{"title":"Port Alberni short-term rental rules (Airbnb, Vrbo)","question":"Can I rent out my home or a room on Airbnb in Port Alberni?","slug":"short-term-rental","place":{"path":"ca/bc/port-alberni","name":"Port Alberni","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":"Only in limited cases. In Port Alberni a short-term rental is allowed as a bed and breakfast in a single detached dwelling lived in by its permanent residents (up to 2 bedrooms), in a legal secondary suite in the R or RR zones, or as a guest house in the C9 zone. A City licence and provincial registration are required.","aliases":["airbnb port alberni","vrbo port alberni","bed and breakfast port alberni","short term rental registration port alberni"],"cost":"No separate B&B fee is listed; the general Service licence category is $132 a year.","how_long":null,"where":[{"type":"phone","label":"Provincial short-term rental line (Service BC)","value":"1-833-828-2240"},{"type":"email","label":"Provincial registry","value":"STRregistry@sbc.gov.bc.ca"},{"type":"phone","label":"City business licensing","value":"250-720-2835"},{"type":"email","label":"City business licensing","value":"bus_licence@portalberni.ca"},{"type":"in_person","label":"Development Services","value":"Upper, 4835 Argyle Street, Port Alberni, BC V9Y 1V9"}],"documents":[],"forms":[{"title":"Bed and Breakfast, City of Port Alberni","url":"https://www.portalberni.ca/bed-and-breakfast"},{"title":"Provincial short-term rental registration","url":"https://www2.gov.bc.ca/gov/content/housing-tenancy/short-term-rentals/registry"},{"title":"Provincial principal residence requirement","url":"https://www2.gov.bc.ca/gov/content/housing-tenancy/short-term-rentals/principal-residence-requirement"}],"related":[{"slug":"business-licence","title":"Port Alberni business licences: who needs one, fees and how to apply","url":"https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/port-alberni/business-licence/"},{"slug":"zoning-lookup","title":"Port Alberni zoning: find your zone and what it allows","url":"https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/port-alberni/zoning-lookup/"},{"slug":"secondary-suite","title":"Port Alberni secondary suite and carriage house rules","url":"https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/port-alberni/secondary-suite/"},{"slug":"home-based-business","title":"Port Alberni home-based business rules","url":"https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/port-alberni/home-based-business/"}],"nearby":[{"place":"ca/bc/qualicum-beach","name":"Qualicum Beach","url":"https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/qualicum-beach/short-term-rental/"},{"place":"ca/bc/parksville","name":"Parksville","url":"https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/parksville/short-term-rental/"},{"place":"ca/bc/cumberland","name":"Cumberland","url":"https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/cumberland/short-term-rental/"},{"place":"ca/bc/comox","name":"Comox","url":"https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/comox/short-term-rental/"},{"place":"ca/bc/courtenay","name":"Courtenay","url":"https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/courtenay/short-term-rental/"},{"place":"ca/bc/lantzville","name":"Lantzville","url":"https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/lantzville/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":"Only in a single detached dwelling lived in by its permanent residents (B&B, up to 2 bedrooms), in a legal secondary suite in the R or RR zones, or as a guest house in the C9 zone (up to 8 sleeping units). Provincial rules also apply.","short":"Only in lived-in single detached dwelling or legal suite","status":"stated","sources":[{"url":"https://www.portalberni.ca/bed-and-breakfast","title":"Bed and Breakfast, City of Port Alberni","section":"Bed and Breakfast page","quotes":["Zoning Bylaw 5105 only allows Short Term Rental (STR) within a permanent resident occupied single-detached dwelling or guest house","Short-term rentals are currently permitted in Port Alberni within a single-detached home, legal secondary suite, or a guest house operation.","Up to two bedrooms may be used as a short-term rental."]},{"url":"https://www.portalberni.ca/sites/default/files/doc_library/5105_Zoning_Bylaw_No_5105_2024_Oct%202026%20Update.pdf","title":"Zoning Bylaw No. 5105, 2024 (PDF)","section":"s. 6.14","quotes":["Bed and breakfast operations shall have a maximum of two (2) bedrooms"]},{"url":"https://portalberni.ca/sites/default/files/pages/B%26B%20Short-Term%20Pamphlet%202025_0.pdf","title":"Short Term Rental FAQ (PDF), City of Port Alberni","section":"Short Term Rental FAQ, page 2","quotes":["A single-detached home with a legal secondary suite (R or RR","A guest house operation (C9 zoning)."]}],"check":{"result":"matched","text_date":"2026-11-06"}},"licence":{"label":"Business licence","value":"Yes. A City Bed & Breakfast Business Licence is required. Schedule A has no separate B&B fee; the general Service category is $132 a year.","short":"Yes, $132 a year","status":"stated","sources":[{"url":"https://www.portalberni.ca/bed-and-breakfast","title":"Bed and Breakfast, City of Port Alberni","section":"Bed and Breakfast page","quotes":["Short-term rental owners must obtain a City of Port Alberni Bed & Breakfast Business Licence."]},{"url":"https://www.portalberni.ca/sites/default/files/bylaws/4951_4951-1_4951-2_4951-3_Business%20Licence%20Regulation%20Bylaw_Consolidated_ao.pdf","title":"Business Licence Regulation Bylaw No. 4951, 2017 (PDF, consolidated)","section":"Schedule A","quotes":["CATEGORY: 1. Service FEE: $132.00","All businesses except those identified in Categories 2-7 of this schedule."]}],"check":{"result":"matched","text_date":"2026-11-06"}},"provincial_registration":{"label":"Provincial registration","value":"Yes. Short-term rental hosts must register with the Province and pay annual fees; unregistered listings are removed. Port Alberni is on the Province's list of communities where the principal residence requirement applies.","status":"stated","sources":[{"url":"https://www2.gov.bc.ca/gov/content/housing-tenancy/short-term-rentals","title":"Short-term rentals, Province of British Columbia","section":"BC short-term rentals page","quotes":["Short-term rental hosts, platforms and strata hotel platforms in B.C. must register and pay annual registration fees."]},{"url":"https://www2.gov.bc.ca/gov/content/housing-tenancy/short-term-rentals/registry","title":"Short-term rental registration - Province of British Columbia","section":"Failure to register","quotes":["Your listings will no longer be advertised,"]},{"url":"https://www2.gov.bc.ca/gov/content/housing-tenancy/short-term-rentals/principal-residence-requirement","title":"B.C.'s short-term rental principal residence requirement, Province of British Columbia","section":"List of communities","quotes":["Port Alberni Port Coquitlam Port Moody"]}],"check":{"result":"matched","text_date":"2026-11-06"}},"rules":{"label":"Operating rules","value":"Run by the permanent residents of a single detached dwelling; at most 2 bedrooms with no more than 2 guests per room; breakfast only; one off-street space per bedroom used plus the house's own space. The business licence must be posted. Building and Fire departments inspect first.","status":"stated","sources":[{"url":"https://www.portalberni.ca/sites/default/files/doc_library/5105_Zoning_Bylaw_No_5105_2024_Oct%202026%20Update.pdf","title":"Zoning Bylaw No. 5105, 2024 (PDF)","section":"s. 6.14","quotes":["The operation must be conducted by permanent residents of the dwelling.","with not more than two (2) guests per room.","Breakfast shall be the only meal permitted to be served to guests.","One (1) off-street parking space for each bedroom used for the operation must be provided."]},{"url":"https://www.portalberni.ca/sites/default/files/bylaws/4951_4951-1_4951-2_4951-3_Business%20Licence%20Regulation%20Bylaw_Consolidated_ao.pdf","title":"Business Licence Regulation Bylaw No. 4951, 2017 (PDF, consolidated)","section":"s. 7.5","quotes":["shall post and maintain in a conspicuous place on the business premises"]},{"url":"https://www.portalberni.ca/bed-and-breakfast","title":"Bed and Breakfast, City of Port Alberni","section":"Bed and Breakfast page","quotes":["The Building and Fire departments will perform a site visit/inspection of the property"]},{"url":"https://portalberni.ca/sites/default/files/pages/B%26B%20Short-Term%20Pamphlet%202025_0.pdf","title":"Short Term Rental FAQ (PDF), City of Port Alberni","section":"Short Term Rental FAQ, page 1","quotes":["One (1) off-street parking space for each bedroom used by the business must be provided plus 1 for each unit in the SFD."]}],"check":{"result":"matched","text_date":"2026-11-06"}},"fine":{"label":"Fine","value":"Operating without a business licence: bylaw notice $200 ($150 if paid early, $250 late). Using land against the Zoning Bylaw permitted uses: $200 ($150 early, $250 late). No fine specific to short-term rentals was found.","short":"Notice $200 ($150 if paid early)","status":"stated","sources":[{"url":"https://www.portalberni.ca/sites/default/files/bylaws/5128%2C%205128-1_Bylaw%20Notice%20Enforcement%20Bylaw%20No.%205128%2C%202025_Consolidated.pdf","title":"Bylaw Notice Enforcement Bylaw No. 5128, 2025 (PDF)","section":"Schedule A-6, s. 3.1","quotes":["3.1 Carry on a business without a licence $200.00 $150.00 $250.00","3.1     Carry on a business without a licence   $200.00     $150.00      $250.00","3.5         Contravene Uses Permitted                  $200.00         $150.00           $250.00"]}],"check":{"result":"matched","text_date":"2026-11-06"}},"bylaw":{"label":"Bylaw","value":"Zoning Bylaw No. 5105, 2024 (s. 6.14 Bed and Breakfast and Guest House Operations); Business Licence Regulation Bylaw No. 4951, 2017; and the Province's Short-Term Rental Accommodations Act","status":"stated","sources":[{"url":"https://www.portalberni.ca/sites/default/files/doc_library/5105_Zoning_Bylaw_No_5105_2024_Oct%202026%20Update.pdf","title":"Zoning Bylaw No. 5105, 2024 (PDF)","section":"s. 6.14","quotes":["6.14 Bed and Breakfast and Guest House Operations"]},{"url":"https://www.portalberni.ca/sites/default/files/bylaws/5128%2C%205128-1_Bylaw%20Notice%20Enforcement%20Bylaw%20No.%205128%2C%202025_Consolidated.pdf","title":"Bylaw Notice Enforcement Bylaw No. 5128, 2025 (PDF)","section":"Schedule A-6","quotes":["Business Licence Regulation Bylaw No. 4951, 2017"]},{"url":"https://www2.gov.bc.ca/gov/content/housing-tenancy/short-term-rentals","title":"Short-term rentals, Province of British Columbia","section":"BC page","quotes":["Short-Term Rental Accommodations Act"]}],"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\nPort Alberni's [Zoning Bylaw 5105](https://www.portalberni.ca/sites/default/files/doc_library/5105_Zoning_Bylaw_No_5105_2024_Oct%202026%20Update.pdf) (s. 6.14) allows short-term rental only:\n\n- as a bed and breakfast in a single detached dwelling lived in by its permanent residents (up to 2 bedrooms),\n- in a legal secondary suite in the R or RR zones, or\n- as a guest house in the C9 zone (up to 8 sleeping units).\n\nUnauthorized suites may not be used. Provincial rules also apply: hosts must register with the Province and pay annual fees, and unregistered listings are removed. Port Alberni is on the Province's list of communities where the principal residence requirement applies, which limits rentals to your usual home plus one secondary suite or accessory dwelling unit on the same property.\n\n## Steps\n\n1. Confirm your zone and the rules with Development Services (250-720-2835).\n2. Building and Fire departments inspect first.\n3. Apply for a City Bed & Breakfast Business Licence at bus_licence@portalberni.ca. Post the licence.\n4. Register with the Province before you list.\n\n## Good to know\n\n- B&B rules: at most 2 bedrooms with no more than 2 guests per room; breakfast only; one off-street space per bedroom used plus the house's own space. Guest house rules differ: up to 8 sleeping units and 16 guests.\n- The $132 a year is the general Service category; no official page lists a separate B&B fee.\n- Operating without a business licence: a bylaw notice is $200 ($150 if paid early, $250 late). Using land against the Zoning Bylaw is the same amount. The business licence bylaw also sets a court fine of $1,000 to $10,000.","sources":[{"url":"https://www.portalberni.ca/bed-and-breakfast","title":"Bed and Breakfast, City of Port Alberni","accessed":"2026-11-05"},{"url":"https://portalberni.ca/sites/default/files/pages/B%26B%20Short-Term%20Pamphlet%202025_0.pdf","title":"Short Term Rental FAQ (PDF), City of Port Alberni","accessed":"2026-11-05"},{"url":"https://www.portalberni.ca/sites/default/files/doc_library/5105_Zoning_Bylaw_No_5105_2024_Oct%202026%20Update.pdf","title":"Zoning Bylaw No. 5105, 2024 (PDF)","accessed":"2026-11-05"},{"url":"https://www.portalberni.ca/sites/default/files/bylaws/4951_4951-1_4951-2_4951-3_Business%20Licence%20Regulation%20Bylaw_Consolidated_ao.pdf","title":"Business Licence Regulation Bylaw No. 4951, 2017 (PDF, consolidated)","accessed":"2026-11-05"},{"url":"https://www.portalberni.ca/sites/default/files/bylaws/5128%2C%205128-1_Bylaw%20Notice%20Enforcement%20Bylaw%20No.%205128%2C%202025_Consolidated.pdf","title":"Bylaw Notice Enforcement Bylaw No. 5128, 2025 (PDF)","accessed":"2026-11-05"},{"url":"https://www2.gov.bc.ca/gov/content/housing-tenancy/short-term-rentals","title":"Short-term rentals, Province of British Columbia","accessed":"2026-11-05"},{"url":"https://www2.gov.bc.ca/gov/content/housing-tenancy/short-term-rentals/registry","title":"Short-term rental registration - Province of British Columbia","accessed":"2026-11-05"},{"url":"https://www2.gov.bc.ca/gov/content/housing-tenancy/short-term-rentals/principal-residence-requirement","title":"B.C.'s short-term rental principal residence requirement, Province of British Columbia","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/port-alberni/short-term-rental/","markdown":"https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/port-alberni/short-term-rental.md","json":"https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/port-alberni/short-term-rental.json"}}