{"title":"Surrey short-term rental rules (Airbnb, Vrbo)","question":"Can I rent out my home or a room on Airbnb in Surrey?","slug":"short-term-rental","place":{"path":"ca/bc/surrey","name":"Surrey","region":{"code":"bc","name":"British Columbia"},"country":{"code":"ca","name":"Canada"}},"category":{"slug":"housing-and-renting","name":"Housing and renting"},"owner":"shared","owner_label":"More than one level of government","owner_body":null,"short_answer":"Yes, but only the owner can host, in their principal residence. The City of Surrey requires a business licence, set at $369 a year in the Business Licence Bylaw (an online application costs $50, credited to the first year). You must also register with the Province's short-term rental registry. Tenants cannot host.","aliases":["airbnb surrey","vrbo surrey","short term rental licence surrey","rent a room surrey","bed and breakfast surrey"],"cost":"$369 a year for the business licence under Schedule A of the Business Licence Bylaw; an online application costs $50, credited to the first year's fee. The Province charges separate registry fees.","how_long":null,"where":[{"type":"phone","label":"Business Licensing (extension 4)","value":"604-591-4370 ext. 4"},{"type":"phone","label":"Zoning requirements","value":"604-591-4448"},{"type":"phone","label":"Complaints and enforcement (extension 1)","value":"604-591-4370 ext. 1"}],"documents":[],"forms":[{"title":"Short-Term Rentals, City of Surrey","url":"https://www.surrey.ca/renovating-building-development/land-planning-development/provincial-housing-financial-regulations/short-term-rentals"},{"title":"Business License By-law No. 13680","url":"https://www.surrey.ca/city-government/bylaws/13680"},{"title":"Short-term rentals, Province of BC","url":"https://www2.gov.bc.ca/gov/content/housing-tenancy/short-term-rentals"}],"related":[{"slug":"business-licence","title":"Surrey business licences: who needs one, fees and how to apply","url":"https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/surrey/business-licence/"},{"slug":"secondary-suite","title":"Surrey secondary suite and carriage house rules","url":"https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/surrey/secondary-suite/"},{"slug":"home-based-business","title":"Surrey home-based business rules","url":"https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/surrey/home-based-business/"},{"slug":"zoning-lookup","title":"Surrey zoning: find your zone and what it allows","url":"https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/surrey/zoning-lookup/"}],"nearby":[{"place":"ca/bc/langley","name":"Langley City","url":"https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/langley/short-term-rental/"},{"place":"ca/bc/white-rock","name":"White Rock","url":"https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/white-rock/short-term-rental/"},{"place":"ca/bc/new-westminster","name":"New Westminster","url":"https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/new-westminster/short-term-rental/"},{"place":"ca/bc/port-coquitlam","name":"Port Coquitlam","url":"https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/port-coquitlam/short-term-rental/"},{"place":"ca/bc/langley-township","name":"Township of Langley","url":"https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/langley-township/short-term-rental/"},{"place":"ca/bc/coquitlam","name":"Coquitlam","url":"https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/coquitlam/short-term-rental/"}],"topic":{"title":"Short-term rental rules in British Columbia, by municipality","url":"https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/short-term-rental/"},"facts":{"allowed":{"label":"Allowed","value":"Yes, only by the owner, in a home that is their principal residence (that unit, or another unit on the same lot). Allowed in single family dwellings, up to one secondary suite, coach house or garden suite on the lot, multiple unit residential dwellings, and up to one lock-off suite. Tenants cannot host.","short":"Yes, owner's principal residence only; tenants cannot host","status":"stated","sources":[{"url":"https://www.surrey.ca/city-government/bylaws/12000","title":"Surrey Zoning By-law, 1993, No. 12000","section":"Part 4, s. B.7(d)","quotes":["Short-Term Rental use is only permitted in the following types of dwelling unit,","principal residence of the individual who owns","a maximum of one secondary suite, coach house, or garden suite on any"]},{"url":"https://www.surrey.ca/renovating-building-development/land-planning-development/provincial-housing-financial-regulations/short-term-rentals","title":"Short-Term Rentals, City of Surrey","section":"Hosting a short-term rental","quotes":["Short-term rentals cannot be operated by tenants"]}],"check":{"result":"matched","text_date":"2026-11-06"}},"licence":{"label":"Business licence","value":"Yes. A business licence is required before starting. Business Licence Bylaw Schedule A sets $369 per year; an online application costs $50, credited to the first year's fee.","short":"Yes, $369 a year","status":"stated","sources":[{"url":"https://www.surrey.ca/city-government/bylaws/13680","title":"Surrey Business License By-law, 1999, No. 13680","section":"Schedule \"A\"; s. 14.1","quotes":["Short-Term Rental $369.00 per year","An application made online must be accompanied by payment of an application fee of $50.00."]},{"url":"https://www.surrey.ca/renovating-building-development/land-planning-development/provincial-housing-financial-regulations/short-term-rentals","title":"Short-Term Rentals, City of Surrey","section":"Business license requirements","quotes":["An owner of a short-term rental in Surrey must obtain a business license prior to commencing their short-term rental operation.","The business license fee is $358 per year"]}],"check":{"result":"matched","text_date":"2026-11-06"},"sources_differ":"The City's short-term rentals page says $358 per year; Schedule A of the Business License Bylaw (amended to Bylaw 21963, April 13, 2026) says $369. The bylaw is used."},"provincial_registration":{"label":"Provincial registration","value":"Yes. Surrey's bylaw requires every short-term rental business to register with the Province's short-term rental registry and give the City proof of registration. The Province says hosts must register and pay annual fees.","status":"stated","sources":[{"url":"https://www.surrey.ca/city-government/bylaws/13680","title":"Surrey Business License By-law, 1999, No. 13680","section":"s. 60.1(2)(d)","quotes":["Register the Short-Term Rental business with the Province of British Columbia’s short-term rental registry"]},{"url":"https://www2.gov.bc.ca/gov/content/housing-tenancy/short-term-rentals","title":"Short-term rentals, Province of British Columbia","section":"Short-term rental registration","quotes":["Short-term rental hosts, platforms and strata hotel platforms in B.C. must register and pay annual registration fees."]}],"check":{"result":"matched","text_date":"2026-11-06"}},"rules":{"label":"Operating rules","value":"On request, prove the unit is your principal residence (or a suite, coach house or garden suite on the same lot). Only one booking (one person or group) at a time. Keep guest records (name, address, phone, email, arrival and departure) for 2 years. Register with the Province.","status":"stated","sources":[{"url":"https://www.surrey.ca/city-government/bylaws/13680","title":"Surrey Business License By-law, 1999, No. 13680","section":"s. 60.1(2)","quotes":["is the proprietor’s principal residence, or is a secondary suite, coach house,","Not offer or accept more than 1 booking, or otherwise allow occupancy","Keep records of the name, address, telephone number, and email","for a period of 2 years from the date of arrival"]}],"check":{"result":"matched","text_date":"2026-11-06"}},"fine":{"label":"Fine","value":"Breaching the short-term rental rules in s. 60.1(2): bylaw notice $300 ($250 if paid within 14 days, $350 late); municipal ticket $1,000. Operating with no business licence: bylaw notice $450 ($400 early, $500 late); municipal ticket $500.","short":"Notice $300 ($250 if paid in 14 days); ticket $1,000","status":"stated","sources":[{"url":"https://www.surrey.ca/city-government/bylaws/18691","title":"Surrey Bylaw Notice Enforcement Bylaw 18691, Schedule A","section":"Schedule A, Part 1 (Business License Bylaw)","quotes":["13680 60.1(2)(a) Fail to provide $300.00 $250.00 $350.00 Yes","13680 3 No business license $450.00 $400.00 $500.00 Yes"]},{"url":"https://www.surrey.ca/sites/default/files/bylaws/BYL_reg_12508.pdf","title":"Municipal Ticket Information Bylaw 12508 Schedule (PDF)","section":"Schedule (Business License By-law)","quotes":["10. Fail to provide information 60.1(2)(a) $1000.00","1. No business license 3 $500.00"]}],"check":{"result":"matched","text_date":"2026-11-06"}},"bylaw":{"label":"Bylaw","value":"Business License By-law, 1999, No. 13680 (s. 60.1 and Schedule A); Surrey Zoning By-law, 1993, No. 12000 (Part 4, s. B.7(d))","status":"stated","sources":[{"url":"https://www.surrey.ca/city-government/bylaws/13680","title":"Surrey Business License By-law, 1999, No. 13680","section":"s. 1","quotes":["This By-law may be cited for all purposes as \"Business License By-law, 1999, No. 13680.\""]},{"url":"https://www.surrey.ca/city-government/bylaws/12000","title":"Surrey Zoning By-law, 1993, No. 12000","section":"Enacting clause","quotes":["Surrey Zoning By-law, 1993, No. 12000"]}],"check":{"result":"matched","text_date":"2026-11-06"}}},"facts_summary":{"total":6,"stated":6,"matched":6,"none":0,"unknown":0},"body_markdown":"## How it works\n\nIn the City of Surrey a short-term rental means renting a dwelling to the public for less than 90 consecutive days per guest. Only the property owner may host, and the owner must live there as their principal residence, either in that unit or in another unit on the same lot. Tenants cannot host. Bed and breakfasts are separate.\n\nUnder [Zoning Bylaw 12000](https://www.surrey.ca/city-government/bylaws/12000), short-term rentals are allowed in single family dwellings, up to one secondary suite, coach house or garden suite on the lot, multiple unit residential dwellings, and up to one lock-off suite.\n\n## Steps\n\n1. Confirm your home type is allowed. Call Zoning at 604-591-4448 if unsure.\n2. Register with the Province's short-term rental registry. [Business Licence Bylaw 13680](https://www.surrey.ca/city-government/bylaws/13680) requires proof of registration.\n3. Get a Surrey business licence before you start hosting (604-591-4370 ext. 4).\n4. Keep records of each guest (name, address, phone, email, arrival and departure) for 2 years. Only one booking (one person or group) is allowed at a time.\n5. If asked, prove the unit is your principal residence.\n\n## Good to know\n\n- Fines: breaking the short-term rental rules in the bylaw brings a bylaw notice of $300 ($250 if paid within 14 days, $350 late) or a municipal ticket of $1,000. Operating with no business licence is a bylaw notice of $450 ($400 early, $500 late) or a municipal ticket of $500.\n- A court can also fine $200 to $50,000 plus costs for any offence under the bylaw.\n- The City's own web page lists the licence fee as $358 a year; the bylaw schedule says $369. Confirm the amount with Business Licensing.\n- The Province's Compliance and Enforcement Unit also enforces short-term rental rules.\n- Report a suspected unlicensed rental: 604-591-4370 ext. 1.","sources":[{"url":"https://www.surrey.ca/city-government/bylaws/13680","title":"Surrey Business License By-law, 1999, No. 13680","accessed":"2026-11-05"},{"url":"https://www.surrey.ca/city-government/bylaws/12000","title":"Surrey Zoning By-law, 1993, No. 12000","accessed":"2026-11-05"},{"url":"https://www.surrey.ca/renovating-building-development/land-planning-development/provincial-housing-financial-regulations/short-term-rentals","title":"Short-Term Rentals, City of Surrey","accessed":"2026-11-05"},{"url":"https://www2.gov.bc.ca/gov/content/housing-tenancy/short-term-rentals","title":"Short-term rentals, Province of British Columbia","accessed":"2026-11-05"},{"url":"https://www.surrey.ca/city-government/bylaws/18691","title":"Surrey Bylaw Notice Enforcement Bylaw 18691, Schedule A","accessed":"2026-11-05"},{"url":"https://www.surrey.ca/sites/default/files/bylaws/BYL_reg_12508.pdf","title":"Municipal Ticket Information Bylaw 12508 Schedule (PDF)","accessed":"2026-11-05"}],"sources_read":"2026-11-05","review":{"status":"machine_checked","badge":"Checked against official text","label":"Checked by script, not yet by a person: the official wording behind 6 of 6 facts was matched to the official text."},"urls":{"html":"https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/surrey/short-term-rental/","markdown":"https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/surrey/short-term-rental.md","json":"https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/surrey/short-term-rental.json"}}