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

# New Westminster short-term rental rules (Airbnb, Vrbo)

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

**Short answer:** In New Westminster, short-term rentals are not permitted unless you hold a valid Bed and Breakfast business licence, which is for a home where you live. A secondary suite or laneway house cannot be used. You must also register with the Province, which has its own fee.

**Who handles it:** More than one level of government  
**Cost:** City B&B licence (2026): $214 annual fee and a $59 non-refundable application fee. Provincial registration: $100 a year for your principal residence, $450 for a secondary unit.  
**How long:** Not stated. Building, Plumbing, Fire and Business Licensing staff inspect.  
**Where:**
- Email: Business Licensing (B&B licence), businesslicences@newwestcity.ca
- Phone: Business Licensing, 604-527-4565
- Online: Provincial short-term rental registry (host registration), https://www2.gov.bc.ca/gov/content/housing-tenancy/short-term-rentals/principal-residence-requirement

## Key facts

- **Allowed:** Not permitted unless the operator holds a valid Bed & Breakfast business licence. A B&B is a home based business where the operator lives on site and rents rooms for under 90 days with a daily breakfast. It is not allowed in a detached accessory building such as a laneway house.
  - Source: [Business Licences and Permits, Short Term Accomodations](https://www.newwestcity.ca/business_licences.php)
  - Official wording: "will continue to not permit short-term rentals unless the operator has a valid Bed & Breakfast business license."
  - Source: [Business Licence Bylaw No. 8473, 2024 (PDF, consolidated November 3, 2025), s. 3.6](https://www.newwestcity.ca/database/files/library/Consolidated_Bylaw_8473__2024_Business_Licence__2025_11_03_consolidation_.pdf)
  - Official wording: "reside at the business premises and be that person’s primary residence;" … "not operate within a detached accessory dwelling unit or any other" … "provide temporary sleeping accommodation of no less than a daily" … "basis and for no more than a 90 day continuous basis;"
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06
- **Business licence:** Yes, a B&B business licence. 2026 fees: $214 annual and a $59 non-refundable application fee. Building, Plumbing, Fire and Business Licensing staff inspect. (Sources differ: The City's page still shows the 2025 fees ($58 application, $209 annual); the Schedule B to Bylaw 8529 for 2026 was followed.)
  - Source: [Business Licence Fees 2026, Schedule B, Schedule B, Business Licence Fees 2026](https://www.newwestcity.ca/database/files/library/CNW_2026_BL_Fees_web.pdf)
  - Official wording: "Bed & Breakfast Accommodation" … "$214.00" … "Business Licence Application (excluding Liquor Primary and Cannabis Retail)" … "$59.00"
  - Source: [Business Licences and Permits, Short Term Accomodations](https://www.newwestcity.ca/business_licences.php)
  - Official wording: "Inspection by Building, Plumbing, Fire and Business Licensing staff is required."
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06
- **Provincial registration:** Yes. The Province requires registration for rentals of fewer than 90 consecutive days, even where a local licence is required. Each unit needs its own registration number. Annual fee: $100 for the host's principal residence, $450 for a secondary unit.
  - Source: [B.C.'s short-term rental principal residence requirement, Province of British Columbia, Registration](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." … "Each short-term rental unit requires its own registration number." … "Fee: $100 annually" … "Fee: $450 annually"
  - Source: [B.C.'s short-term rental principal residence requirement, Province of British Columbia, Communities with principal residence requirement](https://www2.gov.bc.ca/gov/content/housing-tenancy/short-term-rentals/principal-residence-requirement)
  - Official wording: "Nelson New Westminster North Cowichan"
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06
- **Operating rules:** B&B: no more than four guests, plus one per 500 ft² over 2,000 ft², to a maximum of 10. At most one parking space per bedroom and two per three bedrooms. Operator must live on site and serve daily breakfast. Fire alarms and a posted fire safety plan required. The licence must be posted in public view.
  - Source: [Business Licence Bylaw No. 8473, 2024 (PDF, consolidated November 3, 2025), s. 3.6](https://www.newwestcity.ca/database/files/library/Consolidated_Bylaw_8473__2024_Business_Licence__2025_11_03_consolidation_.pdf)
  - Official wording: "not provide sleeping accommodation to more than four guests" … "to a maximum of 10" … "not occupy more than one off-street parking or one on-street" … "provide fire alarms in the principal residence unit and the bed and breakfast" … "ensure a fire safety plan is posted in a visible location for guests." … "Every licence holder shall keep a copy of the licence posted in a" … "conspicuous place visible to the public in the premises"
  - Source: [Business Licence Bylaw No. 8473, 2024 (PDF, consolidated November 3, 2025), s. 3.19](https://www.newwestcity.ca/database/files/library/Consolidated_Bylaw_8473__2024_Business_Licence__2025_11_03_consolidation_.pdf)
  - Official wording: "Every operator of a home based business must first receive permission"
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06
- **Fine:** Bylaw notice: $500 for operating without a business licence ($450 early, $525 late); exceeding the B&B guest limit is $250. The Municipal Ticket Information schedule sets $1,000 and $750 for the same offences. The City page warns of $200 to $400 per day per offence. (Sources differ: The City web page says $200-400 per day per offence; the Bylaw Notice Enforcement schedule sets the amounts shown. Followed the bylaw schedule.)
  - Source: [Bylaw Notice Enforcement Bylaw No. 7318, 2009 (PDF, consolidated 2026), Schedule A, Part 4](https://www.newwestcity.ca/database/files/library/Consolidated_Bylaw_7318__2009_Bylaw_Notice_Enforcement__2026_07_29_consolidation_.pdf)
  - Official wording: "2.1 No business licence 500.00 450.00 525.00" … "3.6(4) Exceed maximum guest 250.00 200.00 275.00"
  - Source: [Business Licences and Permits, Short Term Accomodations](https://www.newwestcity.ca/business_licences.php)
  - Official wording: "Operators in contravention may face fines of $200-400 per day, per offence"
  - Source: [Municipal Ticket Information Bylaw No. 8077, 2019 (PDF, consolidated 2026), Schedule B, Part 4](https://www.newwestcity.ca/database/files/library/Consolidated_Bylaw_8077__2019_Municipal_Ticket_Information__2026_07_29_consolidation_(1%29.pdf)
  - Official wording: "8473, 2024 2.1 No business licence 1,000.00" … "Exceed maximum guest count 750.00"
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06
- **Bylaw:** Business Licence Bylaw No. 8473, 2024 (s. 3.6, Bed and Breakfasts); Zoning Bylaw No. 6680, 2001 (s. 190.28)
  - Source: [Business Licence Bylaw No. 8473, 2024 (PDF, consolidated November 3, 2025), title page](https://www.newwestcity.ca/database/files/library/Consolidated_Bylaw_8473__2024_Business_Licence__2025_11_03_consolidation_.pdf)
  - Official wording: "BUSINESS LICENCE BYLAW NO. 8473, 2024"
  - Source: [Zoning Bylaw No. 6680, 2001, Part 100 Introduction (PDF, as of June 8, 2026), s. 190.28](https://www.newwestcity.ca/database/files/library/100_Introduction___As_of_June_8_2026(1%29.pdf)
  - Official wording: "Requirements for Home Based Businesses"
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06

## How it works

The City of New Westminster does not permit short-term rentals unless the operator holds a valid Bed and Breakfast (B&B) business licence, under [Business Licence Bylaw 8473](https://www.newwestcity.ca/database/files/library/Consolidated_Bylaw_8473__2024_Business_Licence__2025_11_03_consolidation_.pdf) s. 3.6. A B&B is a home-based business where the operator lives on site and rents rooms for under 90 days with a daily breakfast. It is not allowed in a detached accessory building such as a laneway house.

## Steps

1. Get landlord or strata permission first, if it applies.
2. Apply for a B&B business licence from Business Licensing. Building, Plumbing, Fire and Business Licensing staff inspect.
3. Register with the Province. It requires registration for rentals of fewer than 90 consecutive days, even where a local licence is required. Each unit needs its own registration number.
4. Post the licence in public view.

## Good to know

- B&B rules: no more than four guests, plus one per 500 square feet over 2,000 square feet, to a maximum of 10. At most one parking space per bedroom and two per three bedrooms. Fire alarms and a posted fire safety plan are required.
- Secondary suites, laneway houses and carriage houses cannot be used for short-term rentals. If the house has a suite, the B&B may run in the main house or the suite, not both.
- Fines: operating without a business licence is $500 by bylaw notice ($450 if paid early, $525 if late) or $1,000 by municipal ticket. Exceeding the B&B guest limit is $250 by bylaw notice or $750 by municipal ticket.
- The City's page warns of $200 to $400 per day per offence, which differs from the ticket schedules. Confirm with Business Licensing.

## Official forms and pages

- [Business Licences and Permits, City of New Westminster](https://www.newwestcity.ca/business_licences.php)
- [B.C.'s short-term rental principal residence requirement](https://www2.gov.bc.ca/gov/content/housing-tenancy/short-term-rentals/principal-residence-requirement)
- [Business Licence Bylaw 8473, 2024 (PDF)](https://www.newwestcity.ca/database/files/library/Consolidated_Bylaw_8473__2024_Business_Licence__2025_11_03_consolidation_.pdf)

## Related questions

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

## The same question elsewhere

- [Short-term rental rules in British Columbia, by municipality](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/short-term-rental.md)
- [Burnaby](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/burnaby/short-term-rental.md)
- [Coquitlam](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/coquitlam/short-term-rental.md)
- [Port Coquitlam](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/port-coquitlam/short-term-rental.md)
- [Port Moody](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/port-moody/short-term-rental.md)
- [Belcarra](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/belcarra/short-term-rental.md)
- [Surrey](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/surrey/short-term-rental.md)

## Sources

- [Business Licences and Permits, City of New Westminster (Short Term Accommodations)](https://www.newwestcity.ca/business_licences.php) (read 2026-11-05)
- [Business Licence Bylaw No. 8473, 2024 (PDF, consolidated November 3, 2025)](https://www.newwestcity.ca/database/files/library/Consolidated_Bylaw_8473__2024_Business_Licence__2025_11_03_consolidation_.pdf) (read 2026-11-05)
- [Business Licence Fees 2026 (PDF), Schedule B](https://www.newwestcity.ca/database/files/library/CNW_2026_BL_Fees_web.pdf) (read 2026-11-05)
- [Zoning Bylaw No. 6680, 2001, Part 100 Introduction (PDF, as of June 8, 2026)](https://www.newwestcity.ca/database/files/library/100_Introduction___As_of_June_8_2026(1%29.pdf) (read 2026-11-05)
- [B.C.'s short-term rental principal residence requirement, Province of British Columbia](https://www2.gov.bc.ca/gov/content/housing-tenancy/short-term-rentals/principal-residence-requirement) (read 2026-11-05)
- [Bylaw Notice Enforcement Bylaw No. 7318, 2009 (PDF, consolidated 2026)](https://www.newwestcity.ca/database/files/library/Consolidated_Bylaw_7318__2009_Bylaw_Notice_Enforcement__2026_07_29_consolidation_.pdf) (read 2026-11-05)
- [Municipal Ticket Information Bylaw No. 8077, 2019 (PDF, consolidated 2026)](https://www.newwestcity.ca/database/files/library/Consolidated_Bylaw_8077__2019_Municipal_Ticket_Information__2026_07_29_consolidation_(1%29.pdf) (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/new-westminster/short-term-rental/_