Richmond short-term rental rules (Airbnb, Vrbo)

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

Richmond, British ColumbiaChecked against official textSources read 2026-11-05

Short answer

In Richmond you can rent for under 90 days only as a bed and breakfast or short-term boarding and lodging, with a City licence, and you must also register with the Province. Renting a whole house or unit for under 90 days is not permitted. Richmond is on the Province's principal-residence list.

Key facts

Allowed	Rentals under 90 days are allowed only as a bed and breakfast (owner's principal residence: single detached or small-scale multi-unit dwelling, no suite, granny flat or coach house on the lot) or short-term boarding and lodging (no more than 2 guests). Renting a whole house or unit for under 90 days is not permitted.Zoning Bylaw 8500, Section 5 Specific Use Regulations, s. 5.20.1; Zoning Bylaw 8500, Section 5 Specific Use Regulations, s. 5.5.2; Residential Rentals, Short-Term Rentals · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06 Official wording No person shall use or permit to be used any dwelling unit, or portion thereof, for accommodation for a period of less than ninety (90) days unless such dwelling unit forms part of a hotel or a motel, or is used for boarding and lodging A bed and breakfast use is not permitted in a single detached housing dwelling unit or on a lot that contains a secondary suite, a granny flat, or a coach house Short-term rental of an entire house or residential unit for less than 90 days is not permitted under any circumstances. The operator must not provide boarding and lodging to more than two (2) guests at one time
Business licence	Yes. A bed and breakfast licence ($432) is required for rentals under 90 days; a short-term boarding and lodging licence ($432) is required under 90 days, but boarding and lodging of 30 days or longer, or not-for-profit, is exempt (s. 23.2.6). The ticket schedules say 'less than 30 days'.Sources differ: Bylaw 7538 s. 22.1 and 23.1 say a licence is needed for rentals of less than 90 days, while s. 23.2.6 exempts boarding and lodging of 30 days or longer; the ticket schedules say 'less than 30 days'. Applicant must prove principal residence and provide floor plans, fire evacuation plan, parking plan and neighbour notice (Bylaw 7360 s. 2.4, 2.5).Consolidated Fees Bylaw 8636, Schedule - Business Licence; Business Regulation Bylaw 7538, ss. 22.1, 23.1, 23.2.6 · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06 Official wording Bed & Breakfast Business License $432.00 Short Term Boarding and Lodging Business Licence $432.00 Without first obtaining a licence for a bed and breakfast establishment Without first obtaining a licence for short term boarding and lodging boarding and lodging provided on a not-for-profit basis Without first obtaining a licence for a bed and breakfast establishment, persons must not provide guests with residential rental accommodation for rental periods of less than 90 days. does not require a licence.
Provincial registration	Yes. Short-term rentals of fewer than 90 consecutive days must be registered with the Province, and the principal residence requirement applies in Richmond. The annual fee is $100 for the host's principal residence and $450 for a secondary unit.Principal residence requirement, Province of British Columbia, Business licence exemptions; Principal residence requirement, Province of British Columbia, Registration fees and community list; Short-term rental registration, Province of British Columbia, Registration overview · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06 Official wording Provincial registration requirements apply to short-term rentals offered for fewer than 90 consecutive days Fee: $100 annually Fee: $450 annually Richmond Saanich Salmon Arm Salt Spring Island Short-term rental hosts, platforms and strata hotel platforms in B.C. must register and pay annual registration fees.
Operating rules	Bed and breakfast: operator is the owner or owner's family and lives there; up to 3 guest rooms, 6 guests at once, 2 per room; each room at least 9.75 m²; one parking space per guest room (tandem allowed); no cooking equipment in guest rooms; 500 m from another B&B; fire evacuation plan; licence number in all marketing. Boarding and lodging: no more than 2 guests.Zoning Bylaw 8500, Section 5 Specific Use Regulations, s. 5.5; Business Regulation Bylaw 7538, ss. 22.2, 23.2; Zoning Bylaw 8500, Section 7 Parking and Loading, Table 7.7.2.1 · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06 Official wording A bed and breakfast use is limited to a maximum of three guest rooms limited to accommodation of a maximum of 6 guests at one time shall have a floor area of not less than 9.75 m2 must be no less than 500 m apart the operator must prepare a fire evacuation plan the operator must not market the residential rental accommodation they are licenced to provide without including their licence number the operator must not provide boarding and lodging to more than 2 guests at any Bed and Breakfast1 One space for each guest room
Fine	Operating without a licence (rentals under 30 days per the ticket schedules): bylaw notice $450 ($400 if paid in 1 to 28 days, $500 from day 61); municipal ticket $1,000. Renting a dwelling under 90 days against the Zoning Bylaw: bylaw notice $500 ($450 early, $525 late); municipal ticket $1,000.Sources differ: Bylaw notice columns: penalty amount (days 29 to 60), early payment (days 1 to 28), late payment (day 61 or more). Other tickets: marketing without displaying the licence number $750 (municipal) or $450 (notice); B&B zoning offences $1,000 (municipal) / $500 (notice). Court fine up to $50,000 (Bylaw 7538 Part 24).Bylaw Notice Enforcement Bylaw 8122, Schedule A, Business Regulation Bylaw No. 7538; Bylaw Notice Enforcement Bylaw 8122, Schedule A, Zoning Bylaw No. 8500; Municipal Ticket Information Authorization Bylaw 7321, Schedule B 4 and B 17 · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06 Official wording Rentals for less than 30 days without licence 22.1 No $450.00 $400.00 $500.00 n/a Dwellings – rentals for less than 90 days 5.20.1 No $ 500.00 $ 450.00 $ 525.00 n/a Rentals for less than 30 days without licence 22.1 $1,000 Dwellings – rentals for less than 90 days 5.20.1 $1,000
Bylaw	Zoning Bylaw No. 8500 (ss. 5.5, 5.20); Business Licence Bylaw No. 7360 (ss. 2.4, 2.5); Business Regulation Bylaw No. 7538 (Parts 22, 23); and the Province's Short-Term Rental Accommodations ActBusiness Licence Bylaw 7360, title; Business Regulation Bylaw 7538, Parts 22 and 23; Zoning Bylaw 8500, Section 5 Specific Use Regulations, s. 5.20; Short-term rental registration, Province of British Columbia, Helpful links · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06 Official wording BUSINESS LICENCE BYLAW NO. 7360 BED & BREAKFAST ESTABLISHMENT BOARDING AND LODGING REGULATIONS Short Term Rental of Dwelling Units Short-Term Rental Accommodations Act

How it works

The City of Richmond allows rentals of under 90 days only as a bed and breakfast (B&B) or short-term boarding and lodging. Zoning Bylaw 8500 section 5.5 sets the rules, and Business Regulation Bylaw 7538 requires the licences. Renting a whole house or unit for under 90 days is not permitted. The City says rentals of more than 90 days are allowed in residential properties as long as there is no B&B in the home.

Steps

Check you qualify. A B&B must be the owner's principal residence (single detached or small-scale multi-unit dwelling, with no suite, granny flat or coach house on the lot), run by the owner or the owner's family. Boarding and lodging allows no more than 2 guests.
Follow the B&B rules: up to 3 guest rooms, 6 guests at once and 2 per room; each room at least 9.75 m²; one parking space per guest room (tandem allowed); no cooking equipment in guest rooms; at least 500 m from another B&B; and a fire evacuation plan.
Apply for the City licence ($432). You must prove principal residence and provide floor plans, a fire evacuation plan, a parking plan and a neighbour notice.
Register with the Province. Each unit needs its own registration number. Show the licence number in all marketing.

Good to know

Richmond is on the Province's list where the principal-residence rule applies. Stays of fewer than 90 consecutive days must be registered; hosts must still follow local bylaws.
The City's sources disagree on length: Bylaw 7538 says a licence is needed under 90 days, but exempts boarding and lodging of 30 days or longer, and the ticket schedules say "less than 30 days". Confirm with the City.
Operating without a licence: a bylaw notice is $450 ($400 if paid in 1 to 28 days, $500 from day 61); a municipal ticket is $1,000.
Renting a dwelling under 90 days against the Zoning Bylaw: a bylaw notice is $500 ($450 early, $525 late); a municipal ticket is $1,000. Marketing without the licence number is $750 (municipal) or $450 (notice). Court fines go up to $50,000.

Official forms and pages

The same question in other places

Vancouver · Burnaby · North Vancouver · New Westminster · Delta · District of North Vancouver

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

Sources

Residential Rentals, City of Richmond (read 2026-11-05)
Business Regulation Bylaw 7538 (PDF), City of Richmond (read 2026-11-05)
Business Licence Bylaw 7360 (PDF), City of Richmond (read 2026-11-05)
Zoning Bylaw 8500, Section 5 Specific Use Regulations (PDF), City of Richmond (read 2026-11-05)
Zoning Bylaw 8500, Section 7 Parking and Loading (PDF), City of Richmond (read 2026-11-05)
Consolidated Fees Bylaw 8636 (PDF), City of Richmond (read 2026-11-05)
Bylaw Notice Enforcement Bylaw 8122 (PDF), City of Richmond (read 2026-11-05)
Municipal Ticket Information Authorization Bylaw 7321 (PDF), City of Richmond (read 2026-11-05)
Principal residence requirement, Province of British Columbia (read 2026-11-05)
Short-term rental registration, Province of British Columbia (read 2026-11-05)

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