GovHandbook

Slocan short-term rental rules (Airbnb, Vrbo)

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

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

Short answer

Yes. In Slocan, R-1, R-2 and R-3 allow one vacation rental unit per parcel, and R-1 and R-2 allow a bed and breakfast if the owner lives there. You need a Category 3 business licence ($100 a year) and must register with the Province.

Key facts

AllowedYes: one vacation rental unit per parcel in R-1, R-2 and R-3. Bed and breakfast is allowed where permitted (R-1, R-2) if the owner lives in the dwelling, with at most 2 sleeping units. Slocan is on the Province's exempt list, so the provincial principal-residence rule does not apply.Zoning Bylaw No. 633, 2013 (PDF, consolidated Feb. 10, 2025), s. 4.17(1); Zoning Bylaw No. 633, 2013 (PDF, consolidated Feb. 10, 2025), s. 4.16(1); Principal residence requirement, Province of BC, Exempt communities list · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-08
Official wording
One vacation rental unit is permitted per parcel in the R-1, R-2 and R-3 Zones provided that:
the owner of the bed and breakfast accommodation resides in the dwelling;
Municipalities with populations under 10,000 and not within 15 km of a larger municipality (listed below)
Silverton Slocan Smithers
Business licenceYes: Category 3 business licence (Bed & Breakfast or Vacation Rental Unit), $100 per annum; half the annual fee if issued after June 30.Fees and Charges Bylaw No. 584, Schedule I; Business Licence Bylaw No. 662, 2018 (PDF, consolidated April 11, 2022), s. 5(a)(i) · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-08
Official wording
Business Licence Category 3 – Home-Based Business
Any Bed & Breakfast or Vacation Rental Unit business as
Business Licence Transfer Fee
shall hold a subsisting licence therefore from the Village
Provincial registrationYes: hosts renting for fewer than 90 consecutive days must register with the Province, even where the principal-residence rule does not apply.Principal residence requirement, Province of BC, Business licence exemptions · 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
Operating rulesMax 2 people per sleeping unit and 5 people total; no structural changes that alter the neighbourhood's character; no exterior signage; owner must prevent noise, light or traffic nuisance; parking 2 spaces per vacation rental unit.Zoning Bylaw No. 633, 2013 (PDF, consolidated Feb. 10, 2025), s. 4.17(1); Zoning Bylaw No. 633, 2013 (PDF, consolidated Feb. 10, 2025), s. 4.21(4) table · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-08
Official wording
a maximum of two (2) persons per sleeping unit and a maximum of five (5) persons total is
there is no exterior signage advertising the vacation rental;
in addition to those units provided for the principal dwelling. 4.17 Vacation Rental Unit (1) One vacation rental unit is permitted per parcel in the R-1, R-2 and R-3 Zones provided that:
FineNo ticket schedule found. Zoning Bylaw: penalty up to $10,000 plus prosecution costs. Business Licence Bylaw: minimum fine $100 and costs.Zoning Bylaw No. 633, 2013 (PDF, consolidated Feb. 10, 2025), s. 3.7; Business Licence Bylaw No. 662, 2018 (PDF, consolidated April 11, 2022), s. 12(b) · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-08
Official wording
TEN THOUSAND
DOLLARS ($10,000.00) plus the costs of prosecution.
minimum fine or penalty of One Hundred Dollars ($100.00) and costs
BylawZoning Bylaw No. 633, 2013, ss. 4.16-4.17; Business Licence Bylaw No. 662, 2018; Fees and Charges Bylaw No. 584, Schedule I.Zoning Bylaw No. 633, 2013 (PDF, consolidated Feb. 10, 2025), ss. 4.16, 4.17; Business Licence Bylaw No. 662, 2018 (PDF, consolidated April 11, 2022), title · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-08
Official wording
4.17 Vacation Rental Unit
Village of Slocan Business Licence Bylaw No. 662, 2018.

How it works

The Village of Slocan Zoning Bylaw No. 633 allows one vacation rental unit per parcel in R-1, R-2 and R-3. A bed and breakfast is allowed where permitted (R-1, R-2) if the owner lives in the dwelling, with at most 2 sleeping units.

Slocan is on the Province's list of municipalities exempt from the provincial principal-residence rule. Hosts renting for fewer than 90 consecutive days must still register with the Province.

Steps

  1. Confirm your zone allows it.
  2. Apply for a Category 3 business licence (Bed & Breakfast or Vacation Rental Unit) at the Village Office, $100 per annum, half if issued after June 30.
  3. Register with the Province's short-term rental registry.

Good to know

  • Rules: at most 2 people per sleeping unit and 5 people total; no structural changes that alter the neighbourhood's character; no exterior signage; the owner must prevent noise, light or traffic nuisance; 2 parking spaces per vacation rental unit.
  • No ticket schedule was found. The Zoning Bylaw sets a penalty of up to $10,000 plus prosecution costs. The Business Licence Bylaw sets a minimum fine of $100 and costs. These are court penalties.
  • The Province's exempt list changes; check it on the BC government page.

Official forms and pages

The same question in other places

Silverton · New Denver · Nelson · Kaslo · Castlegar · Nakusp

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

Sources

  1. Zoning Bylaw No. 633, 2013 (PDF, consolidated Feb. 10, 2025) (read 2026-11-08)
  2. Business Licence Bylaw No. 662, 2018 (PDF, consolidated April 11, 2022) (read 2026-11-08)
  3. Fees and Charges Bylaw No. 584, Schedule I (PDF) (read 2026-11-08)
  4. Principal residence requirement, Province of BC (read 2026-11-08)

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.