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Sechelt short-term rental rules (Airbnb, Vrbo)

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

Sechelt, British ColumbiaChecked against official textSources read 2026-11-06

Short answer

In Sechelt you can rent short-term only if you live on the property during guest stays and hold a District business licence. Type 1 covers up to three bedrooms in your home ($500 a year); Type 2 covers a self-contained suite ($900 a year). A one-time $200 application fee applies.

Key facts

AllowedYes, with limits. The operator must live on the property during guest stays. Type 1: up to three bedrooms in the principal residence. Type 2: self-contained suites on that property; zoning and the District's page allow up to two, but Bylaw 520 Schedule B and the fee schedule say a maximum of one. Un-hosted secondary residences are not permitted. Sechelt is on the Province's principal residence requirement list.Sources differ: Provincial page (updated Sept 21, 2026; lists as of June 1, 2026): Sechelt is on 'Communities with principal residence requirement', not the exempt list. The Zoning Bylaw says renting more than two accessory units needs a Temporary Use Permit. The District's page says up to two Type 2 suites; the fee schedule and Bylaw 520 Schedule B say a maximum of one.Short-Term Rental Licences; Zoning Bylaw No. 580, 2022 (PDF, consolidated May 2025), s. 2.8.1; Short-term rentals, principal residence requirement, Province of BC, Communities with principal residence requirement; Business Licence Bylaw No. 520, 2012 (PDF, consolidated February 2026), Schedule B, s. 2 · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06
Official wording
District of Sechelt and Provincial regulations require all STRs to have a principle resident operator.
Un-hosted secondary residence STRs are not permitted to operate.
d) The Short-Term Rental of a Dwelling Unit is permitted year-round so long as the Short-Term Rental operator is living in the unit during the guest stay and is limited to no more than three bedrooms rented at a time.
e) Short-Term Rental is not permitted in a recreational vehicle, motor vehicle, tent, boat
Salt Spring Island Sechelt Sidney
the principal residence or external to the principal residence up to a maximum of
Hold more than two Short-term Rental business licences;
Business licenceYes. Every STR needs an annual District business licence. One-time application fee $200 (new applicants). Annual licence fee: Type 1 (rooms in a home) $500; Type 2 (self-contained suite) $900. The fee schedule reduces a licence issued after July 31 by 25%, but the District's page says pro-rating does not apply to STRs.Sources differ: Conflict: Fees and Charges Bylaw Schedule M and Business Licence Bylaw s. 3.5 give a 25% reduction after July 31; the Business Licences page says pro-rated fees do not apply to STRs. Value follows the bylaws. Renewals: pay by January 31 or reapply.Short-Term Rental Licences; STR Type 1 Principal Residence, Cost; STR Type 2 Self-Contained Suite, Cost; Fees and Charges Bylaw No. 575, 2019 (PDF, consolidated March 2026), Schedule M; Business Licences | District of Sechelt, District of Sechelt Process · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06
Official wording
All STRs in the District of Sechelt must acquire an annual business licence to operate.
One-time application fee of $200
Short-term rental business licence fee of $500/ year.
Short-term rental business licence fee of $900/ year.
Short Term Rental Application location, owner or other licence particulars, for $200 Fee
*Short Term Rental Business Licence issued after July 31st in a calendar year for either Type 1 or Type 2 reduced by 25%
Please note that pro-rated fees do not apply to short term rentals.
Provincial registrationYes. District STR business licences are required in addition to Provincial registration.Short-Term Rental Licences · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06
Official wording
District of Sechelt STR Business Licences are required in addition to Provincial registration.
Operating rulesOperator is an individual (not a company) who lives on site; strata approval if in a strata; one parking space per STR bedroom (maximum 3); licence number shown in every ad; emergency contact reachable 24 hours and on site within 1 hour; complaints resolved within 24 hours; smoke alarms, extinguishers and fire safety plan; sign no larger than 0.3 m².Zoning Bylaw No. 580, 2022 (PDF, consolidated May 2025), s. 2.8.1(g)-(h), 3.12; Business Licence Bylaw No. 520, 2012 (PDF, consolidated February 2026), Schedule B, s. 5; STR Operator's Guide, Who can operate an STR? · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06
Official wording
One parking stall per bedroom used for Short-Term Rental use is required.
except for a single sign not exceeding 0.3 m2 in area.
each bedroom used as Short-Term Rental, up to a maximum requirement of 3 spaces
Provide, post or display their Licence number in a conspicuous place in any online listing
the emergency contact person attends the Short-term Rental unit within 1 hour of being contacted by a guest or the District of Sechelt
any complaint about the operation is resolved within 24 hours of being contacted by the District of Sechelt;
Only individuals (not companies) are allowed to operate STRs in the District of Sechelt.
FineBylaw notice (Bylaw 515): $300 for breaking STR zoning conditions, having no STR licence under zoning s. 2.8.1(j) or not showing the licence number in ads; $250 for no business licence (Bylaw 520 s. 3.1); $500 for breaking Schedule B terms. Municipal ticket (Bylaw 491): $2,000 without a valid licence; $1,000 if an STR operator fails Schedule B.Municipal Ticket Information Bylaw No. 491, 2010 (PDF, consolidated March 2026), Appendix 2; Bylaw Notice Enforcement Implementation Bylaw No. 515, 2012, Schedule A (Bylaw 580) · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06
Official wording
2. Carrying on business without valid license 3.1.2 $2,000.00
4. A Short-Term Rental Operator fails to: Scheule B $1,000.00
Not holding a valid business licence $300
Failure to display a valid business licence $300
Operating a short-term rental that does $300
No business Licence $250 Yes
Not complying with terms and conditions $500 Yes
Short Term Rental contrary to bylaw $300 Yes
BylawBusiness Licence Bylaw No. 520, 2012 (Schedule B); Zoning Bylaw No. 580, 2022, s. 2.8; Fees and Charges Bylaw No. 575, 2019, Schedule MBusiness Licence Bylaw No. 520, 2012 (PDF, consolidated February 2026), Schedule B; Zoning Bylaw No. 580, 2022 (PDF, consolidated May 2025), s. 2.8; Fees and Charges Bylaw No. 575, 2019 (PDF, consolidated March 2026), Schedule M · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06
Official wording
Short-Term Rental Licence Terms and Conditions
2.6 Shipping Containers ................................................................................................................ 78 2.7 Home Business ........................................................................................................................ 79 2.8 Short-Term Rental ................................................................................................................... 79 2.9 Urban Agriculture.................................................................................................................... 80 2.10 Calculating Height and Grade ................................................................................................. 81
DISTRICT OF SECHELT | ZONING BYLAW Schedule A to Bylaw No. 580, 2022 PAGE | i
SCHEDULE M: BUSINESS LICENCING

How it works

The District of Sechelt allows short-term rentals (STRs) with limits. The operator must live on the property during guest stays, and un-hosted secondary residences are not permitted. Sechelt is on the Province's principal residence requirement list.

  • Type 1: up to three bedrooms in your principal residence.
  • Type 2: a self-contained suite on that property. The zoning bylaw and the District's page allow up to two suites; Business Licence Bylaw 520 Schedule B and the fee schedule say a maximum of one. Confirm with the District.

Every STR needs an annual District business licence, in addition to Provincial registration.

Steps

  1. Read the STR Operator's Guide and the page for your type.
  2. Apply for the STR business licence and pay the $200 one-time application fee.
  3. Pay the annual licence fee: $500 (Type 1) or $900 (Type 2).
  4. Show your licence number in every ad.
  5. Renew by January 31 or reapply.

Good to know

  • Rules: the operator is an individual (not a company) who lives on site; strata approval if in a strata; one parking space per STR bedroom (maximum 3); an emergency contact reachable 24 hours and on site within 1 hour; complaints resolved within 24 hours; smoke alarms, extinguishers and a fire safety plan; sign no larger than 0.3 m². Maximum three bedrooms rented at a time.
  • Quiet hours in the Operator's Guide: 11 p.m. to 7 a.m. (Monday to Saturday) and 11 p.m. to 9 a.m. (Sunday and holidays).
  • The fee schedule reduces a licence issued after July 31 by 25%, but the District's page says pro-rating does not apply to STRs. Ask the District.
  • Renting more than two accessory units needs a Temporary Use Permit under the Zoning Bylaw.
  • Fines: a bylaw notice (Bylaw 515) is $300 for breaking STR zoning conditions, having no STR licence under zoning s. 2.8.1(j) or not showing the licence number in ads; $250 for no business licence; $500 for breaking Schedule B terms. A municipal ticket (Bylaw 491) is $2,000 without a valid licence, or $1,000 if an operator fails Schedule B. Bylaw notices must be paid or disputed within 14 days.

Official forms and pages

The same question in other places

Gibsons · Bowen Island · Lantzville · Nanaimo · Lions Bay · Parksville

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

Sources

  1. Short-Term Rental Licences, District of Sechelt (read 2026-11-06)
  2. STR Type 1 Principal Residence, District of Sechelt (read 2026-11-06)
  3. STR Type 2 Self-Contained Suite, District of Sechelt (read 2026-11-06)
  4. STR Operator's Guide (PDF), District of Sechelt (read 2026-11-06)
  5. Business Licence Bylaw No. 520, 2012 (PDF, consolidated February 2026) (read 2026-11-06)
  6. Zoning Bylaw No. 580, 2022 (PDF, consolidated May 2025) (read 2026-11-06)
  7. Fees and Charges Bylaw No. 575, 2019 (PDF, consolidated March 2026) (read 2026-11-06)
  8. Municipal Ticket Information Bylaw No. 491, 2010 (PDF, consolidated March 2026) (read 2026-11-06)
  9. Bylaw Notice Enforcement Implementation Bylaw No. 515, 2012 (PDF) (read 2026-11-06)
  10. Short-term rentals, principal residence requirement, Province of BC (read 2026-11-06)
  11. Business Licences | District of Sechelt (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. How answers are checked.