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

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

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

**Short answer:** In the City of Trail, short-term rentals (under four consecutive weeks) are allowed only in the R1 and R3 residential zones, and only after Council approves a rezoning for the property. You also need a City business licence and must register with the Province.

**Who handles it:** More than one level of government  
**Cost:** City licence: the fee schedule has no short-term rental line; the general rate is $90 a year. Provincial registration: $100 a year for your principal residence, $450 for a secondary unit.  
**Where:**
- Phone: Business Licence Inspector, 250-364-0833
- Phone: Manager of Planning and Climate Action, 250-364-0864
- Phone: Province of BC short-term rental registry (Service BC), 1-833-828-2240

## Key facts

- **Allowed:** Only in the R1 and R3 residential zones, and only after Council approves a rezoning for the property (it then becomes R1A or R3A). A few named properties are also listed in the zone sections. A short-term rental is a rental of under four consecutive weeks. An owner who lives outside Greater Trail must name a local contact.
  - Source: [City of Trail Zoning Bylaw No. 2503, 2002, sections 1(2), 2(4), 3(14), 3(15), s. 3(15)(a)](https://trail.ca/wp-content/uploads/2026/06/Zoning-Bylaw.pdf)
  - Official wording: "Short term rental accommodations will be permitted in the following zones:" … "Requests to establish a short term rental accommodation shall be submitted to Council as an" … "application for rezoning." … "Properties where short-term rental is approved shall be assigned an “A” after the Zone Short"
  - Source: [City of Trail Zoning Bylaw No. 2503, 2002, sections 1(2), 2(4), 3(14), 3(15), s. 1(2)](https://trail.ca/wp-content/uploads/2026/06/Zoning-Bylaw.pdf)
  - Official wording: "means the rental of a dwelling unit on a daily, weekly or" … "other short term basis for less than four (4) consecutive weeks;"
  - Source: [City of Trail Zoning Bylaw No. 2503, 2002, sections 1(2), 2(4), 3(14), 3(15), ss. 6(8), 7(9)(a)](https://trail.ca/wp-content/uploads/2026/06/Zoning-Bylaw.pdf)
  - Official wording: "the following properties may also have short-term rental accommodation:" … "also have short-term rental accommodation:"
  - Source: [City of Trail Zoning Bylaw No. 2503, 2002, sections 1(2), 2(4), 3(14), 3(15), s. 3(15)(b)(v)](https://trail.ca/wp-content/uploads/2026/06/Zoning-Bylaw.pdf)
  - Official wording: "If the owner does not reside in the" … "Greater Trail area, the name, address and telephone number of a local contact"
  - Source: [Principal residence requirement, Province of British Columbia, List of exempt communities (Province, updated Sept 21, 2026; lists as of June 1, 2026)](https://www2.gov.bc.ca/gov/content/housing-tenancy/short-term-rentals/principal-residence-requirement)
  - Official wording: "List of exempt communities and land where the principal residence requirement does not apply" … "Tofino Trail Tumbler Ridge"
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06
- **Business licence:** Yes. The owner must get a City of Trail business licence before starting and display it in the dwelling. The fee schedule has no short-term rental line: the general rate for businesses not listed is $90 a year, and Hotel/Motel is $5 per room.
  - Source: [City of Trail Zoning Bylaw No. 2503, 2002, sections 1(2), 2(4), 3(14), 3(15), s. 3(15)(b)(vii)](https://trail.ca/wp-content/uploads/2026/06/Zoning-Bylaw.pdf)
  - Official wording: "The owner of the short term rental accommodation shall obtain a City of Trail Business" … "be prominently displayed in the dwelling."
  - Source: [City of Trail Business Licence Bylaw No. 2505, 2002, Schedule A](https://trail.ca/wp-content/uploads/2026/06/Business-Licence-Bylaw.pdf)
  - Official wording: "All businesses except those listed elsewhere in this Schedule $90.00" … "Hotel/Motel $5.00 per room plus"
  - Source: [Business Licences, Other information](https://www.trail.ca/business-development/doing-business-in-trail/business-licences/)
  - Official wording: "Hotels, motels, long/short term rentals only."
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06
- **Provincial registration:** Yes. Short-term rental hosts in B.C. must register with the Province and pay annual registration fees: $100 a year for the host's principal residence and $450 a year for a secondary unit such as a separate suite or cottage.
  - Source: [Short-term rental registration, Province of British Columbia, Registration overview](https://www2.gov.bc.ca/gov/content/housing-tenancy/short-term-rentals/registry)
  - Official wording: "Hosts, platforms, and strata hotel platforms operating in B.C. must follow a simple online process to register with the Province."
  - Source: [Principal residence requirement, Province of British Columbia, Principal residence requirement and registration fees](https://www2.gov.bc.ca/gov/content/housing-tenancy/short-term-rentals/principal-residence-requirement)
  - Official wording: "The unit the host lives in is their principal residence. The guests have access to the host's space (bedroom, bathroom, kitchen, and living room). Fee: $100 annually This includes:" … "Any accommodation that is separate from the home where the host lives, sleeps, and eats is considered a secondary unit, even if it is located on the same property or connected by an interior door. Guests stay in their own private space and do not have access to the host's bedroom, bathroom, or kitchen. Fee: $450 annually This includes:"
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06
- **Operating rules:** At most 2 sleeping rooms and 2 people per sleeping room; 1 off-street parking space per sleeping room; no outside sign of the rental except a permitted sign and parking. One non-illuminated fascia sign up to 0.5 m² with the owner's (or local contact's) name, address and phone. Owner or contact details and the licence displayed inside. No owning more than 2 operations within 100 m.
  - Source: [City of Trail Zoning Bylaw No. 2503, 2002, sections 1(2), 2(4), 3(14), 3(15), s. 3(15)(b)(i)-(ix)](https://trail.ca/wp-content/uploads/2026/06/Zoning-Bylaw.pdf)
  - Official wording: "No more than 2 sleeping rooms are permitted in a short term rental" … "No more than 2 persons may occupy a sleeping room." … "One off street parking space is required for each sleeping room." … "non-illuminated fascia sign attached to the dwelling to a maximum size of 0.5" … "must be prominently displayed in the dwelling." … "is prohibited from owning more than 2 operations within" … "100 m (328 ft.) of each other."
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06
- **Fine:** No ticket amount found. Breaking the Zoning Bylaw or Business Licence Bylaw is punishable on summary conviction by a fine of up to $2,000 under either bylaw; each day is a separate offence.
  - Source: [City of Trail Zoning Bylaw No. 2503, 2002, sections 1(2), 2(4), 3(14), 3(15), s. 2(4)](https://trail.ca/wp-content/uploads/2026/06/Zoning-Bylaw.pdf)
  - Official wording: "to a fine or penalty not exceeding two thousand dollars" … "A separate offence shall be deemed to be committed on each day on which an"
  - Source: [City of Trail Business Licence Bylaw No. 2505, 2002, s. 5(1)](https://trail.ca/wp-content/uploads/2026/06/Business-Licence-Bylaw.pdf)
  - Official wording: "be liable to a penalty of not more than two thousand dollars ($2,000.00)."
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06
- **Bylaw:** City of Trail Zoning Bylaw No. 2503, 2002 (s. 3(15)); City of Trail Business Licence Bylaw No. 2505, 2002
  - Source: [City of Trail Zoning Bylaw No. 2503, 2002, sections 1(2), 2(4), 3(14), 3(15), Title page](https://trail.ca/wp-content/uploads/2026/06/Zoning-Bylaw.pdf)
  - Official wording: "ZONING BYLAW NO. 2503, 2002"
  - Source: [City of Trail Business Licence Bylaw No. 2505, 2002, Title page](https://trail.ca/wp-content/uploads/2026/06/Business-Licence-Bylaw.pdf)
  - Official wording: "BUSINESS LICENCE BYLAW NO. 2505, 2002"
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06

## How it works

Under the City of Trail's [Zoning Bylaw](https://trail.ca/wp-content/uploads/2026/06/Zoning-Bylaw.pdf), a short-term rental (a rental of under four consecutive weeks) is allowed only in the R1 and R3 zones, and only after Council approves a rezoning for the property (it then becomes R1A or R3A). A few named properties are also listed in the zone sections. An owner who lives outside Greater Trail must name a local contact.

The Province's short-term rental rules also apply. Trail is on the Province's list of exempt communities (updated September 21, 2026, with lists as of June 1, 2026), so the provincial principal-residence requirement does not apply here. The Zoning Bylaw has no principal-residence rule either. Bed and breakfasts (up to 2 guest rooms, meal served before noon) are a separate use in R1 and R3.

## Steps

1. Check your zone (see zoning-lookup). If you are in R1 or R3, ask Planning about the rezoning process.
2. Get a City of Trail business licence before you start, and display it inside the dwelling.
3. Register with the Province and pay the annual fee: $100 for your principal residence, $450 for a secondary unit such as a separate suite or cottage.

## Good to know

- Zoning limits: at most 2 sleeping rooms and 2 people per sleeping room; 1 off-street parking space per sleeping room; no outside sign of the rental except a permitted sign and parking.
- One non-illuminated fascia sign up to 0.5 m2 is allowed, with the owner's (or local contact's) name, address and phone. You may not own more than 2 operations within 100 m.
- The business licence fee schedule has no short-term rental line. The general rate for businesses not listed is $90 a year, and Hotel/Motel is $5 per room. Ask the Business Licence Inspector which applies.
- Trail has no bylaw notice or municipal ticket schedule for these bylaws that we found. Breaking the Zoning Bylaw or the Business Licence Bylaw is punishable on summary conviction by a fine of up to $2,000 under either bylaw, and each day is a separate offence.

## Official forms and pages

- [Business Licences (City of Trail)](https://www.trail.ca/business-development/doing-business-in-trail/business-licences/)
- [Zoning Bylaw No. 2503, 2002 (PDF)](https://trail.ca/wp-content/uploads/2026/06/Zoning-Bylaw.pdf)
- [Business Licence Bylaw No. 2505, 2002 (PDF)](https://trail.ca/wp-content/uploads/2026/06/Business-Licence-Bylaw.pdf)
- [Short-term rental registration (Province of BC)](https://www2.gov.bc.ca/gov/content/housing-tenancy/short-term-rentals/registry)

## Related questions

- [Trail business licences: who needs one, fees and how to apply](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/trail/business-licence.md)
- [Trail home-based business rules](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/trail/home-based-business.md)
- [Trail secondary suite and carriage house rules](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/trail/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)
- [Warfield](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/warfield/short-term-rental.md)
- [Rossland](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/rossland/short-term-rental.md)
- [Montrose](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/montrose/short-term-rental.md)
- [Fruitvale](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/fruitvale/short-term-rental.md)
- [Castlegar](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/castlegar/short-term-rental.md)
- [Salmo](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/salmo/short-term-rental.md)

## Sources

- [City of Trail Zoning Bylaw No. 2503, 2002 (PDF), sections 1(2), 2(4), 3(14), 3(15)](https://trail.ca/wp-content/uploads/2026/06/Zoning-Bylaw.pdf) (read 2026-11-06)
- [City of Trail Business Licence Bylaw No. 2505, 2002 (PDF)](https://trail.ca/wp-content/uploads/2026/06/Business-Licence-Bylaw.pdf) (read 2026-11-06)
- [Business Licences, City of Trail](https://www.trail.ca/business-development/doing-business-in-trail/business-licences/) (read 2026-11-06)
- [Principal residence requirement, Province of British Columbia](https://www2.gov.bc.ca/gov/content/housing-tenancy/short-term-rentals/principal-residence-requirement) (read 2026-11-06)
- [Short-term rental registration, Province of British Columbia](https://www2.gov.bc.ca/gov/content/housing-tenancy/short-term-rentals/registry) (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/trail/short-term-rental/_