GovHandbook

Sooke short-term rental rules (Airbnb, Vrbo)

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

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

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.

Key facts

AllowedYes, 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.Business Licenses, Business Licenses page, Short-Term Accommodations; Short-term rentals, principal residence requirement, Province of BC, Communities with principal residence requirement · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06
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.
Communities with principal residence requirement
Business licenceYes. A District business licence is required; the STR application form lists the Home-Based Business fee of $50 (plus tax). Licences expire December 31.Business Licenses, Business Licenses page; Short-Term Rental Business Licence Application Form, STR application form, fee schedule; Fees and Charges Bylaw No. 752, Schedule 4 · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06
Official wording
Hold a valid District of Sooke business licence
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
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
Provincial registrationYes. Hosts must register with the Province and show the provincial registration number on all listings, and the District licence number as well.Business Licenses, Business Licenses page · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06
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
Operating rulesMust 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.Business Licenses, Business Licenses page; Short-Term Rental Business Licence Application Form, STR application form · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06
Official wording
Be located in the operator’s principal residence, or
Confirm zoning permissions for the type of accommodation they wish to offer
Name and contact number of local person (Host) who are available 24
hours/day to address immediate concerns
FineNo 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).Municipal Ticket Information Bylaw No. 836, Schedule B4 and B18 · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06
Official wording
Operating a business
without a valid licence
Fine equal to double the
Operating in contravention
Unlawful Suite
BylawBusiness Licence Bylaw No. 778, 2021; Sooke Zoning Bylaw No. 600, 2013; Province's Short-Term Rental Accommodations ActBusiness Licence Bylaw No. 778, 2021 (PDF, consolidated July 11, 2022), title page; Business Licenses, Business Licenses page · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06
Official wording
JULY 11, 2022 BYLAW NO. 778, BUSINESS LICENCE BYLAW, 2021 BYLAW NO. 828 (778-01), BUSINESS LICENCE AMENDMENT BYLAW, 2021
Comply with the Province’s Short-Term Rental Accommodations Act

How it works

Short-term rental in Sooke involves three layers: the District's business licence (Business Licence Bylaw No. 778), 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

The same question in other places

Metchosin · Langford · Colwood · Highlands · View Royal · Esquimalt

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

Sources

  1. Business Licenses, District of Sooke (read 2026-11-06)
  2. Short-Term Rental Business Licence Application Form (PDF), District of Sooke (read 2026-11-06)
  3. Short-term rentals, principal residence requirement, Province of BC (read 2026-11-06)
  4. Business Licence Bylaw No. 778, 2021 (PDF, consolidated July 11, 2022), District of Sooke (read 2026-11-06)
  5. Fees and Charges Bylaw No. 752, Schedule 4 (PDF), District of Sooke (read 2026-11-06)
  6. Municipal Ticket Information Bylaw No. 836 (PDF), District of Sooke (read 2026-11-06)
  7. Sooke Zoning Bylaw No. 600, 2013 (PDF), District of Sooke (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.