---
title: Merritt short-term rental rules (Airbnb, Vrbo)
question: "Can I rent out my home or a room on Airbnb in Merritt?"
place: Merritt, British Columbia, Canada
place_path: ca/bc/merritt
category: Housing and renting
owner: shared
sources_read: 2026-11-05
review: machine_checked
canonical: "https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/merritt/short-term-rental/"
json: "https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/merritt/short-term-rental.json"
---

# Merritt short-term rental rules (Airbnb, Vrbo)

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

**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.

**Who handles it:** More than one level of government  
**Cost:** Business licence $150 a year plus a $50 one-time application fee. Provincial registration fee also applies.  
**Where:**
- Phone: Planning & Development Services, 250-378-8615 (Zoning questions)
- Email: Planning & Development Services, planning@merritt.ca
- Phone: Province short-term rental registry, 1-833-828-2240

## Key facts

- **Allowed:** 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.
  - Source: [City of Merritt Zoning Bylaw No. 2284, 2020, 2026 consolidation, s. 4.34.1, 4.34.6, 4.16.2](http://www.merritt.ca/wp-content/uploads/2026/09/2284_Zoning-Bylaw_2026.pdf)
  - Official wording: "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-"
  - Source: [City of Merritt Zoning Bylaw No. 2284, 2020, 2026 consolidation, definition](http://www.merritt.ca/wp-content/uploads/2026/09/2284_Zoning-Bylaw_2026.pdf)
  - Official wording: "for any period less than 30 consecutive days and 90 days in a calendar year."
  - Source: [Principal residence requirement, Province of B.C., Provincial principal residence requirement: list of exempt communities](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 Logan Lake Lumby Mackenzie Masset Merritt Midway Montrose"
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06
- **Business licence:** 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.
  - Source: [City of Merritt Zoning Bylaw No. 2284, 2020, 2026 consolidation, s. 4.34.2, 4.34.4](http://www.merritt.ca/wp-content/uploads/2026/09/2284_Zoning-Bylaw_2026.pdf)
  - Official wording: "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."
  - Source: [City of Merritt Business Licence Bylaw No. 2268, 2019, Schedules A and B](http://www.merritt.ca/wp-content/uploads/2026/09/Business-Licence-including-ICBLs.pdf)
  - Official wording: "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: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06
- **Provincial registration:** 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.
  - Source: [Short-term rental registry, Province of B.C., Provincial registry page](https://www2.gov.bc.ca/gov/content/housing-tenancy/short-term-rentals/registry)
  - Official wording: "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: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06
- **Operating rules:** 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.
  - Source: [City of Merritt Zoning Bylaw No. 2284, 2020, 2026 consolidation, s. 4.34.3, 4.34.7-4.34.10](http://www.merritt.ca/wp-content/uploads/2026/09/2284_Zoning-Bylaw_2026.pdf)
  - Official wording: "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: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06
- **Fine:** 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.
  - Source: [Bylaw Notice Enforcement Bylaw No. 2424, Schedule A](http://www.merritt.ca/wp-content/uploads/2026/09/BNE-Bylaw-2424-2026.pdf)
  - Official wording: "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"
  - Source: [City of Merritt Zoning Bylaw No. 2284, 2020, 2026 consolidation, s. 3.3.1](http://www.merritt.ca/wp-content/uploads/2026/09/2284_Zoning-Bylaw_2026.pdf)
  - Official wording: "liable on summary conviction to a penalty not exceeding $10,000 and the costs of prosecution."
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06
- **Bylaw:** Zoning Bylaw No. 2284, 2020 (s. 4.34); Business Licence Bylaw No. 2268, 2019; Short-Term Rental Accommodations Act (B.C.).
  - Source: [City of Merritt Zoning Bylaw No. 2284, 2020, 2026 consolidation, s. 4.34](http://www.merritt.ca/wp-content/uploads/2026/09/2284_Zoning-Bylaw_2026.pdf)
  - Official wording: "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 ____________________________________________________________________________"
  - Source: [City of Merritt Business Licence Bylaw No. 2268, 2019, title](http://www.merritt.ca/wp-content/uploads/2026/09/Business-Licence-including-ICBLs.pdf)
  - Official wording: "Business Licence Bylaw No. 2268, 2019"
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06

## How it works

Merritt'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.

## Steps

1. Confirm your zone and whether short-term rental is permitted or discretionary there. Ask Planning at 250-378-8615.
2. Get a City business licence ($150 a year plus a $50 one-time application fee) and display it on site.
3. Register with the Province and pay its annual fee, renewing each year, unless your accommodation is exempt. Province contact: 1-833-828-2240.
4. In a strata, get written permission from the strata council.

## Good to know

- 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.
- The Zoning Bylaw sets no limit on guests or bedrooms and no local-contact rule.
- 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.
- A building or fire inspection ($50 each) may also be required for the licence.

## Official forms and pages

- [Zoning Bylaw 2284 (PDF), section 4.34](http://www.merritt.ca/wp-content/uploads/2026/09/2284_Zoning-Bylaw_2026.pdf)
- [Business Licence Bylaw 2268 and inter-community bylaws (PDF)](http://www.merritt.ca/wp-content/uploads/2026/09/Business-Licence-including-ICBLs.pdf)
- [Short-term rental registration, Province of B.C.](https://www2.gov.bc.ca/gov/content/housing-tenancy/short-term-rentals/registry)

## Related questions

- [Merritt business licences: who needs one, fees and how to apply](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/merritt/business-licence.md)
- [Merritt secondary suite and carriage house rules](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/merritt/secondary-suite.md)
- [Merritt home-based business rules](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/merritt/home-based-business.md)

## The same question elsewhere

- [Short-term rental rules in British Columbia, by municipality](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/short-term-rental.md)
- [Logan Lake](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/logan-lake/short-term-rental.md)
- [Lytton](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/lytton/short-term-rental.md)
- [Kamloops](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/kamloops/short-term-rental.md)
- [Princeton](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/princeton/short-term-rental.md)
- [Ashcroft](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/ashcroft/short-term-rental.md)
- [Peachland](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/peachland/short-term-rental.md)

## Sources

- [City of Merritt Zoning Bylaw No. 2284, 2020 (PDF), 2026 consolidation](http://www.merritt.ca/wp-content/uploads/2026/09/2284_Zoning-Bylaw_2026.pdf) (read 2026-11-05)
- [City of Merritt Business Licence Bylaw No. 2268, 2019 (PDF)](http://www.merritt.ca/wp-content/uploads/2026/09/Business-Licence-including-ICBLs.pdf) (read 2026-11-05)
- [Bylaw Notice Enforcement Bylaw No. 2424 (PDF), City of Merritt](http://www.merritt.ca/wp-content/uploads/2026/09/BNE-Bylaw-2424-2026.pdf) (read 2026-11-05)
- [Short-term rental registry, Province of B.C.](https://www2.gov.bc.ca/gov/content/housing-tenancy/short-term-rentals/registry) (read 2026-11-05)
- [Principal residence requirement, Province of B.C.](https://www2.gov.bc.ca/gov/content/housing-tenancy/short-term-rentals/principal-residence-requirement) (read 2026-11-05)
- [Contact, City of Merritt](https://www.merritt.ca/contact/) (read 2026-11-05)

_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/merritt/short-term-rental/_