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Powell River short-term rental rules (Airbnb, Vrbo)

Can I rent out my home or a room on Airbnb in Powell River?

Powell River, British ColumbiaChecked against official textSources read 2026-11-05

Short answer

In Powell River you may rent a room, suite or your whole home for under 90 consecutive days, but only in your principal residence. You need a City business licence ($180 a year) and registration with the Province's short-term rental registry. Vacation rentals of a property that is not your home are not permitted.

Key facts

AllowedYes, only in your principal residence: you may rent a room, suite or the whole home for less than 90 consecutive days. One short-term rental per lot, in R1, R2, R3, R3A, RA1, A0, A1, A2 and CD4 zones (and where single-family dwellings are allowed in MX). Vacation rentals of a property that is not your home are not permitted.Short-Term Rentals, Short-Term Rentals page; Zoning Bylaw 2100, 2006 (consolidated May 15, 2025, PDF), s. 7.5.1, 7.5.2; Zoning Bylaw 2100, 2006 (consolidated May 15, 2025, PDF), s. 13.4.3 (CD4) · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06
Official wording
allows the short-term rental (STR) of rooms or dwellings for less than 90 consecutive days or less in your principal residence.
One STR is permitted per lot.
Vacation rental operations, or the renting of a property that is not your primary residence, is no longer permitted.
Short-term rental use is permitted as an accessory use to residential use in R1, R2, R3, R3A, RA1, A0, A1, and A2 zones, and where single family dwellings are permitted in the MX zone.
Use is only permitted in a lawful dwelling unit;
Only one short-term rental use is permitted per lot;
(c) short-term rental use
Business licenceYes. A City business licence is required: Tier 3, $180 a year. No licence is issued until the fee is paid. It expires each December 31, cannot be transferred, and is limited to one per person and one per lot. The owner's written consent is needed; an inspection may be required.Business Licence Bylaw 2226, 2010 (consolidated December 19, 2024, PDF), Schedule A (Tier 3); s. 4.4.3; s. 5.6; Short-Term Rental Regulations information sheet, June 2024, STR Regulations information sheet · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06
Official wording
d) Short-term rental
Tier 3 less than 185 sqm (2000 sqft) x 10 unit apartment $180
No more than one (1) short-term rental licence may be issued per lot.
The property owner must provide written consent for the short-term rental use to the satisfaction of the Licence Administrator.
No licence shall be issued until the prescribed fee as set out in Schedule A has been paid
Short-term rentals are charged a $180 Tier 3 annual business licence fee, payable once the business licence has been issued.
All licences expire on December 31.
Provincial registrationYes. You must register with the Government of BC's short-term rental program, and registration is a condition of the City licence.Short-Term Rentals, Short-Term Rentals page; Business Licence Bylaw 2226, 2010 (consolidated December 19, 2024, PDF), s. 5.6.1(a) · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06
Official wording
requires a City of Powell River Business Licence and registration with the Government of BC’s short-term rental program.
Compliance with the Short-Term Rental Accommodations Act.
Operating rulesUp to 2 adult guests per sleeping unit and 8 adults per dwelling; 1 parking space (existing spaces count). Ads must show the licence number, maximum occupancy and parking. A local contact within 30 km must answer the City within 24 hours; display the licence and the contact's details at the rental.Sources differ: The City's June 2024 information sheet says 1 parking space per bedroom rented, up to 3. The Zoning Bylaw (May 2025 consolidation, s. 6.5.3(b)) says 1 space for a short-term rental, with existing spaces counted. The bylaw wins. Only the licensee may manage the rental, with at most one employee on site (s. 5.6.2(b)).Zoning Bylaw 2100, 2006 (consolidated May 15, 2025, PDF), s. 7.5.2(e); s. 6.5.3(b); Business Licence Bylaw 2226, 2010 (consolidated December 19, 2024, PDF), s. 4.8.5, 4.8.6, 5.6.2(c); Short-Term Rental Regulations information sheet, June 2024, STR Regulations information sheet · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06
Official wording
Not more than two (2) adult guests shall be accommodated per sleeping unit, and not more than eight (8) adult guests shall be accommodated per dwelling unit; and
short-term rentalAB2747 1 space; where the dwelling unit in which the short-term rental is located has existing space
a valid and subsisting short-term rental licence number for the dwelling unit advertised;
a local contact who resides within 30km of the business location identified on the licence and has consented to respond within 24 hours of being contacted by the City.
1 parking space per bedroom rented, up to a
FineBylaw notice: $400 for offering or advertising without a licence; $100 for operating without a licence, ads missing licence number, parking and guest numbers, or no local contact displayed. Municipal ticket: $100 for advertising or operating without a licence; $200 for unlawful short-term rental use (Zoning).Bylaw Notice Enforcement Bylaw 2818, 2026, Schedule A, Appendix 4, Business Licence Bylaw; Municipal Ticketing Information Bylaw 2572, 2019 (consolidated January 2022, PDF), Schedule 4 and Schedule 12 · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06
Official wording
4.8.4 Offering or advertising for short $400 $40 $40 $200
4.8.5 Failure to disclose licence $100 $20 $20 $50
4.8.6 Failure to display local contact $100 $20 $20 $50
4.1.4 Failure to obtain a licence $100 $20 $20 $50
Advertising a business without a valid licence 4.8.4 $ 100.00
Unlawful short-term rental use 7.5 $ 200.00
BylawBusiness Licence Bylaw 2226, 2010 (s. 4.8, s. 5.6, Schedule A) and Zoning Bylaw 2100, 2006 (s. 7.5), with the BC Short-Term Rental Accommodations ActBusiness Licence Bylaw 2226, 2010 (consolidated December 19, 2024, PDF), Title; Zoning Bylaw 2100, 2006 (consolidated May 15, 2025, PDF), s. 7.5 · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06
Official wording
City of Powell River Business Licence Bylaw 2226, 2010 CONSOLIDATION
7.5 Short-Term Rental Accommodation

How it works

In the City of Powell River, a short-term rental is allowed only in your principal residence: you may rent a room, suite or the whole home for less than 90 consecutive days. The Zoning Bylaw allows one per lot in R1, R2, R3, R3A, RA1, A0, A1, A2 and CD4 zones (and where single-family dwellings are allowed in MX). Hotels and similar traveller accommodation are allowed in C1, C4 and MX zones.

The Business Licence Bylaw requires a licence (Tier 3, $180 a year). It expires each December 31, cannot be transferred, and is limited to one per person and one per lot. The owner's written consent is needed.

Steps

  1. Register with the Government of BC's short-term rental program (Service BC, 1-833-828-2240). Registration is a condition of the City licence.
  2. Apply for the City business licence with your title certificate, floor plan and the owner's permission if needed.
  3. Expect an inspection for life safety; the City's information sheet says it is required and the bylaw says the Licence Administrator may require one.
  4. Pay the $180 fee. No licence is issued until it is paid. A new licence applied for on or after July 31 is charged half.
  5. Put your licence number, maximum occupancy and parking in every ad, and display the licence and your local contact's details at the rental.

Good to know

  • Limits: up to 2 adult guests per sleeping unit and 8 adults per dwelling; 1 parking space (existing spaces count). A local contact within 30 km must answer the City within 24 hours. Only the licensee may manage the rental, with at most one employee on site.
  • Parking differs by source: the City's June 2024 information sheet says 1 space per bedroom rented, up to 3. The Zoning Bylaw says 1 space, and the bylaw is followed here. Confirm with the City.
  • Bylaw notice: $400 for offering or advertising without a licence; $100 for operating without a licence, ads missing the licence number, parking and guest numbers, or no local contact displayed. A municipal ticket is $100 for advertising or operating without a licence and $200 for unlawful short-term rental use (zoning). Two ticket systems list this offence; both are in use. A court conviction can bring up to $10,000.
  • The City's web page says "$100/day fine for advertising without a licence", which differs from the ticket bylaws.

What you'll need

  • Recent title certificate, plus the owner's written permission if you are not the owner
  • Floor plan showing all rental areas and common areas
  • Proof of registration with the Province

Official forms and pages

The same question in other places

Comox · Courtenay · Cumberland · Qualicum Beach · Campbell River · Parksville

Short-term rental rules in British Columbia, by municipality →

Sources

  1. Short-Term Rentals, City of Powell River (read 2026-11-05)
  2. Short-Term Rental Regulations information sheet, June 2024 (PDF) (read 2026-11-05)
  3. Business Licence Bylaw 2226, 2010 (consolidated December 19, 2024, PDF) (read 2026-11-05)
  4. Zoning Bylaw 2100, 2006 (consolidated May 15, 2025, PDF) (read 2026-11-05)
  5. Bylaw Notice Enforcement Bylaw 2818, 2026 (PDF) (read 2026-11-05)
  6. Municipal Ticketing Information Bylaw 2572, 2019 (consolidated January 2022, PDF) (read 2026-11-05)
  7. Information for visitors and local governments, Province of BC (read 2026-11-05)

Checked by script, not yet by a person: the official wording behind 6 of 6 facts was matched to the official text. How answers are checked.