GovHandbook

Sayward short-term rental rules (Airbnb, Vrbo)

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

Sayward, British ColumbiaChecked against official textSources read 2026-11-08

Short answer

In the Village of Sayward, a bed and breakfast of up to 3 bedrooms is allowed in the R-1 zone, and tourist accommodation is allowed in the C-1 and C-2 zones. You need a Village business licence and a provincial short-term rental registration.

Key facts

AllowedBed and breakfast is a permitted accessory use in R-1: up to 3 bedrooms in the dwelling unit, not in an accessory building. Tourist accommodation (motels, cabins, resorts) is permitted in the C-1 and C-2 zones. Uses not listed are prohibited.Zoning Bylaw No. 309, 2000 (PDF, consolidated), s. 303 (B&B), s. 102(1); Zoning Bylaw No. 309, 2000 (PDF, consolidated), s. 601(2)(b) · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-08
Official wording
No more than 3 bedrooms may be used for bed and breakfast accommodation per lot.
Uses not expressly listed as a permitted principal or accessory use within a zone or otherwise noted as
Tourist Accommodation.
2) PERMITTED ACCESSORY USES a) Home-based business; b) Bed & Breakfast; c) Boarding; d) Buildings, accessory;
Business licenceBylaw 452 requires a licence for any business. The fee schedule does not name short-term rentals or B&Bs; the closest row, Home Occupation (any business permitted in residential areas), is $65 a year. Confirm with the Village Office.Business Licence Bylaw No. 452, 2019, s. 4(a)(i); Fees and Charges Bylaw No. 451, 2019 (PDF, consolidated), Schedule I · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-08
Official wording
require an owner or operator of a Business to hold a valid and subsisting licence for
Home Occupation Any business permitted in residential Per business $65.00
Provincial registrationThe Province requires registration for short-term rentals offered for fewer than 90 consecutive days. Sayward is on the Province's list of exempt municipalities, so the provincial principal residence requirement does not apply (list as of June 1, 2026), unless the Village opts in.Principal residence requirement, Province of BC, Registration; exempt list · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-08
Official wording
Provincial registration requirements apply to short-term rentals offered for fewer than 90 consecutive days, regardless of whether a local business licence is required.
The expandable menu below lists the communities and land where the Province's principal residence requirement will not apply, unless the local government chooses to opt-in.
Sayward
Operating rulesB&B: no more than 3 bedrooms, in the dwelling unit; one parking space per room on the same lot; meals only to B&B guests; no more than 2 non-family helpers; sign up to 1.0 m²; Ministry of Health approval when required.Zoning Bylaw No. 309, 2000 (PDF, consolidated), s. 303 (Bed and Breakfast) · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-08
Official wording
In addition to the parking requirements for the residence, at least one automobile
Meals may be provided only to customers of a bed and breakfast operation only.
No more than 2 persons outside the immediate family residing on the premises may be
FineNot confirmed. No ticket amount is stated.
BylawZoning Bylaw No. 309, 2000; Business Licence Bylaw No. 452, 2019Zoning Bylaw No. 309, 2000 (PDF, consolidated), Title; Business Licence Bylaw No. 452, 2019, s. 2 · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-08
Official wording
Village of Sayward Zoning Bylaw, 2000
This bylaw may be cited as “Business Licence Bylaw No. 452, 2019”.

How it works

The Village of Sayward has no short-term rental bylaw. Rentals are governed by zoning. Under the Zoning Bylaw No. 309, a bed and breakfast is a permitted accessory use in R-1, and tourist accommodation (motels, cabins, resorts) is permitted in the C-1 and C-2 zones. Uses not listed are prohibited. The Official Community Plan permits a B&B in the Residential designation with three rooms or less.

B&B rules: no more than 3 bedrooms, in the dwelling unit and not an accessory building; one parking space per room on the same lot; meals only to B&B guests; no more than 2 non-family helpers; a sign up to 1.0 m²; and Ministry of Health approval when required.

Steps

  1. Confirm your zone and that a B&B or tourist accommodation is allowed there (see the zoning-lookup answer).
  2. Get a Village business licence under Business Licence Bylaw No. 452. Confirm the fee with the Village Office at 250-282-5512.
  3. Register with the Province if you rent for fewer than 90 consecutive days.

Good to know

  • The Province's principal residence requirement does not apply in Sayward: it is on the Province's list of exempt municipalities (list as of June 1, 2026), unless the Village opts in. Check the Province's page for the current list.
  • No ticket amount is stated. On conviction, the Zoning Bylaw sets a fine of $200 to $2,000 (s. 107), and the Business Licence Bylaw up to $2,000 (s. 21).

Official forms and pages

The same question in other places

Campbell River · Gold River · Tahsis · Port McNeill · Courtenay · Cumberland

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

Sources

  1. Zoning Bylaw No. 309, 2000 (PDF, consolidated) (read 2026-11-08)
  2. Business Licence Bylaw No. 452, 2019 (PDF) (read 2026-11-08)
  3. Fees and Charges Bylaw No. 451, 2019 (PDF, consolidated) (read 2026-11-08)
  4. Principal residence requirement, Province of BC (read 2026-11-08)
  5. Staff Directory, Village of Sayward (read 2026-11-08)

Checked by script, not yet by a person: the official wording behind 5 of 6 facts was matched to the official text; 1 could not be confirmed. How answers are checked.