{"title":"Port McNeill short-term rental rules (Airbnb, Vrbo)","question":"Can I rent out my home or a room on Airbnb in Port McNeill?","slug":"short-term-rental","place":{"path":"ca/bc/port-mcneill","name":"Port McNeill","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":"Port McNeill's zoning bylaw lists no short-term rental use, and any use not listed in a zone is prohibited. It does allow an owner-occupied bed and breakfast of up to 3 rooms in the R-1, R-2, R-3, R-4 and CD-1 zones. You need a Town business licence and Province of BC registration.","aliases":["airbnb port mcneill","short term rental port mcneill","bed and breakfast port mcneill","vacation rental port mcneill"],"cost":"Business licence $80 a year for a business of 0 to 3 employees (including home-based); half after July 31.","how_long":"Not stated.","where":[{"type":"in_person","label":"Town Hall","value":"1775 Furney Place, Port McNeill, BC (mail: Box 728, Port McNeill, BC V0N 2R0)","note":"Monday to Friday, 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. (closed statutory holidays)"},{"type":"phone","label":"Town Office","value":"250-956-3111"},{"type":"email","label":"Town Office reception","value":"reception@portmcneill.ca"}],"documents":[],"forms":[{"title":"Business Licensing Bylaw No. 699, 2020 (PDF)","url":"https://portmcneill.ca/wp-content/uploads/2020/10/No.6992020BusinessLicenceBylaw.pdf"},{"title":"Zoning Bylaw No. 705, 2021 (PDF, Town's posted final copy)","url":"https://portmcneill.ca/wp-content/uploads/2022/07/2221_49324_Zoning-Bylaw_final072122.pdf"},{"title":"Short-term rentals, Province of BC","url":"https://www2.gov.bc.ca/gov/content/housing-tenancy/short-term-rentals/principal-residence-requirement"}],"related":[{"slug":"business-licence","title":"Port McNeill business licences: who needs one, fees and how to apply","url":"https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/port-mcneill/business-licence/"},{"slug":"home-based-business","title":"Port McNeill home-based business rules","url":"https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/port-mcneill/home-based-business/"},{"slug":"zoning-lookup","title":"Port McNeill zoning: find your zone and what it allows","url":"https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/port-mcneill/zoning-lookup/"},{"slug":"secondary-suite","title":"Port McNeill secondary suite and carriage house rules","url":"https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/port-mcneill/secondary-suite/"}],"nearby":[{"place":"ca/bc/port-hardy","name":"Port Hardy","url":"https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/port-hardy/short-term-rental/"},{"place":"ca/bc/port-alice","name":"Port Alice","url":"https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/port-alice/short-term-rental/"},{"place":"ca/bc/tahsis","name":"Tahsis","url":"https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/tahsis/short-term-rental/"},{"place":"ca/bc/sayward","name":"Sayward","url":"https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/sayward/short-term-rental/"},{"place":"ca/bc/gold-river","name":"Gold River","url":"https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/gold-river/short-term-rental/"},{"place":"ca/bc/campbell-river","name":"Campbell River","url":"https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/campbell-river/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 short-term rental use is listed in the zoning bylaw. Bed and breakfast (owner-occupied single-family home, up to 3 rooms for the travelling public) is allowed in the R-1, R-2, R-3, R-4 and CD-1 zones. Any use not listed in a zone is prohibited there.","short":"No STR use; B&B allowed in some zones","status":"stated","sources":[{"url":"https://portmcneill.ca/wp-content/uploads/2022/07/2221_49324_Zoning-Bylaw_final072122.pdf","title":"Zoning Bylaw No. 705, 2021 (PDF, Town's posted final copy), Town of Port McNeill","section":"s. 5.9.1 Bed and breakfast","quotes":["Bed and Breakfast operations may be carried out in R-1, R-2, R-3, R-4 and CD-1 Zones","A maximum of 3 rooms are permitted to be used for the lodging of the travelling public"]},{"url":"https://portmcneill.ca/wp-content/uploads/2022/07/2221_49324_Zoning-Bylaw_final072122.pdf","title":"Zoning Bylaw No. 705, 2021 (PDF, Town's posted final copy), Town of Port McNeill","section":"s. 2.1 Prohibition","quotes":["Any use not listed in a specifical zone is considered prohibited within that zone."]},{"url":"https://www2.gov.bc.ca/gov/content/housing-tenancy/short-term-rentals/principal-residence-requirement","title":"Short-term rentals, principal residence requirement, Province of British Columbia","section":"Municipalities exempt from the principal residence requirement","quotes":["Municipalities exempt from the principal residence requirement","Port Hardy Port McNeill Pouce Coupe"]}],"check":{"result":"matched","text_date":"2026-11-08"}},"licence":{"label":"Business licence","value":"Yes. All businesses in the Town need a business licence, and bed and breakfasts fall under Home Based Business. Fee: $80 a year for a business employing 0 to 3 persons (including home-based), half after July 31.","short":"Yes, $80 a year","status":"stated","sources":[{"url":"https://portmcneill.ca/wp-content/uploads/2020/10/No.6992020BusinessLicenceBylaw.pdf","title":"Business Licensing Bylaw No. 699, 2020 (PDF), Town of Port McNeill","section":"Part 2 Definitions; Part 6; Schedule A","quotes":["For the purpose of this bylaw, Bed and Breakfast and will fall under the definition of Home Based Business.","Employing from 0-3 persons (Including Home-Based) $80","shall be reduced by one-half (1/2)"]}],"check":{"result":"matched","text_date":"2026-11-08"}},"provincial_registration":{"label":"Provincial registration","value":"The Province requires registration for short-term rentals of fewer than 90 consecutive days, whether or not a local licence is required. The principal residence requirement does not apply in Port McNeill (exempt list).","status":"stated","sources":[{"url":"https://www2.gov.bc.ca/gov/content/housing-tenancy/short-term-rentals/principal-residence-requirement","title":"Short-term rentals, principal residence requirement, Province of British Columbia","section":"Business licence exemptions","quotes":["Provincial registration requirements apply to short-term rentals offered for fewer than 90 consecutive days, regardless of whether a local business licence is required."]},{"url":"https://www2.gov.bc.ca/gov/content/housing-tenancy/short-term-rentals/principal-residence-requirement","title":"Short-term rentals, principal residence requirement, Province of British Columbia","section":"List of exempt communities","quotes":["Municipalities exempt from the principal residence requirement","Port Hardy Port McNeill Pouce Coupe"]}],"check":{"result":"matched","text_date":"2026-11-08"}},"rules":{"label":"Operating rules","value":"Bed and breakfast: owner-occupied, up to 3 rooms; home occupation rules apply; parking of 2 spaces for the residents plus 1 per bedroom used; BC Building Code and Fire Code must be met.","status":"stated","sources":[{"url":"https://portmcneill.ca/wp-content/uploads/2022/07/2221_49324_Zoning-Bylaw_final072122.pdf","title":"Zoning Bylaw No. 705, 2021 (PDF, Town's posted final copy), Town of Port McNeill","section":"s. 5.9.1 Bed and breakfast","quotes":["the provisions of Home Occupations Section 5.3.1 are adhered to.","the British Columbia Building Code, Fire Code and any other requirements of the Statutes"]},{"url":"https://portmcneill.ca/wp-content/uploads/2022/07/2221_49324_Zoning-Bylaw_final072122.pdf","title":"Zoning Bylaw No. 705, 2021 (PDF, Town's posted final copy), Town of Port McNeill","section":"s. 5.14.4 table","quotes":["2 spaces for primary residents plus 1 space per bedroom used in Bed and Breakfast"]}],"check":{"result":"matched","text_date":"2026-11-08"}},"fine":{"label":"Fine","value":"Without a licence: ticketed fine of not less than $100, up to the Offence Act maximum (no amount in the ticket schedule). Breaking zoning rules: penalty up to $500 plus costs on summary conviction; each day a separate offence.","short":"Ticket of at least $100","status":"stated","sources":[{"url":"https://portmcneill.ca/wp-content/uploads/2020/10/No.6992020BusinessLicenceBylaw.pdf","title":"Business Licensing Bylaw No. 699, 2020 (PDF), Town of Port McNeill","section":"Part 16 Penalty","quotes":["liable to be ticketed by the Bylaw Enforcement Officer to a fine not less than one hundred ($100.00) dollars"]},{"url":"https://portmcneill.ca/wp-content/uploads/2022/07/2221_49324_Zoning-Bylaw_final072122.pdf","title":"Zoning Bylaw No. 705, 2021 (PDF, Town's posted final copy), Town of Port McNeill","section":"s. 2.6 Penalty","quotes":["is liable on summary conviction to a penalty not exceeding five hundred dollars in addition to the cost of prosecution."]}],"check":{"result":"matched","text_date":"2026-11-08"}},"bylaw":{"label":"Bylaw","value":"Business Licensing Bylaw No. 699, 2020; Zoning Bylaw No. 705, 2021 (s. 5.9 bed and breakfast).","status":"stated","sources":[{"url":"https://portmcneill.ca/wp-content/uploads/2020/10/No.6992020BusinessLicenceBylaw.pdf","title":"Business Licensing Bylaw No. 699, 2020 (PDF), Town of Port McNeill","section":"Title","quotes":["BUSINESS LICENSING BYLAW NO. 699, 2020"]},{"url":"https://portmcneill.ca/wp-content/uploads/2022/07/2221_49324_Zoning-Bylaw_final072122.pdf","title":"Zoning Bylaw No. 705, 2021 (PDF, Town's posted final copy), Town of Port McNeill","section":"s. 1.1 Title","quotes":["This bylaw may be cited for all purposes as the “Town of Port McNeill Zoning Bylaw No. 705, 2021”."]}],"check":{"result":"matched","text_date":"2026-11-08"}}},"facts_summary":{"total":6,"stated":6,"matched":6,"none":0,"unknown":0},"body_markdown":"## How it works\n\nThe Town of Port McNeill's [Zoning Bylaw No. 705, 2021](https://portmcneill.ca/wp-content/uploads/2022/07/2221_49324_Zoning-Bylaw_final072122.pdf) lists no short-term rental use, and any use not listed in a zone is prohibited there. The bylaws do not say how whole-home or other short-term rentals are treated, so ask the Town.\n\nA bed and breakfast is allowed in an owner-occupied single-family home, with up to 3 rooms for the travelling public, in the R-1, R-2, R-3, R-4 and CD-1 zones. Home occupation rules apply, and the BC Building Code and Fire Code must be met. Parking is 2 spaces for the residents plus 1 per bedroom used.\n\n## Steps\n\n1. Confirm your zone with the Town (see the zoning-lookup answer).\n2. Get a Town business licence. A bed and breakfast falls under Home Based Business and also needs the Home-Based Business Licence Addendum.\n3. Register with the Province. BC requires registration for rentals of fewer than 90 consecutive days, whether or not a local licence is required.\n\n## Good to know\n\n- The Province's principal residence requirement does not apply in Port McNeill, which is on its exempt list (as of June 1, 2026).\n- Without a licence: a ticketed fine of not less than $100, up to the Offence Act maximum (the ticket schedule sets no amount). Breaking zoning rules: up to $500 plus costs on conviction, and each day is a separate offence.","sources":[{"url":"https://portmcneill.ca/wp-content/uploads/2022/07/2221_49324_Zoning-Bylaw_final072122.pdf","title":"Zoning Bylaw No. 705, 2021 (PDF, Town's posted final copy), Town of Port McNeill","accessed":"2026-11-08"},{"url":"https://portmcneill.ca/wp-content/uploads/2020/10/No.6992020BusinessLicenceBylaw.pdf","title":"Business Licensing Bylaw No. 699, 2020 (PDF), Town of Port McNeill","accessed":"2026-11-08"},{"url":"https://www2.gov.bc.ca/gov/content/housing-tenancy/short-term-rentals/principal-residence-requirement","title":"Short-term rentals, principal residence requirement, Province of British Columbia","accessed":"2026-11-08"}],"sources_read":"2026-11-08","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-mcneill/short-term-rental/","markdown":"https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/port-mcneill/short-term-rental.md","json":"https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/port-mcneill/short-term-rental.json"}}