{"title":"North Saanich short-term rental rules (Airbnb, Vrbo)","question":"Can I rent out my home or a room on Airbnb in North Saanich?","slug":"short-term-rental","place":{"path":"ca/bc/north-saanich","name":"North Saanich","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":"North Saanich has no short-term rental bylaw. Its zoning allows only listed uses and excludes temporary accommodation (under 30 days) from single family residential, so short stays in practice mean a resident-run bed and breakfast. The Province's principal residence rule applies here.","aliases":["airbnb north saanich","vacation rental north saanich","short term rental bylaw","bed and breakfast north saanich"],"cost":"A District business licence for a Home Based Business (including Bed and Breakfast) is $50 a year. Provincial registration is $100 a year for your principal residence, $450 for a secondary unit.","how_long":"Not applicable.","where":[{"type":"email","label":"District Planning","value":"planning@northsaanich.ca"},{"type":"phone","label":"Planning and Community Services","value":"250-655-5470"},{"type":"phone","label":"ServiceBC short-term rental line","value":"1-833-828-2240"},{"type":"email","label":"BC short-term rental registry","value":"STRregistry@sbc.gov.bc.ca"}],"documents":[],"forms":[{"title":"BC short-term rentals","url":"https://www2.gov.bc.ca/gov/content/housing-tenancy/short-term-rentals"},{"title":"Principal residence requirement, BC","url":"https://www2.gov.bc.ca/gov/content/housing-tenancy/short-term-rentals/principal-residence-requirement"},{"title":"Zoning and Development Bylaw No. 1255 (PDF)","url":"https://www.northsaanich.ca/wp-content/uploads/1255-District-of-North-Saanich-Zoning-Bylaw-No.-1255-Consolidated-2023.pdf"}],"related":[{"slug":"secondary-suite","title":"North Saanich secondary suite and carriage house rules","url":"https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/north-saanich/secondary-suite/"}],"nearby":[{"place":"ca/bc/sidney","name":"Sidney","url":"https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/sidney/short-term-rental/"},{"place":"ca/bc/central-saanich","name":"Central Saanich","url":"https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/central-saanich/short-term-rental/"},{"place":"ca/bc/highlands","name":"Highlands","url":"https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/highlands/short-term-rental/"},{"place":"ca/bc/saanich","name":"Saanich","url":"https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/saanich/short-term-rental/"},{"place":"ca/bc/langford","name":"Langford","url":"https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/langford/short-term-rental/"},{"place":"ca/bc/view-royal","name":"View Royal","url":"https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/view-royal/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":"No local short-term rental bylaw found. Zoning allows only listed uses and excludes 'temporary accommodation' (under 30 days) from single family residential, so short stays are limited to a bed and breakfast home occupation (host lives there). The Province's principal residence requirement applies in North Saanich (list as of June 1, 2026).","short":"No STR bylaw; B&B home occupation only","status":"stated","sources":[{"url":"https://www.northsaanich.ca/wp-content/uploads/1255-District-of-North-Saanich-Zoning-Bylaw-No.-1255-Consolidated-2023.pdf","title":"Zoning and Development Bylaw No. 1255 (PDF, consolidated February 2023)","section":"s. 102 'temporary accommodation', 'single family residential'","quotes":["“temporary accommodation” means the non-residential, commercial or quasi-commercial","use of sleeping accommodations for less than thirty (30) consecutive days;","but specifically excludes temporary accommodation;","No land, building or structure may be used for a use that is not specifically listed under","The use must be solely operated by a person resident in the dwelling unit and"]},{"url":"https://www.northsaanich.ca/wp-content/uploads/1255-District-of-North-Saanich-Zoning-Bylaw-No.-1255-Consolidated-2023.pdf","title":"Zoning and Development Bylaw No. 1255 (PDF, consolidated February 2023)","section":"s. 107.1","quotes":["No land, building or structure may be used for a use that is not specifically listed under","the heading “Permitted Uses” in the zone"]},{"url":"https://www2.gov.bc.ca/gov/content/housing-tenancy/short-term-rentals/principal-residence-requirement","title":"BC short-term rental principal residence requirement","section":"List of communities where the principal residence requirement applies","quotes":["Communities with principal residence requirement","North Cowichan North Saanich North Vancouver (City)"]}],"check":{"result":"matched","text_date":"2026-11-06"}},"licence":{"label":"Business licence","value":"A business licence is required for any business in the District. The fee schedule has no short-term rental category; 'Home Based Business including Bed and Breakfast' is $50 a year.","short":"Yes, $50 a year (home business incl. B&B)","status":"stated","sources":[{"url":"https://www.northsaanich.ca/sites/default/files/2026-06/1349-Business-License-Bylaw-CONSOLIDATED.pdf","title":"Business Bylaw No. 1349 (PDF)","section":"s. 4","quotes":["Every person owning or operating any business carried on within the Municipality","shall hold a valid and subsisting business license"]},{"url":"https://www.northsaanich.ca/wp-content/uploads/1471-Fees-and-Charges-Bylaw-2018.pdf","title":"Fees and Charges Bylaw No. 1471 (PDF)","section":"Business Licence Fees (BL 1515)","quotes":["Home Based Business including Bed and $50.00"]}],"check":{"result":"matched","text_date":"2026-11-06"}},"provincial_registration":{"label":"Provincial registration","value":"Yes. Provincial registration applies to rentals offered for fewer than 90 consecutive days, whether or not a local licence is required. Fee: $100 a year for the host's principal residence, $450 for a secondary unit.","status":"stated","sources":[{"url":"https://www2.gov.bc.ca/gov/content/housing-tenancy/short-term-rentals/principal-residence-requirement","title":"BC short-term rental principal residence requirement","section":"Business licence exemptions; fees","quotes":["Provincial registration requirements apply to short-term rentals offered for fewer than 90 consecutive days","Fee: $100 annually","Fee: $450 annually"]}],"check":{"result":"matched","text_date":"2026-11-06"}},"rules":{"label":"Operating rules","value":"Bed and breakfast home occupation: up to two bedrooms without cooking facilities, maximum four guests per lot per visit, plus 1 parking space per bedroom. Provincially, hosts are limited to their principal residence plus one suite or accessory unit. No local rule on posting a licence number or local contact was found.","status":"stated","sources":[{"url":"https://www.northsaanich.ca/wp-content/uploads/1255-District-of-North-Saanich-Zoning-Bylaw-No.-1255-Consolidated-2023.pdf","title":"Zoning and Development Bylaw No. 1255 (PDF, consolidated February 2023)","section":"s. 203.2","quotes":["a bed and breakfast may only use up to two","bedrooms (without cooking facilities) for a maximum of four persons per lot/per visit."]},{"url":"https://www.northsaanich.ca/wp-content/uploads/1255-District-of-North-Saanich-Zoning-Bylaw-No.-1255-Consolidated-2023.pdf","title":"Zoning and Development Bylaw No. 1255 (PDF, consolidated February 2023)","section":"s. 306 parking table","quotes":["plus Bed & Breakfast","plus 1 space per bedroom used for Bed & Breakfast"]},{"url":"https://www2.gov.bc.ca/gov/content/housing-tenancy/short-term-rentals/principal-residence-requirement","title":"BC short-term rental principal residence requirement","section":"Overview","quotes":["The usual place where they make their home day-to-day home","Plus one secondary suite or accessory dwelling unit on the same property"]}],"check":{"result":"matched","text_date":"2026-11-06"}},"fine":{"label":"Fine","value":"No short-term-rental offence is listed. Tickets (October 2022 schedule; 2026 amendments could not be read): no business licence $500 ($350 if paid within 30 days); unlawful home occupation $130 ($100); use not permitted under the Zoning Bylaw $500 ($350).","short":"Ticket $500 ($350 if paid in 30 days)","status":"stated","sources":[{"url":"https://www.northsaanich.ca/sites/default/files/2026-06/Municipal-Ticket-Information-Bylaw-No.-1544.pdf","title":"Municipal Ticket Information Bylaw No. 1544 (PDF)","section":"Schedule 6","quotes":["No business license","$500.00","$350.00","No business license                                             4                  $500.00      $350.00","Use not permitted                                               107                 $500.00      $350.00","Unlawful home occupation                                        203                 $130.00      $100.00"]},{"url":"https://www.northsaanich.ca/sites/default/files/2026-06/Municipal-Ticket-Information-Bylaw-No.-1544.pdf","title":"Municipal Ticket Information Bylaw No. 1544 (PDF)","section":"Schedule 10","quotes":["Section within 30 Number days Use not permitted 107 $500.00 $350.00 Unlawful home occupation 203 $130.00 $100.00 Secondary Suite not permitted use 206.1.1(a) $650.00 $500.00"]}],"check":{"result":"matched","text_date":"2026-11-06"}},"bylaw":{"label":"Bylaw","value":"Zoning and Development Bylaw No. 1255; Business Bylaw No. 1349 (2013); no short-term-rental bylaw found","status":"stated","sources":[{"url":"https://www.northsaanich.ca/wp-content/uploads/1255-District-of-North-Saanich-Zoning-Bylaw-No.-1255-Consolidated-2023.pdf","title":"Zoning and Development Bylaw No. 1255 (PDF, consolidated February 2023)","section":"Title","quotes":["DISTRICT OF NORTH SAANICH ZONING AND DEVELOPMENT BYLAW NO. 1255"]},{"url":"https://www.northsaanich.ca/sites/default/files/2026-06/1349-Business-License-Bylaw-CONSOLIDATED.pdf","title":"Business Bylaw No. 1349 (PDF)","section":"s. 1","quotes":["This Bylaw may be cited for all purposes as “District of North Saanich Business Bylaw","No. 1349 (2013).”"]}],"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\nThe District of North Saanich has no local short-term rental bylaw. [Zoning and Development Bylaw No. 1255](https://www.northsaanich.ca/wp-content/uploads/1255-District-of-North-Saanich-Zoning-Bylaw-No.-1255-Consolidated-2023.pdf) allows only the uses it lists, and it excludes \"temporary accommodation\" (stays under 30 days) from single family residential. In practice, short stays are limited to a bed and breakfast home occupation, where the host lives in the home. Temporary accommodation is allowed in the P-3 zone only.\n\nThe Province's principal residence requirement applies in North Saanich. Provincially, a host may rent their usual home plus one secondary suite or accessory unit.\n\n## Steps\n\n1. Ask Planning (planning@northsaanich.ca or 250-655-5470) what is allowed on your property today.\n2. For a bed and breakfast: use up to two bedrooms without cooking facilities, for a maximum of four guests per lot per visit, and provide 1 parking space per bedroom.\n3. Get a District business licence. The fee schedule has no short-term rental category; \"Home Based Business including Bed and Breakfast\" is $50 a year.\n4. Register with the Province. Registration applies to rentals offered for fewer than 90 consecutive days, whether or not a local licence is required.\n\n## Good to know\n\n- The District's pages do not say whether a short-term rental counts as the home-based category. Ask Planning.\n- No local rule on posting a licence number or local contact was found.\n- No short-term rental offence is listed. Tickets (2022 schedule; amounts may have changed): no business licence $500 ($350 if paid within 30 days); unlawful home occupation $130 ($100); use not permitted under the Zoning Bylaw $500 ($350).\n- Provincial law may override local zoning in ways this page does not cover.\n- The District's Official Community Plan says a short-term rental policy is coming. Check with Planning for the current status.","sources":[{"url":"https://www.northsaanich.ca/wp-content/uploads/1255-District-of-North-Saanich-Zoning-Bylaw-No.-1255-Consolidated-2023.pdf","title":"Zoning and Development Bylaw No. 1255 (PDF, consolidated February 2023)","accessed":"2026-11-05"},{"url":"https://www2.gov.bc.ca/gov/content/housing-tenancy/short-term-rentals/principal-residence-requirement","title":"BC short-term rental principal residence requirement","accessed":"2026-11-05"},{"url":"https://www.northsaanich.ca/sites/default/files/2026-06/1349-Business-License-Bylaw-CONSOLIDATED.pdf","title":"Business Bylaw No. 1349 (PDF)","accessed":"2026-11-05"},{"url":"https://www.northsaanich.ca/wp-content/uploads/1471-Fees-and-Charges-Bylaw-2018.pdf","title":"Fees and Charges Bylaw No. 1471 (PDF)","accessed":"2026-11-05"},{"url":"https://www.northsaanich.ca/sites/default/files/2026-06/Municipal-Ticket-Information-Bylaw-No.-1544.pdf","title":"Municipal Ticket Information Bylaw No. 1544 (PDF)","accessed":"2026-11-05"},{"url":"https://www.northsaanich.ca/lands-planning/building-or-renovating/property-information","title":"Property Information, District of North Saanich","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/north-saanich/short-term-rental/","markdown":"https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/north-saanich/short-term-rental.md","json":"https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/north-saanich/short-term-rental.json"}}