---
title: Saanich short-term rental rules (Airbnb, Vrbo)
question: "Can I rent out my home or a room on Airbnb in Saanich?"
place: Saanich, British Columbia, Canada
place_path: ca/bc/saanich
category: Housing and renting
owner: municipal
owner_body: District of Saanich
sources_read: 2026-11-06
review: machine_checked
canonical: "https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/saanich/short-term-rental/"
json: "https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/saanich/short-term-rental.json"
---

# Saanich short-term rental rules (Airbnb, Vrbo)

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

**Short answer:** No. Saanich prohibits short-term rentals (under 30 consecutive days) in all zones and housing types, including a principal residence, suite or garden suite. A bed and breakfast in the owner's principal residence is allowed with a $100-a-year licence.

**Who handles it:** Municipal (District of Saanich, https://www.saanich.ca)  
**Cost:** No licence is available for short-term rentals. A bed and breakfast licence is $100 a year.  
**How long:** Not applicable to short-term rentals. Ask Business Licences about the B&B licence process.  
**Where:**
- Online: Short-Term Rentals, District of Saanich, https://www.saanich.ca/EN/main/business/business-licences/short-term-rentals.html
- Online: Bed and Breakfast licence, https://www.saanich.ca/EN/main/business/business-licences/business-licence-types/bed-and-breakfast-licence.html
- Phone: Business Licences, 250-475-5401

## Key facts

- **Allowed:** No. Short-term rentals (under 30 consecutive days) are prohibited in all zones and housing types, including a principal residence, suite or garden suite. A bed and breakfast in the owner's principal residence is allowed with a licence. Council has directed staff to draft rules allowing up to 120 nights a year; expected early 2027, not in effect.
  - Source: [Short-Term Rentals, Short-Term Rentals page](https://www.saanich.ca/EN/main/business/business-licences/short-term-rentals.html)
  - Official wording: "Short-term rentals are currently prohibited in all zones and housing types." … "Short-term rental of the principal dwelling unit is not permitted;" … "directed staff to develop bylaws for the regulation of STRs for up to 120 nights per property, per year" … "The new regulations will not come into effect until Council adopts the bylaws."
  - Source: [Zoning Bylaw, 2003, No. 8200, s. 5.35(e)](https://www.saanich.ca/assets/Local~Government/Documents/Planning/zone8200.pdf)
  - Official wording: "Short-term rental use is prohibited in a garden suite."
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06
- **Business licence:** No licence is available for short-term rentals because they are prohibited. A Bed and Breakfast (principal residence only) needs a B&B licence: $100 a year. Long-term rentals (30 days or more) need no licence.
  - Source: [Bed and Breakfast licence, Bed and Breakfast page](https://www.saanich.ca/EN/main/business/business-licences/business-licence-types/bed-and-breakfast-licence.html)
  - Official wording: "Bed and Breakfast Licence (Home-Based Business): $100/year" … "Only principal residences (where the applicant lives for the majority of the calendar year) are permitted for this licence type."
  - Source: [Short-Term Rentals, Short-Term Rentals page](https://www.saanich.ca/EN/main/business/business-licences/short-term-rentals.html)
  - Official wording: "Long-term rentals do not require the property owner to obtain a business license."
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06
- **Provincial registration:** Saanich says owners renting for under 90 days must register with the Province. Saanich is on the Province's list of communities where the principal residence requirement applies (as of June 1, 2026).
  - Source: [Short-Term Rentals, FAQ](https://www.saanich.ca/EN/main/business/business-licences/short-term-rentals.html)
  - Official wording: "Any property owner in BC offering a rental for less than 90 days is required to register with the Province"
  - Source: [Principal residence requirement, Province of BC, 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: "Richmond Saanich Salmon Arm" … "The expandable menu below lists the communities where the principal residence requirement applies (as of June 1, 2026)."
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06
- **Operating rules:** No operating rules, because short-term rentals are prohibited. For the allowed Bed and Breakfast licence: principal residence only, guest sleeping area at most 40 m² or 20% of floor area, 0.5 parking space per guest bedroom, and the licence number must be shown on listings.
  - Source: [Bed and Breakfast licence, Bed and Breakfast page](https://www.saanich.ca/EN/main/business/business-licences/business-licence-types/bed-and-breakfast-licence.html)
  - Official wording: "Not more than 40 m2 (430 sq. ft.) or 20% of the combined floor area of all structures on the lot, whichever is lesser," … "A minimum of 0.5 parking spaces are required on property per bedroom used for guests." … "they are required to display a valid business licence number on their listing"
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06
- **Fine:** Bylaw notice for using property other than a permitted use (Zoning s. 3.2): $150 ($100 if paid within 14 days; $200 after 28 days). Municipal ticket: $150 within 30 days, $200 after. No schedule item names short-term rentals.
  - Source: [Bylaw Notice Enforcement Bylaw, Schedule 5](https://www.saanich.ca/assets/Local~Government/Documents/Bylaws~and~Policies/bylawnoticeenforcementbylaw.pdf)
  - Official wording: "Using property for other than 3.2 $150.00 $50.00 $50.00"
  - Source: [Ticket Bylaw, 2010, No. 9029, Schedule 5](https://www.saanich.ca/assets/Local~Government/Documents/Bylaws~and~Policies/ticket-bylaw-2010-no-9029.pdf)
  - Official wording: "Using property for other than permitted use 3.2 $150.00 $200.00"
  - Source: [Bylaw Notice Enforcement Bylaw, s. 3.1](https://www.saanich.ca/assets/Local~Government/Documents/Bylaws~and~Policies/bylawnoticeenforcementbylaw.pdf)
  - Official wording: "if received by the District within 14 days of the person receiving or being presumed to" … "if received by the District more than 28 days after the person received or is"
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06
- **Bylaw:** Zoning Bylaw, 2003, No. 8200 (definition of Short-Term Rental; s. 3.2; s. 5.35(e))
  - Source: [Ticket Bylaw, 2010, No. 9029, Schedule 5](https://www.saanich.ca/assets/Local~Government/Documents/Bylaws~and~Policies/ticket-bylaw-2010-no-9029.pdf)
  - Official wording: "ZONING BYLAW, 2003, NO. 8200"
  - Source: [Zoning Bylaw, 2003, No. 8200, s. 2](https://www.saanich.ca/assets/Local~Government/Documents/Planning/zone8200.pdf)
  - Official wording: "Short-Term Rental - means the renting of a dwelling unit"
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06

## How it works

The [Zoning Bylaw, 2003, No. 8200](https://www.saanich.ca/assets/Local~Government/Documents/Planning/zone8200.pdf) allows no short-term rentals (under 30 consecutive days) in any zone or housing type, including a principal residence, suite or garden suite. No licence is available. Because they are prohibited, there are no operating rules for them. Saanich's page says its short-term rental rules are under review; check that page for any change.

A bed and breakfast in the owner's principal residence is allowed with a B&B licence ($100 a year). Long-term rentals (30 days or more) need no licence.

## Steps

1. For a rental of 30 days or more, you need no business licence.
2. For a bed and breakfast, apply for a B&B licence for your principal residence.
3. Follow the B&B rules below, and show the licence number on every listing.

## Good to know

- B&B rules: principal residence only; guest sleeping area at most 40 m² or 20% of floor area; 0.5 parking space per guest bedroom; no second kitchen. B&B licences are not issued for secondary suites or garden suites.
- Saanich says owners renting for under 90 days must register with the Province, and Saanich is on the Province's list of communities where the principal residence requirement applies (as of June 1, 2026). Since Saanich bans short-term rentals, this matters mainly for an allowed B&B.
- Fines: no schedule item names short-term rentals. Using property for something other than a permitted use (Zoning s. 3.2) is a $150 bylaw notice ($100 if paid within 14 days; $200 after 28 days), or a $150 municipal ticket within 30 days ($200 after).

## Official forms and pages

- [Short-Term Rentals, District of Saanich](https://www.saanich.ca/EN/main/business/business-licences/short-term-rentals.html)
- [Bed and Breakfast licence, District of Saanich](https://www.saanich.ca/EN/main/business/business-licences/business-licence-types/bed-and-breakfast-licence.html)

## Related questions

- [Saanich business licences: who needs one, fees and how to apply](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/saanich/business-licence.md)
- [Saanich home-based business rules](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/saanich/home-based-business.md)
- [Saanich secondary suite and carriage house rules](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/saanich/secondary-suite.md)
- [Saanich bylaw fines and how tickets work](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/saanich/bylaw-fines.md)

## The same question elsewhere

- [Short-term rental rules in British Columbia, by municipality](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/short-term-rental.md)
- [Oak Bay](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/oak-bay/short-term-rental.md)
- [Esquimalt](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/esquimalt/short-term-rental.md)
- [Victoria](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/victoria/short-term-rental.md)
- [View Royal](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/view-royal/short-term-rental.md)
- [Central Saanich](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/central-saanich/short-term-rental.md)
- [Colwood](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/colwood/short-term-rental.md)

## Sources

- [Short-Term Rentals, District of Saanich](https://www.saanich.ca/EN/main/business/business-licences/short-term-rentals.html) (read 2026-11-06)
- [Bed and Breakfast licence, District of Saanich](https://www.saanich.ca/EN/main/business/business-licences/business-licence-types/bed-and-breakfast-licence.html) (read 2026-11-06)
- [Zoning Bylaw, 2003, No. 8200 (PDF)](https://www.saanich.ca/assets/Local~Government/Documents/Planning/zone8200.pdf) (read 2026-11-06)
- [Principal residence requirement, Province of BC](https://www2.gov.bc.ca/gov/content/housing-tenancy/short-term-rentals/principal-residence-requirement) (read 2026-11-06)
- [Bylaw Notice Enforcement Bylaw (PDF)](https://www.saanich.ca/assets/Local~Government/Documents/Bylaws~and~Policies/bylawnoticeenforcementbylaw.pdf) (read 2026-11-06)
- [Ticket Bylaw, 2010, No. 9029 (PDF)](https://www.saanich.ca/assets/Local~Government/Documents/Bylaws~and~Policies/ticket-bylaw-2010-no-9029.pdf) (read 2026-11-06)

_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 District of Saanich. How answers are checked: https://govhandbook.com/methods/ · Canonical page: https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/saanich/short-term-rental/_