Prince Rupert short-term rental rules (Airbnb, Vrbo)
Can I rent out my home or a room on Airbnb?
Short answer
In Prince Rupert you can run a short-term rental only in your principal residence, or in one secondary suite or accessory dwelling unit on the same property. You need a City trade licence before advertising, plus Province of BC registration. Prince Rupert is on the Province's principal residence requirement list.
Key facts
| Allowed | Yes, in all residential and commercial zones, but only in the operator's principal residence (all or part), or one secondary suite or accessory dwelling unit on the same property. Not in a mobile home or a structure without a permanent foundation. Prince Rupert is on the Province's principal residence requirement list.Consolidated Zoning Bylaw No. 3462 (PDF, consolidated June 24, 2024), s. 3.9.0; Principal residence requirement, Province of British Columbia, List of communities where the principal residence requirement applies · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06Official wordingShort term rental accommodations are permitted in all residential and commercial zones. the dwelling is a portion or entirety of the principal residence of that person or one secondary suite or accessory dwelling unit on the same A short term rental accommodation is not permitted in a mobile home, structure without a permanent Communities with principal residence requirement Powell River Prince George Prince Rupert Qualicum Beach |
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| Business licence | Yes. A City trade licence is required, and the applicant must first show zoning compliance. Schedule B lists Short Term Rental at $17 without saying per what; bed and breakfast is a separate class at $105 or $85. Licences run January 1 to December 31; half fee if first liable after July 31.Trade and Licencing Bylaw No. 3532, 2024, Schedule B, code 1505; s. 3.02(b); s. 2.02 · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06Official wording1505 Short Term Rental $17.00 shall, prior to being issued a Trade License for any licensing period, demonstrate compliance with the City of Prince Rupert Zoning Bylaw, as amended from time to time. shall be reduced by one-half in respect of 1024 BED & BREAKFAST ACCOMMODATION $105.00 1025 BED AND BREAKFAST $85.00 |
| Provincial registration | Yes. Provincial registration applies to short-term rentals offered for fewer than 90 consecutive days, whether or not a local licence is needed. Provincial fee: $100 a year for the host's principal residence, $450 a year for a secondary unit.Principal residence requirement, Province of British Columbia, Registration · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06Official wordingProvincial registration requirements apply to short-term rentals offered for fewer than 90 consecutive days, regardless of whether a local business licence is required. Fee: $100 annually Fee: $450 annually |
| Operating rules | Must follow the bed and breakfast parking rule: one space per guest room, up to two off-street spaces. No guest-number or bedroom limit was found. A trade licence is needed before advertising, and the licence must be displayed at the premises.Consolidated Zoning Bylaw No. 3462 (PDF, consolidated June 24, 2024), s. 3.9.0(e), 3.12.1, 3.12.2; Trade and Licencing Bylaw No. 3532, 2024, s. 2.02(e), 3.01 · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06Official wordingA short term rental accommodation must comply with the parking regulations on bed and breakfasts in this Shall provide parking in the amount of one (1) space per guest room to a maximum of two (2) off street Be limited to no more than two (2) guest rooms. Be located within a single detached single family dwelling only. No person or their representative shall advertise the carrying on of a business in any publication, general circular, by radio or any other media without first obtaining a Trade Licence. keep the licence or licences prominently displayed in the sales or reception area |
| Fine | Operating without a licence: $100 municipal ticket. Failing to comply with a written zoning notice by the date set: $500 first offence, $1,000 after. On conviction for licence offences: $25 to $2,000.Ticket Information Bylaw No. 2783 (PDF, consolidated to 2000), Schedule C; Ticket Information Amendment Bylaw No. 3560, s. 1(b); Ticket Information Amendment Bylaw No. 3534, Schedule (Zoning Bylaw); Trade and Licencing Bylaw No. 3532, 2024, s. 5.02 · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06Official wordingCarrying on business without a licence 2.01 $100.00 Trade or Business Licence Bylaw No. 3532, 2024 Failure to comply with a written notice First Offence $500 Subsequent Offences $1000 fine of not less than $25.00 and not more than $2,000.00. |
| Bylaw | Zoning Bylaw No. 3462, 2021 (s. 3.9.0 Short Term Rental Accommodation, s. 3.12 Bed & Breakfast); Trade and Licencing Bylaw No. 3532, 2024Consolidated Zoning Bylaw No. 3462 (PDF, consolidated June 24, 2024), s. 3.9.0; Trade and Licencing Bylaw No. 3532, 2024, s. 1 · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06Official wording3.9.0 Short Term Rental Accommodation: TRADE AND LICENCING BYLAW NO. 3532, 2024 |
How it works
Under Zoning Bylaw No. 3462 (s. 3.9.0), short-term rental is allowed in all residential and commercial zones, but only in the operator's principal residence (all or part of it), or in one secondary suite or accessory dwelling unit on the same property. It is not allowed in a mobile home or a structure without a permanent foundation. A short-term rental is a stay of 90 consecutive days or less, and principal residence means where you live at least five consecutive months a year. Exceptions include fractional ownership, timeshares, formal home exchanges and some resort or student accommodation.
Prince Rupert is on the Province's list of communities where the principal residence requirement applies.
A short-term rental must follow the bed and breakfast parking rule: one space per guest room, up to two off-street spaces. No limit on guests or bedrooms was found.
Steps
- Confirm your zone and that your unit qualifies (see zoning-lookup).
- Get a City trade licence. You must first show the property complies with zoning. You need the licence before you advertise, and it must be displayed at the premises.
- Register with the Province. Registration applies to stays of fewer than 90 consecutive days, whether or not a local licence is needed, and compliance with local bylaws is a condition.
Good to know
- Licence fees (Trade and Licencing Bylaw No. 3532, Schedule B): Short Term Rental $17, with the unit not stated; Bed and Breakfast is a separate class at $105 or $85. Licences run January 1 to December 31, with half fee if you are first liable after July 31.
- Short-term rentals are also subject to the Municipal and Regional District Tax program.
- Fines: operating without a licence is a $100 municipal ticket. Failing to comply with a written zoning notice by the date set is $500 for a first offence and $1,000 after. On conviction for licence offences the fine is $25 to $2,000. These come from the ticket schedule (a 2000 consolidation); a 2026 amendment updates bylaw numbers only, so section numbers may be out of date.
Official forms and pages
The same question in other places
Port Edward · Kitimat · Terrace · Masset · Port Clements · Daajing Giids
Short-term rental rules in British Columbia, by municipality →
Sources
- Consolidated Zoning Bylaw No. 3462 (PDF, consolidated June 24, 2024), City of Prince Rupert (read 2026-11-05)
- Trade and Licencing Bylaw No. 3532, 2024 (PDF), City of Prince Rupert (read 2026-11-05)
- Ticket Information Bylaw No. 2783 (PDF, consolidated to 2000), City of Prince Rupert (read 2026-11-05)
- Ticket Information Amendment Bylaw No. 3534 (PDF), City of Prince Rupert (read 2026-11-05)
- Ticket Information Amendment Bylaw No. 3560 (PDF), City of Prince Rupert (read 2026-11-05)
- Principal residence requirement, Province of British Columbia (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.