Salt Spring Island short-term rental rules (Airbnb, Vrbo)
Can I rent out my home or a cottage on Airbnb on Salt Spring?
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.
Key facts
| Allowed | 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.Salt Spring Island Land Use Bylaw No. 355, sections 2.2.1, 3.13 and 3.16.2, s. 3.16.2 Information Note; Salt Spring Island Land Use Bylaw No. 355, sections 2.2.1, 3.13 and 3.16.2, s. 3.13.7-3.13.8; Bylaw Compliance and Enforcement, Islands Trust (Salt Spring) · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06Official wordingshort term vacation rentals are not permitted in residential areas. except as specifically permitted in this Bylaw. 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 Advertising of unlawful land use (such as a short-term vacation rental). |
|---|---|
| Business licence | None set. There is no regional district business licence for short-term rentals on Salt Spring Island. |
| Provincial registration | 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.Short-term rental registration, Province of BC, Registration overview; B.C.'s short-term rental principal residence requirement, Province of BC, Principal residence and registration fees; B.C.'s short-term rental principal residence requirement, Province of BC, List of communities where the principal residence requirement applies · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06Official wordingShort-term rental hosts, platforms and strata hotel platforms in B.C. must register and pay annual registration fees. 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) Communities with principal residence requirement Salt Spring Island Most Trust areas under the Islands Trust Act (excluding Salt Spring Island and Gabriola Island) |
| Operating rules | 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.Salt Spring Island Land Use Bylaw No. 355, sections 2.2.1, 3.13 and 3.16.2, s. 3.13.8; Salt Spring Island Land Use Bylaw No. 355, sections 2.2.1, 3.13 and 3.16.2, s. 3.13.3 · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06Official wordingNot 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, A home-based business must be operated by a person permanently residing on |
| Fine | 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).Salt Spring Island Bylaw Enforcement Notice Bylaw No. 446, Schedule A (consolidation 2019-04-08), Schedule A (consolidation 2019-04-08), s. 9.9.1 and 3.13.7 · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06Official wording9.9.1 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 |
| Bylaw | 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).Salt Spring Island Land Use Bylaw No. 355, sections 2.2.1, 3.13 and 3.16.2, s. 3.13; Salt Spring Island Land Use Bylaw No. 355, sections 2.2.1, 3.13 and 3.16.2, s. 2.1.1 · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06Official wording3.12 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 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 |
How it works
Two sets of rules apply on Salt Spring Island, which is not a municipality.
Islands Trust (zoning). Under Land Use 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.
Bed 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.
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.
Steps
- Ask the Islands Trust whether your zone allows a bed and breakfast (250-537-9144).
- If it does, follow the bylaw limits above.
- Register with the provincial short-term rental registry before listing.
Good to know
- There is no CRD business licence for this; we found no business licence bylaw for Salt Spring.
- 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.
- The Province's rule is a minimum. The Land Use Bylaw is stricter in residential areas.
- A Temporary Use Permit is a possible route; ask the Trust.
Official forms and pages
The same question in other places
Short-term rental rules in British Columbia, by municipality →
Sources
- Salt Spring Island Land Use Bylaw No. 355 (PDF), sections 2.2.1, 3.13 and 3.16.2 (read 2026-11-05)
- Salt Spring Island Bylaw Enforcement Notice Bylaw No. 446, Schedule A (consolidation 2019-04-08) (read 2026-11-05)
- B.C.'s short-term rental principal residence requirement, Province of BC (read 2026-11-05)
- Short-term rental registration, Province of BC (read 2026-11-05)
- Bylaw Compliance and Enforcement, Islands Trust (Salt Spring) (read 2026-11-05)
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. How answers are checked.