{"title":"Salt Spring Island short-term rental rules (Airbnb, Vrbo)","question":"Can I rent out my home or a cottage on Airbnb on Salt Spring?","slug":"short-term-rental","place":{"path":"ca/bc/salt-spring-island","name":"Salt Spring Island","region":{"code":"bc","name":"British Columbia"},"country":{"code":"ca","name":"Canada"}},"category":{"slug":"housing-and-renting","name":"Housing and renting"},"owner":"shared","owner_label":"More than one level of government","owner_body":null,"short_answer":"On Salt Spring Island, vacation rentals are not a permitted use under the Islands Trust Land Use Bylaw. Only a resident-run bed and breakfast in 13 listed zones is allowed. The Province also requires registration and applies its principal-residence rule here.","aliases":["airbnb salt spring","vacation rental salt spring","STVR salt spring","bed and breakfast licence salt spring"],"cost":"Provincial registration is renewed each year: $100 for the host's principal residence, $450 for each secondary unit.","how_long":null,"where":[{"type":"phone","label":"ServiceBC (provincial short-term rental registry)","value":"1-833-828-2240"},{"type":"email","label":"Provincial short-term rental registry","value":"STRregistry@sbc.gov.bc.ca"},{"type":"phone","label":"Islands Trust Salt Spring office (zoning)","value":"250-537-9144"},{"type":"email","label":"Islands Trust Salt Spring office","value":"ssiinfo@islandstrust.bc.ca"}],"documents":[],"forms":[{"title":"Short-term rental registration (Province of BC)","url":"https://www2.gov.bc.ca/gov/content/housing-tenancy/short-term-rentals/registry"},{"title":"Provincial principal residence requirement","url":"https://www2.gov.bc.ca/gov/content/housing-tenancy/short-term-rentals/principal-residence-requirement"},{"title":"Salt Spring Island Land Use Bylaw No. 355 (PDF)","url":"https://islandstrust.bc.ca/document/ssi-ltc-bylaw-no-355/"}],"related":[],"nearby":[],"topic":{"title":"Short-term rental rules in British Columbia, by municipality","url":"https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/short-term-rental/"},"facts":{"allowed":{"label":"Allowed","value":"Vacation rentals are not a permitted use in residential zones: only specifically permitted uses are allowed (s. 2.2.1), and a bylaw note says so. A resident-run bed and breakfast (up to 3 bedrooms, 4 on lots over 1.2 ha) is allowed in 13 listed zones, such as Agriculture 1 and 2, Rural and Residential 6 to 9.","short":"No in residential zones; resident-run B&B allowed","status":"stated","sources":[{"url":"https://islandstrust.bc.ca/document/ssi-ltc-bylaw-no-355/","title":"Salt Spring Island Land Use Bylaw No. 355 (PDF), sections 2.2.1, 3.13 and 3.16.2","section":"s. 3.16.2 Information Note","quotes":["short term vacation rentals are not permitted in residential areas.","except as specifically permitted in this Bylaw."]},{"url":"https://islandstrust.bc.ca/document/ssi-ltc-bylaw-no-355/","title":"Salt Spring Island Land Use Bylaw No. 355 (PDF), sections 2.2.1, 3.13 and 3.16.2","section":"s. 3.13.7-3.13.8","quotes":["Bed and Breakfast home-based businesses are permitted only in the following","Not more than 3 bedrooms may be used to accommodate guests on lots"]},{"url":"https://islandstrust.bc.ca/island-planning/salt-spring/bylaw-compliance-and-enforcement/","title":"Bylaw Compliance and Enforcement, Islands Trust (Salt Spring)","section":"Bylaw Compliance and Enforcement","quotes":["Advertising of unlawful land use (such as a short-term vacation rental)."]}],"check":{"result":"matched","text_date":"2026-11-06"}},"licence":{"label":"Business licence","value":null,"status":"none","note":"There is no regional district business licence for short-term rentals on Salt Spring Island.","sources":[]},"provincial_registration":{"label":"Provincial registration","value":"Yes, for stays under 90 consecutive days. Register with the Province and renew each year: $100 a year for the host's principal residence, $450 for each secondary unit. Salt Spring Island is on the Province's list where the principal residence requirement applies (as of June 1, 2026), except farm-class land.","status":"stated","sources":[{"url":"https://www2.gov.bc.ca/gov/content/housing-tenancy/short-term-rentals/registry","title":"Short-term rental registration, Province of BC","section":"Registration overview","quotes":["Short-term rental hosts, platforms and strata hotel platforms in B.C. must register and pay annual registration fees."]},{"url":"https://www2.gov.bc.ca/gov/content/housing-tenancy/short-term-rentals/principal-residence-requirement","title":"B.C.'s short-term rental principal residence requirement, Province of BC","section":"Principal residence and registration fees","quotes":["Fee: $100 annually","Fee: $450 annually","Plus one secondary suite or accessory dwelling unit on the same property","Provincial registration requirements apply to short-term rentals offered for fewer than 90 consecutive days","Farm Land (Class 9 under BC Assessment Act, Agricultural Land Reserve (ALR) designation alone is not exempt)"]},{"url":"https://www2.gov.bc.ca/gov/content/housing-tenancy/short-term-rentals/principal-residence-requirement","title":"B.C.'s short-term rental principal residence requirement, Province of BC","section":"List of communities where the principal residence requirement applies","quotes":["Communities with principal residence requirement","Salt Spring Island","Most Trust areas under the Islands Trust Act (excluding Salt Spring Island and Gabriola Island)"]}],"check":{"result":"matched","text_date":"2026-11-06"}},"rules":{"label":"Operating rules","value":"Bed and breakfast: one per lot; guest bedrooms only in the main dwelling or a seasonal cottage; breakfast only; parking 1 per guest bedroom plus 1 per non-resident employee, screened from view; the operator must live on the premises. Guest-area limit 50% of dwelling, up to 100 m².","status":"stated","sources":[{"url":"https://islandstrust.bc.ca/document/ssi-ltc-bylaw-no-355/","title":"Salt Spring Island Land Use Bylaw No. 355 (PDF), sections 2.2.1, 3.13 and 3.16.2","section":"s. 3.13.8","quotes":["Not more than 1 bed and breakfast home-based business is permitted on","all bedrooms used to accommodate guests","Breakfast meals only may be provided to bed and breakfast guests who","Off-street parking for bed and breakfast home-based business uses must","maximum of 100 square metres.","1 per bedroom plus 1","Bed and breakfast Operations,"]},{"url":"https://islandstrust.bc.ca/document/ssi-ltc-bylaw-no-355/","title":"Salt Spring Island Land Use Bylaw No. 355 (PDF), sections 2.2.1, 3.13 and 3.16.2","section":"s. 3.13.3","quotes":["A home-based business must be operated by a person permanently residing on"]}],"check":{"result":"matched","text_date":"2026-11-06"}},"fine":{"label":"Fine","value":"Islands Trust bylaw notice: non-permitted use in a residential zone (s. 9.9.1) $500 ($375 if paid within 14 days, $750 after 28 days); bed and breakfast unlawful in zone (s. 3.13.7) $350 ($262.50, $575). No line names vacation rentals. Court fine up to $5,000 (s. 2.5.1).","short":"Notice $500 ($375 if paid in 14 days)","status":"stated","sources":[{"url":"https://islandstrust.bc.ca/document/salt-spring-bylaw-enforcement-notification-bylaw-2023/","title":"Salt Spring Island Bylaw Enforcement Notice Bylaw No. 446, Schedule A (consolidation 2019-04-08)","section":"Schedule A (consolidation 2019-04-08), s. 9.9.1 and 3.13.7","quotes":["9.9.1 Non-Permitted Uses Of Land/Buildings/ $500.00 $375.00 $750.00","3.13.7 B&B Unlawful In Zone $350.00 $262.50 $575.00"]}],"check":{"result":"matched","text_date":"2026-11-06"}},"bylaw":{"label":"Bylaw","value":"Salt Spring Island Land Use Bylaw No. 355 (1999), s. 3.13 and s. 3.16.2 note (Islands Trust); Province of BC Short-Term Rental Accommodations Act and regulation (registration and principal residence).","status":"stated","sources":[{"url":"https://islandstrust.bc.ca/document/ssi-ltc-bylaw-no-355/","title":"Salt Spring Island Land Use Bylaw No. 355 (PDF), sections 2.2.1, 3.13 and 3.16.2","section":"s. 3.13","quotes":["3.12 ACCESSORY BUILDINGS AND STRUCTURES ........................................................................... 31 3.13 HOME-BASED BUSINESSES .................................................................................................... 32 3.14 SEASONAL COTTAGES............................................................................................................ 35","Local Trust Committee Bylaw No. 355 Salt Spring Island"]},{"url":"https://islandstrust.bc.ca/document/ssi-ltc-bylaw-no-355/","title":"Salt Spring Island Land Use Bylaw No. 355 (PDF), sections 2.2.1, 3.13 and 3.16.2","section":"s. 2.1.1","quotes":["The provisions of this Bylaw apply to that portion of Salt Spring Island Local Trust","Area that lies within Electoral Area “F” of the Capital Regional District"]}],"check":{"result":"matched","text_date":"2026-11-06"}}},"facts_summary":{"total":6,"stated":5,"matched":5,"none":1,"unknown":0},"body_markdown":"## How it works\n\nTwo sets of rules apply on Salt Spring Island, which is not a municipality.\n\n**Islands Trust (zoning).** Under [Land Use Bylaw No. 355](https://islandstrust.bc.ca/document/ssi-ltc-bylaw-no-355/), only specifically permitted uses are allowed (s. 2.2.1), and the zone tables list no vacation rental use. A resident-run bed and breakfast is allowed in 13 listed zones, such as Agriculture 1 and 2 and Rural and Residential 6 to 9. Commercial guest accommodation zones are separate.\n\nBed and breakfast limits: up to 3 bedrooms (4 on lots over 1.2 ha); one per lot; guest bedrooms only in the main dwelling or a seasonal cottage; breakfast only; the operator must live on the premises; the guest area is limited to 50% of the dwelling, up to 100 m²; parking is 1 per guest bedroom plus 1 per non-resident employee, screened from view.\n\n**Province (registration).** Salt Spring Island is on the Province's list where the principal residence requirement applies (as of June 1, 2026), except farm-class land. Stays under 90 consecutive days must be registered, and the registration is renewed each year.\n\n## Steps\n\n1. Ask the Islands Trust whether your zone allows a bed and breakfast (250-537-9144).\n2. If it does, follow the bylaw limits above.\n3. Register with the provincial short-term rental registry before listing.\n\n## Good to know\n\n- There is no CRD business licence for this; we found no business licence bylaw for Salt Spring.\n- An Islands Trust bylaw notice for a non-permitted use in a residential zone is $500 ($375 if paid within 14 days, $750 after 28 days). A bed and breakfast unlawful in its zone is $350 ($262.50 early, $575 late). Neither line names vacation rentals. The court fine is up to $5,000.\n- The Province's rule is a minimum. The Land Use Bylaw is stricter in residential areas.\n- A Temporary Use Permit is a possible route; ask the Trust.","sources":[{"url":"https://islandstrust.bc.ca/document/ssi-ltc-bylaw-no-355/","title":"Salt Spring Island Land Use Bylaw No. 355 (PDF), sections 2.2.1, 3.13 and 3.16.2","accessed":"2026-11-05"},{"url":"https://islandstrust.bc.ca/document/salt-spring-bylaw-enforcement-notification-bylaw-2023/","title":"Salt Spring Island Bylaw Enforcement Notice Bylaw No. 446, Schedule A (consolidation 2019-04-08)","accessed":"2026-11-05"},{"url":"https://www2.gov.bc.ca/gov/content/housing-tenancy/short-term-rentals/principal-residence-requirement","title":"B.C.'s short-term rental principal residence requirement, Province of BC","accessed":"2026-11-05"},{"url":"https://www2.gov.bc.ca/gov/content/housing-tenancy/short-term-rentals/registry","title":"Short-term rental registration, Province of BC","accessed":"2026-11-05"},{"url":"https://islandstrust.bc.ca/island-planning/salt-spring/bylaw-compliance-and-enforcement/","title":"Bylaw Compliance and Enforcement, Islands Trust (Salt Spring)","accessed":"2026-11-05"}],"sources_read":"2026-11-05","review":{"status":"machine_checked","badge":"Checked against official text","label":"Checked by script, not yet by a person: the official wording behind 5 of 6 facts was matched to the official text; 1 is recorded as not set."},"urls":{"html":"https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/salt-spring-island/short-term-rental/","markdown":"https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/salt-spring-island/short-term-rental.md","json":"https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/salt-spring-island/short-term-rental.json"}}