GovHandbook

Tofino short-term rental rules (Airbnb, Vrbo)

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

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

Short answer

In Tofino, yes with conditions. Short-term rental is allowed only in a caretaker's cottage, single-family dwelling or suite in one, on a lot where a Permanent Resident lives in the other unit. Limit 3 bedrooms and 6 guests. You need a District business licence and the Province's host registration.

Key facts

AllowedYes, with conditions. Only in a caretaker's cottage, single-family dwelling or a suite within one, on a lot with two dwelling units where a Permanent Resident lives in the other unit. No more than 3 bedrooms and 6 guests.Zoning Bylaw No. 770, 1997 (consolidated, PDF), s. 4.3.2, s. 4.3.2(j); Short-Term Rental Regulations, Understanding Short-Term Rentals in Tofino · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-08
Official wording
Short Term Rental use is only permitted in the following structures:
Caretaker’s Cottage, Single-Family Dwelling, or Secondary Suite
located within a Single-Family Dwelling;
Short Term Rental use is only permitted on a lot that contains two
dwelling units; and,
A Permanent Resident must live at the premises
Business licenceYes. A business licence is required for each short-term rental premises. Fee (Class 9-1): 2026, $535.30 for one sleeping unit plus $176.60 for each extra sleeping unit; 2027, $551.40 plus $181.90. A $77.90 processing fee (2026) also applies.Business Licence Regulation Bylaw No. 1239, 2022 (PDF, consolidated), s. 3(1), Schedule A Class 9 · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-08
Official wording
A person must not carry on any business within the District unless that person holds a valid and
Short Term Rental based on One (1) Sleeping Unit $519.70 $535.30 $551.40
Each Additional Sleeping Unit $171.40 $176.60 $181.90
Processing Fee $75.60 $77.90 $80.20
Provincial registrationYes. The District directs hosts to the Province's host registration. Provincial registration applies to rentals under 90 consecutive days, whether or not a local licence is needed. Tofino is on the Province's list of communities exempt from the principal residence requirement.Short-Term Rental Regulations, Province of British Columbia’s Short-Term Rental Legislation; Principal residence requirement, Province of BC, Exempt communities and land list · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-08
Official wording
Register as a host - Province of British Columbia
Tahsis Tofino Trail
Provincial registration requirements apply to short-term rentals offered for fewer than 90 consecutive days
Operating rulesMax 3 bedrooms and 6 overnight guests (including children); a Permanent Resident on site, or a licensed property manager reachable within 2 hours; one off-street parking stall per room rented; licence number on all advertising; guests get the Respectful Neighbourliness Brochure.Business Licence Regulation Bylaw No. 1239, 2022 (PDF, consolidated), s. 7.3; Zoning Bylaw No. 770, 1997 (consolidated, PDF), s. 4.3.2, s. 4.3.2(j) · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-08
Official wording
permit more than three (3) bedrooms to be made available for bed and breakfast or Short-Term
permit more than six (6) overnight guests at one time at a bed and breakfast or Short-Term
display the business licence number on any marketing, advertisements, or promotions for the
can respond to concerns raised by guests, neighbours, or the License Inspector within 2 hours.
At least one off-street parking stall shall be provided for each room
FineBylaw notice: $500 for operating without a business licence ($400 if paid within 14 days); $500 for more than 6 guests, more than 3 sleeping units, or no onsite permanent resident (zoning). The bylaw also allows a court fine up to $10,000.Bylaw Notice Enforcement Amendment Bylaw No. 1107.21, 2026, Amendment 1107.21 (effective Jan 20, 2026); https://tofino.civicweb.net/document/163658/, Schedule A, Zoning Bylaw; Business Licence Regulation Bylaw No. 1239, 2022 (PDF, consolidated), s. 4(4) · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-08
Official wording
No Business License 3(1) Yes $500 $400 $500 50%
More than 6 guests permitted in STR 4.3.2(j)(iii) No $500 $400 $500 n/a
No onsite permanent resident 4.3.2(j)(v) No $500 $400 $500 n/a
a fine not exceeding $10,000.
BylawZoning Bylaw No. 770, 1997 (s. 4.3.2) and Business Licence Regulation Bylaw No. 1239, 2022 (s. 7.3)Business Licence Regulation Bylaw No. 1239, 2022 (PDF, consolidated), Title; Zoning Bylaw No. 770, 1997 (consolidated, PDF), s. 4.3.2 · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-08
Official wording
District of Tofino Business Licence Regulation Bylaw No. 1239, 2022
Regulations for Short Term Rental use:

How it works

In Tofino, short-term rental is allowed only in a caretaker's cottage, a single-family dwelling or a suite within one, on a lot with two dwelling units where a Permanent Resident lives in the other unit. Only one dwelling on a lot may be a short-term rental, and the use cannot be switched between dwellings in a calendar year. A bed and breakfast and a short-term rental cannot operate on the same lot at the same time. Some zones, such as AR1, exclude it, so check your zone. The rules are in Zoning Bylaw No. 770 s. 4.3.2 and Business Licence Regulation Bylaw No. 1239 s. 7.3.

The Province also requires host registration for rentals under 90 consecutive days, whether or not a local licence is needed. The Province's page lists Tofino as exempt from its principal residence requirement, but Tofino's own bylaws still require a Permanent Resident on site.

Steps

  1. Confirm your zone and lot allow it.
  2. Apply for a short-term rental business licence through the District's portal, with a floor plan showing each bedroom and bed type and proof of a Permanent Resident.
  3. Register with the Province (1-833-828-2240 or STRregistry@gov.bc.ca).
  4. Put your licence number on all advertising.

Good to know

  • Rules: at most 3 bedrooms and 6 overnight guests (including children); a Permanent Resident on site, or a licensed property manager reachable within 2 hours; one off-street parking stall per room rented, and at least one onsite space for the Permanent Resident; guests get the Respectful Neighbourliness Brochure; water conservation information displayed in Stages 1 to 3.
  • Bylaw notice fines: $500 for operating without a business licence ($400 if paid within 14 days); $500 for more than 6 guests, more than 3 sleeping units or no onsite permanent resident. The court fine can be up to $10,000.
  • The District's municipal ticket schedule lists $1,000 for contravening permitted uses under the Zoning Bylaw, and still cites the old Business Licence Bylaw 858.
  • Credit card payments carry a 2.5% surcharge. Fees rise 3% a year.

Official forms and pages

The same question in other places

Ucluelet · Gold River · Port Alberni · Cumberland · Courtenay · Comox

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

Sources

  1. Business Licensing, District of Tofino (read 2026-11-08)
  2. Short-Term Rental Regulations, District of Tofino (read 2026-11-08)
  3. Business Licence Regulation Bylaw No. 1239, 2022 (PDF, consolidated) (read 2026-11-08)
  4. Zoning Bylaw No. 770, 1997 (consolidated, PDF), s. 4.3.2 (read 2026-11-08)
  5. Bylaw Notice Enforcement Amendment Bylaw No. 1107.21, 2026 (PDF) (read 2026-11-08)
  6. Principal residence requirement, Province of BC (read 2026-11-08)
  7. https://tofino.civicweb.net/document/163658/ (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.