---
title: Sooke short-term rental rules (Airbnb, Vrbo)
question: "Can I rent out my home or a room on Airbnb in Sooke?"
place: Sooke, British Columbia, Canada
place_path: ca/bc/sooke
category: Housing and renting
owner: shared
sources_read: 2026-11-06
review: machine_checked
canonical: "https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/sooke/short-term-rental/"
json: "https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/sooke/short-term-rental.json"
---

# Sooke short-term rental rules (Airbnb, Vrbo)

**Question:** Can I rent out my home or a room on Airbnb in Sooke?

**Short answer:** Yes, in Sooke you can host short-term rentals with a District business licence, provincial registration and the right zoning. Sooke is on the Province's list of communities with the principal residence requirement, so the rental must generally be your principal residence or a permitted accessory dwelling unit.

**Who handles it:** More than one level of government  
**Cost:** $50 plus tax (the Home-Based Business fee, which the District's short-term rental form lists). Licences expire December 31.  
**How long:** Most business licences take 10 business days.  
**Where:**
- Email: Business Licensing, District of Sooke, businesslicence@sooke.ca
- Phone: District of Sooke Municipal Hall, 250-642-1634 (2205 Otter Point Road, Monday to Friday, 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.)
- Online: Business Licenses, District of Sooke, https://www.sooke.ca/business-tourism-development/business-licenses/

## Key facts

- **Allowed:** Yes, with a District business licence, provincial rules and zoning. In residential zones short-term rentals may be allowed when provincial principal-residence rules are met; some commercial zones allow guest accommodation. Sooke is on the Province's list of communities with the principal residence requirement.
  - Source: [Business Licenses, Business Licenses page, Short-Term Accommodations](https://www.sooke.ca/business-tourism-development/business-licenses/)
  - Official wording: "Short-term accommodations are permitted in Sooke, provided they meet both provincial rules and local zoning requirements" … "in residential zones, STRs may be permitted when provincial principal-residence rules are met."
  - Source: [Short-term rentals, principal residence requirement, Province of BC, Communities with principal residence requirement](https://www2.gov.bc.ca/gov/content/housing-tenancy/short-term-rentals/principal-residence-requirement)
  - Official wording: "Communities with principal residence requirement"
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06
- **Business licence:** Yes. A District business licence is required; the STR application form lists the Home-Based Business fee of $50 (plus tax). Licences expire December 31.
  - Source: [Business Licenses, Business Licenses page](https://www.sooke.ca/business-tourism-development/business-licenses/)
  - Official wording: "Hold a valid District of Sooke business licence"
  - Source: [Short-Term Rental Business Licence Application Form, STR application form, fee schedule](https://www.sooke.ca/media/duhh2wdx/short-term-rental-business-licence-application-form.pdf)
  - Official wording: "District of Sooke Fees and Charges Bylaw No. 752; please refer to this Bylaw for complete details. FEE TOTAL Home-Based Business $50.00 Total Application Fee(s) Due Application Requirements Checklist"
  - Source: [Fees and Charges Bylaw No. 752, Schedule 4](https://www.sooke.ca/media/fm0fpxls/fees-charges-bylaw-no-752-consolidated-october2026.pdf)
  - Official wording: "Government Service No charge Farm Retail Sales/Farm Stand No charge Home-Based $50.00 Intermunicipal $100.00 Commercial - Small (464.5 sq.m./5,000 sq.ft.) or less gross floor area of $125.00"
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06
- **Provincial registration:** Yes. Hosts must register with the Province and show the provincial registration number on all listings, and the District licence number as well.
  - Source: [Business Licenses, Business Licenses page](https://www.sooke.ca/business-tourism-development/business-licenses/)
  - Official wording: "Hosts must also register with the Province and include their provincial registration number on all STR listings." … "Display both the provincial registration number and District business licence number on all listings and advertisements"
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06
- **Operating rules:** Must be the operator's principal residence or a permitted accessory dwelling unit (unless exempt). Confirm zoning. Display both numbers on listings. Application needs a floor plan, site plan with parking, emergency fire safety plan, health and safety checklist, and a local host reachable 24 hours a day.
  - Source: [Business Licenses, Business Licenses page](https://www.sooke.ca/business-tourism-development/business-licenses/)
  - Official wording: "Be located in the operator’s principal residence, or" … "Confirm zoning permissions for the type of accommodation they wish to offer"
  - Source: [Short-Term Rental Business Licence Application Form, STR application form](https://www.sooke.ca/media/duhh2wdx/short-term-rental-business-licence-application-form.pdf)
  - Official wording: "Name and contact number of local person (Host) who are available 24" … "hours/day to address immediate concerns"
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06
- **Fine:** No STR-specific ticket. Operating without a valid business licence: a fine equal to double the licence fee (MTI Bylaw 836, Schedule B4, s. 4). Operating in contravention of a licence: $200. Court fine up to $50,000 (Business Licence Bylaw s. 58).
  - Source: [Municipal Ticket Information Bylaw No. 836, Schedule B4 and B18](https://www.sooke.ca/media/qnrli50n/836-municipal-ticket-information-bylaw-consolidated-july-16-2026.pdf)
  - Official wording: "Operating a business" … "without a valid licence" … "Fine equal to double the" … "Operating in contravention" … "Unlawful Suite"
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06
- **Bylaw:** Business Licence Bylaw No. 778, 2021; Sooke Zoning Bylaw No. 600, 2013; Province's Short-Term Rental Accommodations Act
  - Source: [Business Licence Bylaw No. 778, 2021 (PDF, consolidated July 11, 2022), title page](https://www.sooke.ca/media/zx3f3ya3/business-licence-bylaw-no-778-2021-consolidated.pdf)
  - Official wording: "JULY 11, 2022 BYLAW NO. 778, BUSINESS LICENCE BYLAW, 2021 BYLAW NO. 828 (778-01), BUSINESS LICENCE AMENDMENT BYLAW, 2021"
  - Source: [Business Licenses, Business Licenses page](https://www.sooke.ca/business-tourism-development/business-licenses/)
  - Official wording: "Comply with the Province’s Short-Term Rental Accommodations Act"
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06

## How it works

Short-term rental in Sooke involves three layers: the District's business licence ([Business Licence Bylaw No. 778](https://www.sooke.ca/media/zx3f3ya3/business-licence-bylaw-no-778-2021-consolidated.pdf)), the Province's registration and principal-residence rules, and zoning. In residential zones, secondary suites, small suites and "vacation accommodation units" are accessory uses, while bed and breakfasts are limited. Some commercial zones allow guest accommodation. The Province lists Sooke among communities where the principal residence requirement applies.

Your rental must be your principal residence or a permitted accessory dwelling unit, unless an exemption applies.

## Steps

1. Confirm your zone allows it (see the zoning-lookup answer).
2. Register with the Province and get your provincial registration number.
3. Complete the District's short-term rental licence application with a floor plan, a site plan showing parking, an emergency fire safety plan, and a health and safety checklist. You must name a local host reachable 24 hours a day.
4. Email businesslicence@sooke.ca or call 250-642-1634, and pay the fee.
5. Show both the provincial registration number and the District licence number on every listing.

## Good to know

- The health and safety checklist requires one mounted fire extinguisher per floor and visible addressing.
- Operating without a valid business licence carries a fine equal to double the licence fee. Operating in contravention of a licence is $200. A court fine can reach $50,000.
- Licences renew each year; see the business-licence answer.

## Official forms and pages

- [Short-Term Rental Business Licence Application Form (PDF)](https://www.sooke.ca/media/duhh2wdx/short-term-rental-business-licence-application-form.pdf)
- [Business Licence Bylaw No. 778, 2021 (PDF)](https://www.sooke.ca/media/zx3f3ya3/business-licence-bylaw-no-778-2021-consolidated.pdf)

## Related questions

- [Sooke business licences: who needs one, fees and how to apply](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/sooke/business-licence.md)
- [Sooke home-based business rules](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/sooke/home-based-business.md)
- [Sooke secondary suite and carriage house rules](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/sooke/secondary-suite.md)

## The same question elsewhere

- [Short-term rental rules in British Columbia, by municipality](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/short-term-rental.md)
- [Metchosin](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/metchosin/short-term-rental.md)
- [Langford](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/langford/short-term-rental.md)
- [Colwood](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/colwood/short-term-rental.md)
- [Highlands](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/highlands/short-term-rental.md)
- [View Royal](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/view-royal/short-term-rental.md)
- [Esquimalt](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/esquimalt/short-term-rental.md)

## Sources

- [Business Licenses, District of Sooke](https://www.sooke.ca/business-tourism-development/business-licenses/) (read 2026-11-06)
- [Short-Term Rental Business Licence Application Form (PDF), District of Sooke](https://www.sooke.ca/media/duhh2wdx/short-term-rental-business-licence-application-form.pdf) (read 2026-11-06)
- [Short-term rentals, principal residence requirement, Province of BC](https://www2.gov.bc.ca/gov/content/housing-tenancy/short-term-rentals/principal-residence-requirement) (read 2026-11-06)
- [Business Licence Bylaw No. 778, 2021 (PDF, consolidated July 11, 2022), District of Sooke](https://www.sooke.ca/media/zx3f3ya3/business-licence-bylaw-no-778-2021-consolidated.pdf) (read 2026-11-06)
- [Fees and Charges Bylaw No. 752, Schedule 4 (PDF), District of Sooke](https://www.sooke.ca/media/fm0fpxls/fees-charges-bylaw-no-752-consolidated-october2026.pdf) (read 2026-11-06)
- [Municipal Ticket Information Bylaw No. 836 (PDF), District of Sooke](https://www.sooke.ca/media/qnrli50n/836-municipal-ticket-information-bylaw-consolidated-july-16-2026.pdf) (read 2026-11-06)
- [Sooke Zoning Bylaw No. 600, 2013 (PDF), District of Sooke](https://www.sooke.ca/media/4amdk3cw/bylaw-600-consolidation-to-2026-04-16.pdf) (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. Gov Handbook is an independent guide, not affiliated with any government. How answers are checked: https://govhandbook.com/methods/ · Canonical page: https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/sooke/short-term-rental/_