 2026-11-08)
- Business Licence Bylaw No. 1355, 2016, consolidated (PDF), District of Mackenzie (read 2026-11-08)
- Municipal Ticket Information Bylaw No. 1465, with amendments (PDF), District of Mackenzie (read 2026-11-08)
- Proposed short-term rental regulations, District of Mackenzie (read 2026-11-08)
- Short-term rentals, principal residence requirement, Province of BC (read 2026-11-08)
- Bylaws and Regulations, District of Mackenzie (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.