---
title: Prince George short-term rental rules (Airbnb, Vrbo)
question: "Can I rent out my home or a room on Airbnb in Prince George?"
place: Prince George, British Columbia, Canada
place_path: ca/bc/prince-george
category: Housing and renting
owner: shared
sources_read: 2026-11-05
review: machine_checked
canonical: "https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/prince-george/short-term-rental/"
json: "https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/prince-george/short-term-rental.json"
---

# Prince George short-term rental rules (Airbnb, Vrbo)

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

**Short answer:** Possibly. In Prince George, B.C. limits short-term rentals to your home plus one secondary suite or accessory dwelling, and you must register with the Province ($100 a year for your home, $450 for a secondary unit). The Zoning Bylaw only provides for bed and breakfasts, which need a City licence.

**Who handles it:** More than one level of government  
**Cost:** Provincial registration $100 a year (principal residence) or $450 a year (secondary unit). City bed and breakfast licence $100.71 for 2026, plus a $100 processing fee for a new application.  
**Where:**
- Online: Register as a Host (Province of B.C.), https://www2.gov.bc.ca/gov/content/housing-tenancy/short-term-rentals/registry
- Phone: Service BC short-term rental line, 1-833-828-2240
- Email: Short-term rental registry, STRregistry@sbc.gov.bc.ca
- Email: City Development Services (zoning and licences), devserv@princegeorge.ca (250-561-7611)

## Key facts

- **Allowed:** Prince George is on the Province's list where the principal residence requirement applies: short-term rentals are limited to the host's home plus one secondary suite or accessory dwelling on the same property. The Zoning Bylaw has no general short-term rental use; it provides for bed & breakfasts as an accessory use of single or two-unit housing.
  - Source: [B.C.'s short-term rental principal residence requirement, Overview; List of communities where the principal residence requirement applies](https://www2.gov.bc.ca/gov/content/housing-tenancy/short-term-rentals/principal-residence-requirement)
  - Official wording: "The usual place where they make their home day-to-day home" … "Plus one secondary suite or accessory dwelling unit on the same property" … "Powell River Prince George Prince Rupert"
  - Source: [City of Prince George Zoning Bylaw No. 7850, 2007 (consolidated October 5, 2026), Definition: Bed & Breakfast](https://www.princegeorge.ca/sites/default/files/2026-10/BL7850_CONSOLIDATED_2026-10-05.pdf)
  - Official wording: "Bed & Breakfast: the accessory use of single or two-unit housing in which short- term overnight accommodation and limited meals are provided to overnight guests for consideration."
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06
- **Business licence:** A City business licence is required for a bed & breakfast ($100.71 for 2026, plus the $100 processing fee for a new application). The fee schedule has no category for renting a house or suite short-term; the "Accommodation" category covers buildings with more than two suites or rooms offered for short-term rental.
  - Source: [City of Prince George Zoning Bylaw No. 7850, 2007 (consolidated October 5, 2026), s. 5.8.3](https://www.princegeorge.ca/sites/default/files/2026-10/BL7850_CONSOLIDATED_2026-10-05.pdf)
  - Official wording: "Bed & breakfasts shall be operated only by the permanent resident(s) of the principal dwelling, who shall hold a business license from the City"
  - Source: [Comprehensive Fees and Charges Bylaw No. 7557, 2004, Schedule A-2, Schedule A-2, Business Licence](https://www.princegeorge.ca/sites/default/files/2025-12/BL7557_CONSOLIDATED_2025-12-15.pdf)
  - Official wording: "Bed and Breakfast Bed and Breakfast $91.35 $95.92 $100.71 $103.73" … "Processing fee (non-refundable) for all new, relocation, and re-applications $100.00"
  - Source: [Business Regulation and Licensing Bylaw No. 9040, 2020, s. 4.2 Accommodation](https://www.princegeorge.ca/sites/default/files/2023-04/BL9040_ADOPTED.PDF)
  - Official wording: "building or buildings containing more than two (2) suites, two (2) rooms, or one (1) suite and one (1) room, offered for short-term rental."
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06
- **Provincial registration:** Yes. Hosts must register with the Province and pay an annual fee: $100 for the host's principal residence, $450 for a secondary unit (suite, cottage, carriage house). Without registration, listings are removed and bookings cancelled.
  - Source: [Short-term rental registration, Province of British Columbia, Registration overview; Failure to register](https://www2.gov.bc.ca/gov/content/housing-tenancy/short-term-rentals/registry)
  - Official wording: "Short-term rental hosts, platforms and strata hotel platforms in B.C. must register and pay annual registration fees." … "Your listings will no longer be advertised,"
  - Source: [B.C.'s short-term rental principal residence requirement, Principal residence requirement and registration fees](https://www2.gov.bc.ca/gov/content/housing-tenancy/short-term-rentals/principal-residence-requirement)
  - Official wording: "The unit the host lives in is their principal residence. The guests have access to the host's space (bedroom, bathroom, kitchen, and living room). Fee: $100 annually This includes:" … "Any accommodation that is separate from the home where the host lives, sleeps, and eats is considered a secondary unit, even if it is located on the same property or connected by an interior door. Guests stay in their own private space and do not have access to the host's bedroom, bathroom, or kitchen. Fee: $450 annually This includes:"
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06
- **Operating rules:** Bed & breakfasts: run only by the permanent residents of the house, who hold a City licence, with at most 1 non-resident employee on site; not allowed with a secondary suite; 1 parking space per sleeping unit. Compliance with local bylaws is a condition of provincial registration.
  - Source: [City of Prince George Zoning Bylaw No. 7850, 2007 (consolidated October 5, 2026), s. 5.8.2, s. 5.8.3; Table 7.4](https://www.princegeorge.ca/sites/default/files/2026-10/BL7850_CONSOLIDATED_2026-10-05.pdf)
  - Official wording: "A bed & breakfast is not permitted in conjunction with an agri-tourist accommodation, community care facility, boarding or lodging house, or secondary suite." … "and not more than 1 non-resident employee on site." … "Bed & Breakfast 1 per sleeping units"
  - Source: [B.C.'s short-term rental principal residence requirement, Business licence exemptions](https://www2.gov.bc.ca/gov/content/housing-tenancy/short-term-rentals/principal-residence-requirement)
  - Official wording: "Compliance with local bylaws is a condition of registration."
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06
- **Fine:** $300 ($375 if paid late) for operating a business without a valid licence; $200 ($250 late) for a bed & breakfast not in compliance with the Zoning Bylaw.
  - Source: [Bylaw Notice Enforcement Bylaw No. 8813, 2016, Schedule B, Schedule B (Business Regulation and Licensing Bylaw No. 9040; Zoning Bylaw No. 7850)](https://www.princegeorge.ca/sites/default/files/2026-07/BL8813_CONSOLIDATED_2024-09-09_0.pdf)
  - Official wording: "Operate Business without valid 5.3 $300 $375 Yes" … "Bed & Breakfast not in compliance 5.8 $200 $250 Yes"
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06
- **Bylaw:** City of Prince George Zoning Bylaw No. 7850, 2007 (s. 5.8); City of Prince George Business Regulation and Licensing Bylaw No. 9040, 2020; B.C. Short-Term Rental Accommodations Act
  - Source: [City of Prince George Zoning Bylaw No. 7850, 2007 (consolidated October 5, 2026), s. 5.8](https://www.princegeorge.ca/sites/default/files/2026-10/BL7850_CONSOLIDATED_2026-10-05.pdf)
  - Official wording: "City of Prince George Zoning Bylaw No. 7850, 2007 - CONSOLIDATED"
  - Source: [Business Regulation and Licensing Bylaw No. 9040, 2020, s. 1](https://www.princegeorge.ca/sites/default/files/2023-04/BL9040_ADOPTED.PDF)
  - Official wording: "This Bylaw may be cited as the "City of Prince George Business Regulation and Licensing Bylaw No. 9040, 2020"."
  - Source: [Short-term rental registration, Province of British Columbia, Helpful links](https://www2.gov.bc.ca/gov/content/housing-tenancy/short-term-rentals/registry)
  - Official wording: "Learn more about B.C.'s Short-Term Rental Accommodations Act"
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06

## How it works

Prince George is on the Province's list of communities where the principal residence requirement applies. A short-term rental host may rent out only their own home plus one secondary suite or accessory dwelling on the same property. The Province says this is a minimum and local rules may be stricter.

The City's [Zoning Bylaw](https://www.princegeorge.ca/sites/default/files/2026-10/BL7850_CONSOLIDATED_2026-10-05.pdf) has no general short-term rental use. It provides for bed and breakfasts as an accessory use of single or two-unit housing. A bed and breakfast is a secondary use in RS1, RS2, RS3, RT and some other zones, but not RS4.

## Steps

1. Ask Development Services (250-561-7611, devserv@princegeorge.ca) whether your zoning allows your kind of rental.
2. Get a City business licence if you run a bed and breakfast. The 2026 fee is $100.71, plus the $100 processing fee for a new application. The fee schedule has no category for renting a house or suite short-term, so ask the City what applies to you.
3. Register each unit with the Province and renew yearly: $100 for your principal residence, $450 for a secondary unit (suite, cottage or carriage house). Registration is per unit and applies to stays under 90 consecutive days.
4. Show your registration on listings. Without registration, listings are removed and bookings cancelled.

## Good to know

- Bed and breakfast rules: run only by the permanent residents of the house, who hold a City licence; at most 1 non-resident employee on site; not allowed with a secondary suite; 1 parking space per sleeping unit.
- The "Accommodation" licence category covers buildings with more than two suites or rooms offered for short-term rental.
- A bylaw notice for operating without a valid licence is $300 ($375 if paid late). For a bed and breakfast not in compliance with the Zoning Bylaw it is $200 ($250 late).
- Licensees must display the business licence where the public can see it.
- Questions about registration go to Service BC at 1-833-828-2240.

## Official forms and pages

- [Business Licences, City of Prince George](https://www.princegeorge.ca/business-development/business-licences)
- [Provincial principal residence requirement](https://www2.gov.bc.ca/gov/content/housing-tenancy/short-term-rentals/principal-residence-requirement)
- [Business Regulation and Licensing Bylaw No. 9040, 2020 (PDF)](https://www.princegeorge.ca/sites/default/files/2023-04/BL9040_ADOPTED.PDF)

## Related questions

- [Prince George business licences: who needs one, fees and how to apply](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/prince-george/business-licence.md)
- [Prince George zoning: find your zone and what it allows](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/prince-george/zoning-lookup.md)

## The same question elsewhere

- [Short-term rental rules in British Columbia, by municipality](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/short-term-rental.md)
- [Vanderhoof](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/vanderhoof/short-term-rental.md)
- [Quesnel](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/quesnel/short-term-rental.md)
- [Fort St James](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/fort-st-james/short-term-rental.md)
- [Wells](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/wells/short-term-rental.md)
- [Fraser Lake](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/fraser-lake/short-term-rental.md)
- [Mackenzie](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/mackenzie/short-term-rental.md)

## Sources

- [B.C.'s short-term rental principal residence requirement](https://www2.gov.bc.ca/gov/content/housing-tenancy/short-term-rentals/principal-residence-requirement) (read 2026-11-05)
- [Short-term rental registration, Province of British Columbia](https://www2.gov.bc.ca/gov/content/housing-tenancy/short-term-rentals/registry) (read 2026-11-05)
- [City of Prince George Zoning Bylaw No. 7850, 2007 (consolidated October 5, 2026) (PDF)](https://www.princegeorge.ca/sites/default/files/2026-10/BL7850_CONSOLIDATED_2026-10-05.pdf) (read 2026-11-05)
- [Business Regulation and Licensing Bylaw No. 9040, 2020 (PDF)](https://www.princegeorge.ca/sites/default/files/2023-04/BL9040_ADOPTED.PDF) (read 2026-11-05)
- [Comprehensive Fees and Charges Bylaw No. 7557, 2004, Schedule A-2 (PDF)](https://www.princegeorge.ca/sites/default/files/2025-12/BL7557_CONSOLIDATED_2025-12-15.pdf) (read 2026-11-05)
- [Bylaw Notice Enforcement Bylaw No. 8813, 2016, Schedule B (PDF)](https://www.princegeorge.ca/sites/default/files/2026-07/BL8813_CONSOLIDATED_2024-09-09_0.pdf) (read 2026-11-05)
- [Building Permits (Development Services contact), City of Prince George](https://www.princegeorge.ca/business-development/building-permits) (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. 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/prince-george/short-term-rental/_