---
title: Osoyoos short-term rental rules (Airbnb, Vrbo)
question: "Can I rent out my home or a room on Airbnb in Osoyoos?"
place: Osoyoos, British Columbia, Canada
place_path: ca/bc/osoyoos
category: Housing and renting
owner: municipal
owner_body: Town of Osoyoos
sources_read: 2026-11-06
review: machine_checked
canonical: "https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/osoyoos/short-term-rental/"
json: "https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/osoyoos/short-term-rental.json"
---

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

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

**Short answer:** In Osoyoos you can run a short-term rental with a Town business licence ($750 a year) in the RS1 and Agriculture zones, and in a resort residential building in the CT4 zone. Hosts must also register with the Province and use their principal residence.

**Who handles it:** Municipal (Town of Osoyoos, https://www.osoyoos.ca)  
**Cost:** $750 a year for the Town business licence, non-refundable. A $100 late fee applies if unpaid on March 1.  
**How long:** The Town states no processing time. Unpaid licences are terminated on April 1.  
**Where:**
- In person: Planning and Development Services, 8711 Main Street, Osoyoos, BC (Monday to Friday, 9:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.)
- Phone: Planning and Development Services, 250-495-6191
- Email: Planning and Development Services, plan@osoyoos.ca
- Phone: ServiceBC (provincial registration help), 1-833-828-2240

## Key facts

- **Allowed:** Yes, with a Town business licence, in the RS1 and Agriculture zones and in a "resort residential building" in the CT4 zone. Osoyoos has opted in to the provincial principal residence requirement: the host's principal residence plus one secondary suite or one accessory dwelling only.
  - Source: [Short-Term Rentals, Which Zones Allow STRs](https://www.osoyoos.ca/short-term-rentals)
  - Official wording: "Subject to a business licence, an STR is permitted in the following zones:" … "Small-Scale Multi-Unit Residential (RS1) Zone" … "A "resort residential building" within the Resort Commercial (CT4) Zone" … "Agriculture (AG) Zone" … "which limits STRs to the host's principal residence and one secondary suite or one accessory dwelling unit"
  - Source: [Principal residence requirement, Province of BC, Communities with principal residence requirement](https://www2.gov.bc.ca/gov/content/housing-tenancy/short-term-rentals/principal-residence-requirement)
  - Official wording: "The expandable menu below lists the communities where the principal residence requirement applies (as of June 1, 2026)." … "Oak Bay Osoyoos Parksville"
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06
- **Business licence:** Yes. A Town business licence is required. Fee $750 a year for a short-term rental accommodation (same for a bed and breakfast). Applicants sign a statutory declaration before a Commissioner for Oaths.
  - Source: [Business Licence Bylaw No. 1400, 2025, s. 8.1](https://osoyoos.civicweb.net/document/155039/)
  - Official wording: "d) short-term rental accommodation: $750.00"
  - Source: [STR Licencing](https://www.osoyoos.ca/node/1640)
  - Official wording: "Operating a short-term rental accommodation or bed and breakfast operation requires a valid business licence." … "You will be required to sign a statutory declaration before a Commissioner for Oaths."
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06
- **Provincial registration:** Yes. Hosts must register with the Province, which requires a valid Town of Osoyoos business licence. The Town licence application must show proof of compliance with the provincial principal residence requirement.
  - Source: [Short-Term Rentals, Provincial Regulations](https://www.osoyoos.ca/short-term-rentals)
  - Official wording: "Hosts are required to register with the Province." … "including a valid Town of Osoyoos business licence."
  - Source: [Business Licence Bylaw No. 1400, 2025, Schedule A s. 2(b)(i)](https://osoyoos.civicweb.net/document/155039/)
  - Official wording: "proof of compliance with the provincial Principal Residence Requirement for a"
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06
- **Operating rules:** Maximum 2 guests per bedroom. Parking: the Town's page says one off-street space per bedroom; Zoning Table 10.2.1 says 1 per sleeping unit. Licence may require showing the licence number in all ads and a 24-hour local contact. Fire extinguisher per floor, smoke and CO alarms, evacuation plan posted. (Sources differ: The Zoning Bylaw parking table says 1 space per sleeping unit for short-term rentals; the Town STR tips page says one per bedroom. Posted inside the unit: Fire and Safety Plan, Parking Plan, garbage and recycling information, good neighbour guide. Good Neighbour Bylaw No. 1277, 2011 (noise) also applies.)
  - Source: [Zoning Bylaw No. 1395, 2024, s. 7.7](https://osoyoos.civicweb.net/document/154202/)
  - Official wording: "the maximum number of patrons that may be accommodated within a dwelling unit shall not exceed two (2) per bedroom;" … "Short-term rental accommodation 1 per sleeping unit"
  - Source: [Tips for STR Hosts, Parking](https://www.osoyoos.ca/node/1641)
  - Official wording: "one parking space is required per bedroom"
  - Source: [Business Licence Bylaw No. 1400, 2025, Schedule A s. 2(c), (d)](https://osoyoos.civicweb.net/document/155039/)
  - Official wording: "the inclusion of the Town of Osoyoos business licence number in all" … "for response to nuisance complaints registered with the Town for a" … "A short-term rental accommodation shall not be advertised by any means without, or" … "one (1) fire extinguisher has been provided per floor of the dwelling unit and"
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06
- **Fine:** Municipal tickets: advertising without a valid licence $3,000; advertising more bedrooms than licensed $1,500; no licence $150 ($120 within 30 days); short-term rental in a zone that does not allow it $3,000. Bylaw notices: no licence $150 ($120 early, $160 late); use not allowed in the zone $500.
  - Source: [Municipal Ticket Information Bylaw No. 1279, 2011, Schedule 3 (Business Licence Bylaw No. 1400) and Schedule 23 (Zoning Bylaw)](https://osoyoos.civicweb.net/document/82635/)
  - Official wording: "Advertisement by any means of a Short-Term Rental 2(d), $3,000 $3,000 Accommodation without a valid Schedule A business licence" … "Operating a business without a 3.1 $150 $120" … "more bedrooms and/or sleeping" … "Operating a use not listed in respect of a particular 5.4 zone i) Short-term rental accommodation $3,000.00 $3,000.00"
  - Source: [Bylaw Notice Enforcement Bylaw No. 1392, 2025, Bylaw 1392 schedules (Business licence Bylaw 1045; Zoning 5.4)](https://osoyoos.civicweb.net/document/150460/)
  - Official wording: "3(1)(a) No Business Licence $150 $120 $160 Yes" … "5.4 Operating a use not listed in $500 $450 $500 No"
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06
- **Bylaw:** Business Licence Bylaw No. 1400, 2025 (Schedule A, s. 2); Zoning Bylaw No. 1395, 2024 (s. 7.7); Good Neighbour Bylaw No. 1277, 2011
  - Source: [Business Licence Bylaw No. 1400, 2025, Schedule A](https://osoyoos.civicweb.net/document/155039/)
  - Official wording: "Short-Term Rental Accommodation and Bed and Breakfast Operation"
  - Source: [Zoning Bylaw No. 1395, 2024, s. 7.7](https://osoyoos.civicweb.net/document/154202/)
  - Official wording: "2025 October 14, 1395.04 Adding new Section 7.7 Short-Term Rental Accommodations 2025 Removing and Replacing Section 10.6 Off-Street Vehicle"
  - Source: [Tips for STR Hosts](https://www.osoyoos.ca/node/1641)
  - Official wording: "Good Neighbour Bylaw No. 1277, 2011"
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06

## How it works

A short-term rental needs a Town business licence under the [Business Licence Bylaw No. 1400](https://osoyoos.civicweb.net/document/155039/) (Schedule A). Under the [Zoning Bylaw No. 1395](https://osoyoos.civicweb.net/document/154202/) (section 7.7) it is allowed in the RS1 and Agriculture zones and in a "resort residential building" in the CT4 zone. It is not allowed on a parcel with a licensed bed and breakfast, and ALR parcels need Agricultural Land Commission approval.

Osoyoos is on the Province's list of communities where the [principal residence requirement](https://www2.gov.bc.ca/gov/content/housing-tenancy/short-term-rentals/principal-residence-requirement) applies. You may rent the host's principal residence plus one secondary suite or one accessory dwelling only. Hosts must register with the Province, which requires a valid Town licence. The Town application must show proof of compliance with the principal residence requirement.

## Steps

1. Confirm your zone allows short-term rentals (see the zoning-lookup answer).
2. Apply for the business licence. Applicants sign a statutory declaration before a Commissioner for Oaths.
3. Pay the $750 annual fee.
4. Register with the Province. ServiceBC can help: 1-833-828-2240.

## Good to know

- Maximum 2 guests per bedroom. Fire extinguisher per floor, smoke and CO alarms and a posted evacuation plan are required. The licence may require showing the licence number in all ads and a 24-hour local contact.
- Parking: the Town's tips page says one off-street space per bedroom; Zoning Table 10.2.1 says 1 per sleeping unit. Confirm with Planning which applies.
- Good Neighbour Bylaw No. 1277 (noise) also applies.
- Municipal tickets: advertising without a valid licence $3,000; advertising more bedrooms than licensed $1,500; no licence $150 ($120 within 30 days); short-term rental in a zone that does not allow it $3,000. Bylaw notices: no licence $150 ($120 early, $160 late); use not allowed in the zone $500.

## Official forms and pages

- [Short-Term Rentals, Town of Osoyoos](https://www.osoyoos.ca/short-term-rentals)
- [Business Licences and Permits, Town of Osoyoos](https://www.osoyoos.ca/business-licences-permits)
- [Business Licence Bylaw No. 1400, 2025 (PDF)](https://osoyoos.civicweb.net/document/155039/)
- [Zoning Bylaw No. 1395, 2024 (PDF)](https://osoyoos.civicweb.net/document/154202/)

## Related questions

- [Osoyoos business licences: who needs one, fees and how to apply](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/osoyoos/business-licence.md)
- [Osoyoos zoning: find your zone and what it allows](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/osoyoos/zoning-lookup.md)
- [Osoyoos secondary suite and carriage house rules](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/osoyoos/secondary-suite.md)
- [Osoyoos noise bylaw: quiet hours, construction hours and fines](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/osoyoos/noise-rules.md)
- [Osoyoos bylaw fines and how tickets work](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/osoyoos/bylaw-fines.md)

## The same question elsewhere

- [Short-term rental rules in British Columbia, by municipality](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/short-term-rental.md)
- [Oliver](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/oliver/short-term-rental.md)
- [Keremeos](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/keremeos/short-term-rental.md)
- [Midway](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/midway/short-term-rental.md)
- [Penticton](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/penticton/short-term-rental.md)
- [Summerland](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/summerland/short-term-rental.md)
- [Grand Forks](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/grand-forks/short-term-rental.md)

## Sources

- [Short-Term Rentals, Town of Osoyoos](https://www.osoyoos.ca/short-term-rentals) (read 2026-11-06)
- [STR Licencing, Town of Osoyoos](https://www.osoyoos.ca/node/1640) (read 2026-11-06)
- [Tips for STR Hosts, Town of Osoyoos](https://www.osoyoos.ca/node/1641) (read 2026-11-06)
- [Business Licence Bylaw No. 1400, 2025 (PDF)](https://osoyoos.civicweb.net/document/155039/) (read 2026-11-06)
- [Zoning Bylaw No. 1395, 2024 (PDF)](https://osoyoos.civicweb.net/document/154202/) (read 2026-11-06)
- [Principal residence requirement, Province of BC](https://www2.gov.bc.ca/gov/content/housing-tenancy/short-term-rentals/principal-residence-requirement) (read 2026-11-06)
- [Bylaw Notice Enforcement Bylaw No. 1392, 2025 (PDF)](https://osoyoos.civicweb.net/document/150460/) (read 2026-11-06)
- [Municipal Ticket Information Bylaw No. 1279, 2011 (PDF)](https://osoyoos.civicweb.net/document/82635/) (read 2026-11-06)

_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 Town of Osoyoos. How answers are checked: https://govhandbook.com/methods/ · Canonical page: https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/osoyoos/short-term-rental/_