{"title":"Merritt short-term rental rules (Airbnb, Vrbo)","question":"Can I rent out my home or a room on Airbnb in Merritt?","slug":"short-term-rental","place":{"path":"ca/bc/merritt","name":"Merritt","region":{"code":"bc","name":"British Columbia"},"country":{"code":"ca","name":"Canada"}},"category":{"slug":"housing-and-renting","name":"Housing and renting"},"owner":"shared","owner_label":"More than one level of government","owner_body":null,"short_answer":"In Merritt, a short-term rental needs a City business licence and a zone that allows it; in R1, R3, R7, R8 and C5 it may be a discretionary use. Provincial host registration still applies, though Merritt is exempt from the principal-residence rule. Stays are capped at 30 consecutive days and 90 days a year.","aliases":["airbnb merritt","vrbo merritt","merritt vacation rental bylaw","bed and breakfast merritt"],"cost":"Business licence $150 a year plus a $50 one-time application fee. Provincial registration fee also applies.","how_long":null,"where":[{"type":"phone","label":"Planning & Development Services","value":"250-378-8615","note":"Zoning questions"},{"type":"email","label":"Planning & Development Services","value":"planning@merritt.ca"},{"type":"phone","label":"Province short-term rental registry","value":"1-833-828-2240"}],"documents":[],"forms":[{"title":"Zoning Bylaw 2284 (PDF), section 4.34","url":"http://www.merritt.ca/wp-content/uploads/2026/09/2284_Zoning-Bylaw_2026.pdf"},{"title":"Business Licence Bylaw 2268 and inter-community bylaws (PDF)","url":"http://www.merritt.ca/wp-content/uploads/2026/09/Business-Licence-including-ICBLs.pdf"},{"title":"Short-term rental registration, Province of B.C.","url":"https://www2.gov.bc.ca/gov/content/housing-tenancy/short-term-rentals/registry"}],"related":[{"slug":"business-licence","title":"Merritt business licences: who needs one, fees and how to apply","url":"https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/merritt/business-licence/"},{"slug":"secondary-suite","title":"Merritt secondary suite and carriage house rules","url":"https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/merritt/secondary-suite/"},{"slug":"home-based-business","title":"Merritt home-based business rules","url":"https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/merritt/home-based-business/"}],"nearby":[{"place":"ca/bc/logan-lake","name":"Logan Lake","url":"https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/logan-lake/short-term-rental/"},{"place":"ca/bc/lytton","name":"Lytton","url":"https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/lytton/short-term-rental/"},{"place":"ca/bc/kamloops","name":"Kamloops","url":"https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/kamloops/short-term-rental/"},{"place":"ca/bc/princeton","name":"Princeton","url":"https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/princeton/short-term-rental/"},{"place":"ca/bc/ashcroft","name":"Ashcroft","url":"https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/ashcroft/short-term-rental/"},{"place":"ca/bc/peachland","name":"Peachland","url":"https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/peachland/short-term-rental/"}],"topic":{"title":"Short-term rental rules in British Columbia, by municipality","url":"https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/short-term-rental/"},"facts":{"allowed":{"label":"Allowed","value":"Permitted in the AR1, C2, C3, C4 and C6 zones; may be a discretionary use in R1, R3, R7, R8 and C5. Not allowed in an accessory building, or with an occupied secondary suite or B&B (except C6). No principal-residence rule: Merritt is on the Province's exempt list.","short":"Yes in AR1, C2, C3, C4, C6; discretionary in some","status":"stated","sources":[{"url":"http://www.merritt.ca/wp-content/uploads/2026/09/2284_Zoning-Bylaw_2026.pdf","title":"City of Merritt Zoning Bylaw No. 2284, 2020 (PDF), 2026 consolidation","section":"s. 4.34.1, 4.34.6, 4.16.2","quotes":["A Short-Term Rental is permitted in the AR1, C2, C3, C4 and C6 zones, and may be","permitted as a Discretionary Use in the R1, R3, R7, R8 and C5 zones subject to","If a Dwelling Unit has an occupied Secondary Suite or an active Bed and Breakfast, it","may not also have a Short-Term Rental, except in the C6 Zone.","An Accessory Building may not be used as a Dwelling Unit, Secondary Suite, Short-"]},{"url":"http://www.merritt.ca/wp-content/uploads/2026/09/2284_Zoning-Bylaw_2026.pdf","title":"City of Merritt Zoning Bylaw No. 2284, 2020 (PDF), 2026 consolidation","section":"definition","quotes":["for any period less than 30 consecutive days and 90 days in a calendar year."]},{"url":"https://www2.gov.bc.ca/gov/content/housing-tenancy/short-term-rentals/principal-residence-requirement","title":"Principal residence requirement, Province of B.C.","section":"Provincial principal residence requirement: list of exempt communities","quotes":["Municipalities exempt from the principal residence requirement","Lions Bay Logan Lake Lumby Mackenzie Masset Merritt Midway Montrose"]}],"check":{"result":"matched","text_date":"2026-11-06"}},"licence":{"label":"Business licence","value":"Yes. A valid business licence and payment of all applicable fees and taxes are required, and the licence must be displayed on site. The Business Licence Bylaw sets a regular licence at $150 a year plus a $50 one-time application fee, and lists no separate short-term rental rate.","short":"Yes, $150 a year plus $50 application","status":"stated","sources":[{"url":"http://www.merritt.ca/wp-content/uploads/2026/09/2284_Zoning-Bylaw_2026.pdf","title":"City of Merritt Zoning Bylaw No. 2284, 2020 (PDF), 2026 consolidation","section":"s. 4.34.2, 4.34.4","quotes":["Operation of a Short-Term Rental requires a valid business licence and payment of all","A valid business licence must be clearly displayed on-site of a Short-Term Rental."]},{"url":"http://www.merritt.ca/wp-content/uploads/2026/09/Business-Licence-including-ICBLs.pdf","title":"City of Merritt Business Licence Bylaw No. 2268, 2019 (PDF)","section":"Schedules A and B","quotes":["The Regular Business Licence fee in the City of Merritt shall be $150.","All Applicants, except those listed in section 4 of this Schedule A, shall pay $50 at the"]}],"check":{"result":"matched","text_date":"2026-11-06"}},"provincial_registration":{"label":"Provincial registration","value":"Yes. Short-term rental hosts in B.C. must register with the Province and pay an annual registration fee, and renew it each year, unless the accommodation is exempt.","status":"stated","sources":[{"url":"https://www2.gov.bc.ca/gov/content/housing-tenancy/short-term-rentals/registry","title":"Short-term rental registry, Province of B.C.","section":"Provincial registry page","quotes":["Short-term rental hosts, platforms and strata hotel platforms in B.C. must register and pay annual registration fees.","you must renew it each year to continue operating."]}],"check":{"result":"matched","text_date":"2026-11-06"}},"rules":{"label":"Operating rules","value":"Stays: maximum 30 consecutive days per guest and 90 days a year. Parking: one extra space beyond the dwelling's, in AR1 and R1, with direct street access not blocked by another vehicle. In R1 and R3, guest parking and open space must be screened from neighbours. Strata hosts need strata council permission.","status":"stated","sources":[{"url":"http://www.merritt.ca/wp-content/uploads/2026/09/2284_Zoning-Bylaw_2026.pdf","title":"City of Merritt Zoning Bylaw No. 2284, 2020 (PDF), 2026 consolidation","section":"s. 4.34.3, 4.34.7-4.34.10","quotes":["The maximum length of stay for any guest at a Short-Term Rental is 30 consecutive","Off-street Parking Spaces for Short-Term Rentals, in addition to the requirements for","the Dwelling, are required in the AR1 and R1 zones as per Table 5.18.","The submission of written permission from the strata council is required for a Short-","used by guests must be oriented away and screened from Abutting Parcels to minimize"]}],"check":{"result":"matched","text_date":"2026-11-06"}},"fine":{"label":"Fine","value":"Operating without a business licence: bylaw notice $100 ($75 if paid within 14 days; $150 after 28 days). Not displaying the licence: $100 ($75 early; $125 late). Zoning Bylaw breaches: court penalty up to $10,000 plus costs, each day a separate offence.","short":"Notice $100 ($75 if paid in 14 days)","status":"stated","sources":[{"url":"http://www.merritt.ca/wp-content/uploads/2026/09/BNE-Bylaw-2424-2026.pdf","title":"Bylaw Notice Enforcement Bylaw No. 2424 (PDF), City of Merritt","section":"Schedule A","quotes":["Operating without a business licence 4.1 $100.00 $75.00 $150.00 Yes","Failure to display or have a business licence 11.1 $100.00 $75.00 $125.00 No"]},{"url":"http://www.merritt.ca/wp-content/uploads/2026/09/2284_Zoning-Bylaw_2026.pdf","title":"City of Merritt Zoning Bylaw No. 2284, 2020 (PDF), 2026 consolidation","section":"s. 3.3.1","quotes":["liable on summary conviction to a penalty not exceeding $10,000 and the costs of prosecution."]}],"check":{"result":"matched","text_date":"2026-11-06"}},"bylaw":{"label":"Bylaw","value":"Zoning Bylaw No. 2284, 2020 (s. 4.34); Business Licence Bylaw No. 2268, 2019; Short-Term Rental Accommodations Act (B.C.).","status":"stated","sources":[{"url":"http://www.merritt.ca/wp-content/uploads/2026/09/2284_Zoning-Bylaw_2026.pdf","title":"City of Merritt Zoning Bylaw No. 2284, 2020 (PDF), 2026 consolidation","section":"s. 4.34","quotes":["days, and 90 days in a calendar year. 4.34 Short-Term Rentals 4.34.1 A Short-Term Rental is permitted in the AR1, C2, C3, C4 and C6 zones, and may be","City of Merritt Zoning Bylaw No. 2284, 2020 ____________________________________________________________________________"]},{"url":"http://www.merritt.ca/wp-content/uploads/2026/09/Business-Licence-including-ICBLs.pdf","title":"City of Merritt Business Licence Bylaw No. 2268, 2019 (PDF)","section":"title","quotes":["Business Licence Bylaw No. 2268, 2019"]}],"check":{"result":"matched","text_date":"2026-11-06"}}},"facts_summary":{"total":6,"stated":6,"matched":6,"none":0,"unknown":0},"body_markdown":"## How it works\n\nMerritt's [Zoning Bylaw No. 2284](http://www.merritt.ca/wp-content/uploads/2026/09/2284_Zoning-Bylaw_2026.pdf) (s. 4.34) allows short-term rentals as a permitted use in the AR1, C2, C3, C4 and C6 zones, and as a possible discretionary use in R1, R3, R7, R8 and C5. They are not allowed in an accessory building, or with an occupied secondary suite or bed and breakfast (except in C6). A detached secondary dwelling may contain one. The City's bylaw sets no principal-residence rule, and Merritt is on the Province's exempt list.\n\n## Steps\n\n1. Confirm your zone and whether short-term rental is permitted or discretionary there. Ask Planning at 250-378-8615.\n2. Get a City business licence ($150 a year plus a $50 one-time application fee) and display it on site.\n3. Register with the Province and pay its annual fee, renewing each year, unless your accommodation is exempt. Province contact: 1-833-828-2240.\n4. In a strata, get written permission from the strata council.\n\n## Good to know\n\n- Stays: maximum 30 consecutive days per guest and 90 days a year.\n- Parking: one extra space beyond the dwelling's in AR1 and R1, with direct street access not blocked by another vehicle. In R1 and R3, guest parking and open space must be screened from neighbours.\n- The Zoning Bylaw sets no limit on guests or bedrooms and no local-contact rule.\n- Operating without a business licence: bylaw notice $100 ($75 if paid within 14 days; $150 after 28 days). Not displaying the licence: $100 ($75 early; $125 late). Zoning breaches: court penalty up to $10,000 plus costs, each day a separate offence.\n- A building or fire inspection ($50 each) may also be required for the licence.","sources":[{"url":"http://www.merritt.ca/wp-content/uploads/2026/09/2284_Zoning-Bylaw_2026.pdf","title":"City of Merritt Zoning Bylaw No. 2284, 2020 (PDF), 2026 consolidation","accessed":"2026-11-05"},{"url":"http://www.merritt.ca/wp-content/uploads/2026/09/Business-Licence-including-ICBLs.pdf","title":"City of Merritt Business Licence Bylaw No. 2268, 2019 (PDF)","accessed":"2026-11-05"},{"url":"http://www.merritt.ca/wp-content/uploads/2026/09/BNE-Bylaw-2424-2026.pdf","title":"Bylaw Notice Enforcement Bylaw No. 2424 (PDF), City of Merritt","accessed":"2026-11-05"},{"url":"https://www2.gov.bc.ca/gov/content/housing-tenancy/short-term-rentals/registry","title":"Short-term rental registry, Province of B.C.","accessed":"2026-11-05"},{"url":"https://www2.gov.bc.ca/gov/content/housing-tenancy/short-term-rentals/principal-residence-requirement","title":"Principal residence requirement, Province of B.C.","accessed":"2026-11-05"},{"url":"https://www.merritt.ca/contact/","title":"Contact, City of Merritt","accessed":"2026-11-05"}],"sources_read":"2026-11-05","review":{"status":"machine_checked","badge":"Checked against official text","label":"Checked by script, not yet by a person: the official wording behind 6 of 6 facts was matched to the official text."},"urls":{"html":"https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/merritt/short-term-rental/","markdown":"https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/merritt/short-term-rental.md","json":"https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/merritt/short-term-rental.json"}}