---
title: Port McNeill short-term rental rules (Airbnb, Vrbo)
question: "Can I rent out my home or a room on Airbnb in Port McNeill?"
place: Port McNeill, British Columbia, Canada
place_path: ca/bc/port-mcneill
category: Housing and renting
owner: shared
sources_read: 2026-11-08
review: machine_checked
canonical: "https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/port-mcneill/short-term-rental/"
json: "https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/port-mcneill/short-term-rental.json"
---

# Port McNeill short-term rental rules (Airbnb, Vrbo)

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

**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.

**Who handles it:** More than one level of government  
**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:**
- In person: Town Hall, 1775 Furney Place, Port McNeill, BC (mail: Box 728, Port McNeill, BC V0N 2R0) (Monday to Friday, 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. (closed statutory holidays))
- Phone: Town Office, 250-956-3111
- Email: Town Office reception, reception@portmcneill.ca

## Key facts

- **Allowed:** 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.
  - Source: [Zoning Bylaw No. 705, 2021 (PDF, Town's posted final copy), s. 5.9.1 Bed and breakfast](https://portmcneill.ca/wp-content/uploads/2022/07/2221_49324_Zoning-Bylaw_final072122.pdf)
  - Official wording: "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"
  - Source: [Zoning Bylaw No. 705, 2021 (PDF, Town's posted final copy), s. 2.1 Prohibition](https://portmcneill.ca/wp-content/uploads/2022/07/2221_49324_Zoning-Bylaw_final072122.pdf)
  - Official wording: "Any use not listed in a specifical zone is considered prohibited within that zone."
  - Source: [Short-term rentals, principal residence requirement, Province of British Columbia, Municipalities exempt from the principal residence requirement](https://www2.gov.bc.ca/gov/content/housing-tenancy/short-term-rentals/principal-residence-requirement)
  - Official wording: "Municipalities exempt from the principal residence requirement" … "Port Hardy Port McNeill Pouce Coupe"
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-08
- **Business licence:** 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.
  - Source: [Business Licensing Bylaw No. 699, 2020, Part 2 Definitions; Part 6; Schedule A](https://portmcneill.ca/wp-content/uploads/2020/10/No.6992020BusinessLicenceBylaw.pdf)
  - Official wording: "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: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-08
- **Provincial registration:** 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).
  - Source: [Short-term rentals, principal residence requirement, Province of British Columbia, Business licence exemptions](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."
  - Source: [Short-term rentals, principal residence requirement, Province of British Columbia, List of exempt communities](https://www2.gov.bc.ca/gov/content/housing-tenancy/short-term-rentals/principal-residence-requirement)
  - Official wording: "Municipalities exempt from the principal residence requirement" … "Port Hardy Port McNeill Pouce Coupe"
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-08
- **Operating rules:** 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.
  - Source: [Zoning Bylaw No. 705, 2021 (PDF, Town's posted final copy), s. 5.9.1 Bed and breakfast](https://portmcneill.ca/wp-content/uploads/2022/07/2221_49324_Zoning-Bylaw_final072122.pdf)
  - Official wording: "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"
  - Source: [Zoning Bylaw No. 705, 2021 (PDF, Town's posted final copy), s. 5.14.4 table](https://portmcneill.ca/wp-content/uploads/2022/07/2221_49324_Zoning-Bylaw_final072122.pdf)
  - Official wording: "2 spaces for primary residents plus 1 space per bedroom used in Bed and Breakfast"
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-08
- **Fine:** 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.
  - Source: [Business Licensing Bylaw No. 699, 2020, Part 16 Penalty](https://portmcneill.ca/wp-content/uploads/2020/10/No.6992020BusinessLicenceBylaw.pdf)
  - Official wording: "liable to be ticketed by the Bylaw Enforcement Officer to a fine not less than one hundred ($100.00) dollars"
  - Source: [Zoning Bylaw No. 705, 2021 (PDF, Town's posted final copy), s. 2.6 Penalty](https://portmcneill.ca/wp-content/uploads/2022/07/2221_49324_Zoning-Bylaw_final072122.pdf)
  - Official wording: "is liable on summary conviction to a penalty not exceeding five hundred dollars in addition to the cost of prosecution."
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-08
- **Bylaw:** Business Licensing Bylaw No. 699, 2020; Zoning Bylaw No. 705, 2021 (s. 5.9 bed and breakfast).
  - Source: [Business Licensing Bylaw No. 699, 2020, Title](https://portmcneill.ca/wp-content/uploads/2020/10/No.6992020BusinessLicenceBylaw.pdf)
  - Official wording: "BUSINESS LICENSING BYLAW NO. 699, 2020"
  - Source: [Zoning Bylaw No. 705, 2021 (PDF, Town's posted final copy), s. 1.1 Title](https://portmcneill.ca/wp-content/uploads/2022/07/2221_49324_Zoning-Bylaw_final072122.pdf)
  - Official wording: "This bylaw may be cited for all purposes as the “Town of Port McNeill Zoning Bylaw No. 705, 2021”."
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-08

## How it works

The 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.

A 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.

## Steps

1. Confirm your zone with the Town (see the zoning-lookup answer).
2. Get a Town business licence. A bed and breakfast falls under Home Based Business and also needs the Home-Based Business Licence Addendum.
3. Register with the Province. BC requires registration for rentals of fewer than 90 consecutive days, whether or not a local licence is required.

## Good to know

- The Province's principal residence requirement does not apply in Port McNeill, which is on its exempt list (as of June 1, 2026).
- 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.

## Official forms and pages

- [Business Licensing Bylaw No. 699, 2020 (PDF)](https://portmcneill.ca/wp-content/uploads/2020/10/No.6992020BusinessLicenceBylaw.pdf)
- [Zoning Bylaw No. 705, 2021 (PDF, Town's posted final copy)](https://portmcneill.ca/wp-content/uploads/2022/07/2221_49324_Zoning-Bylaw_final072122.pdf)
- [Short-term rentals, Province of BC](https://www2.gov.bc.ca/gov/content/housing-tenancy/short-term-rentals/principal-residence-requirement)

## Related questions

- [Port McNeill business licences: who needs one, fees and how to apply](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/port-mcneill/business-licence.md)
- [Port McNeill home-based business rules](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/port-mcneill/home-based-business.md)
- [Port McNeill zoning: find your zone and what it allows](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/port-mcneill/zoning-lookup.md)
- [Port McNeill secondary suite and carriage house rules](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/port-mcneill/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)
- [Port Hardy](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/port-hardy/short-term-rental.md)
- [Port Alice](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/port-alice/short-term-rental.md)
- [Tahsis](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/tahsis/short-term-rental.md)
- [Sayward](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/sayward/short-term-rental.md)
- [Gold River](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/gold-river/short-term-rental.md)
- [Campbell River](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/campbell-river/short-term-rental.md)

## Sources

- [Zoning Bylaw No. 705, 2021 (PDF, Town's posted final copy), Town of Port McNeill](https://portmcneill.ca/wp-content/uploads/2022/07/2221_49324_Zoning-Bylaw_final072122.pdf) (read 2026-11-08)
- [Business Licensing Bylaw No. 699, 2020 (PDF), Town of Port McNeill](https://portmcneill.ca/wp-content/uploads/2020/10/No.6992020BusinessLicenceBylaw.pdf) (read 2026-11-08)
- [Short-term rentals, principal residence requirement, Province of British Columbia](https://www2.gov.bc.ca/gov/content/housing-tenancy/short-term-rentals/principal-residence-requirement) (read 2026-11-08)

_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/port-mcneill/short-term-rental/_