---
title: Tumbler Ridge short-term rental rules (Airbnb, Vrbo)
question: "Can I rent out my home or a room on Airbnb in Tumbler Ridge?"
place: Tumbler Ridge, British Columbia, Canada
place_path: ca/bc/tumbler-ridge
category: Housing and renting
owner: shared
sources_read: 2026-11-08
review: machine_checked
canonical: "https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/tumbler-ridge/short-term-rental/"
json: "https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/tumbler-ridge/short-term-rental.json"
---

# Tumbler Ridge short-term rental rules (Airbnb, Vrbo)

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

**Short answer:** Yes, with a District of Tumbler Ridge business licence ($150 a year), only in the R1, R2, R3, MHL, MHP, RM1, RM2 and C1 zones. Guest stays may not exceed 90 consecutive days. You must also register with the Province's short-term rental registry.

**Who handles it:** More than one level of government  
**Cost:** $150 a year (half price if issued after July 31).  
**How long:** Not stated.  
**Where:**
- In person: Town Hall, 305 Iles Way, Tumbler Ridge, BC V0C 2W0 (Monday to Friday, 8:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.)
- Phone: Town Hall, 250-242-4242
- Email: Corporate Services, corporate@dtr.ca

## Key facts

- **Allowed:** Yes, with a District licence, only in the R1, R2, R3, MHL, MHP, RM1, RM2 and C1 zones. Not allowed in a building with an occupied secondary suite or a bed and breakfast. A guest's stay may not exceed 90 consecutive days. No local principal-residence rule was found.
  - Source: [Zoning Bylaw No. 747, 2025, s. 5.8.1, 5.8.2, 5.8.3](https://tumblerridge.civicweb.net/document/66310/)
  - Official wording: "Short-Term Rentals are only permitted in the following zones: R1, R2, R3, MHL, MHP, RM1, RM2, and C1." … "Operation of a Short-Term Rental requires a license issued by the District" … "Short-Term Rental must not be conducted within a building with an occupied Secondary Suite or a Bed and Breakfast."
  - Source: [Business Licence Bylaw No. 757, 2025, Business Licence Bylaw s. 3, definition of Short-Term Rental](https://tumblerridge.civicweb.net/document/3487/)
  - Official wording: "The maximum stay for any guest shall not exceed 90" … "or such other limits as may be established by provincial legislation or the"
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-08
- **Business licence:** Yes. A business licence is required to operate, offer or advertise a short-term rental. The fee is $150 a year (half price if issued after July 31). The application needs proof of ownership and one local contact who can answer by phone 24 hours a day.
  - Source: [Business Licence Bylaw No. 757, 2025, Business Licence Bylaw s. 16.7.1, 16.7.6](https://tumblerridge.civicweb.net/document/3487/)
  - Official wording: "No person shall operate, offer, or advertise a Short-Term Rental without a valid" … "Proof of ownership of the dwelling unit to be used;" … "who mustbe able to respond on a 24-hour basis to telephone"
  - Source: [Fees and Charges Bylaw No. 623 consolidation, December 2025, Fees and Charges Bylaw No. 623, Schedule F](https://tumblerridgedist.municipalwebsites.ca/ckfinder/connector?command=Proxy&lang=en&type=Files&currentFolder=%2F&hash=c245c263ce0eced480effe66bbede6b4d46c15ae&fileName=Bylaw%20623%20-%20Fees%20and%20Charges%20Bylaw%20Consolidation%20-%20December%202025.pdf)
  - Official wording: "Short-Term Rental* $150.00" … "A 50% discount shall apply to Business Licence fees for Regular Business, Home Occupation, Short-Term"
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-08
- **Provincial registration:** Yes. Provincial short-term rental registration applies to rentals offered for fewer than 90 consecutive days, whether or not a local licence is needed. Tumbler Ridge is on the Province's list of communities exempt from the provincial principal residence requirement (list as of June 1, 2026).
  - Source: [Short-term rentals: principal residence requirement, Province of British Columbia, BC Province page, 'Business licence exemptions' and 'List of exempt communities'](https://www2.gov.bc.ca/gov/content/housing-tenancy/short-term-rentals/principal-residence-requirement)
  - Official wording: "Provincial registration requirements apply to short-term rentals offered for fewer than 90 consecutive days, regardless of whether a local business licence is required." … "Municipalities with populations under 10,000 and not within 15 km of a larger municipality (listed below)" … "Trail Tumbler Ridge Ucluelet"
  - Source: [Business Licence Bylaw No. 757, 2025, s. 16.7.2](https://tumblerridge.civicweb.net/document/3487/)
  - Official wording: "Operators must comply with Short-Term Rental provincial legislation and its regulations."
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-08
- **Operating rules:** Provide enough on-property parking. Keep a daily guest registry (name, phone, address, licence plate) and give it to the District on request. Have a local contact reachable 24 hours a day. Expect annual inspections. Keep the licence visible on the premises. Follow noise, traffic and zoning bylaws.
  - Source: [Business Licence Bylaw No. 757, 2025, s. 16.7.3 to 16.7.7, 8.4](https://tumblerridge.civicweb.net/document/3487/)
  - Official wording: "Each Short-Term Rental must provide sufficient on-property parking." … "Establish and maintain a daily guest registry containing each guest" … "Short-Term Rentals are subject to annual inspections" … "Every licencee shall keep their business licence in a visible location on the business premises"
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-08
- **Fine:** Municipal ticket: $150 for carrying on business without a licence; $100 for not providing sufficient on-property parking; $100 for not keeping or providing the guest registry.
  - Source: [Municipal Ticket Information Amendment Bylaw No. 759, MTI Amendment Bylaw No. 759, 2026, new Schedule 4](https://tumblerridge.civicweb.net/document/66320/)
  - Official wording: "Carry on Business Without a Licence 4.1 $150.00" … "Short-Term Rental Fail to Provide Sufficient On-Property Parking| 16.7.5 $100.00" … "Short-Term Rental Fail to Maintain or Provide Guest Registry 16.7.7 $100.00"
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-08
- **Bylaw:** Business Licence Bylaw No. 757, 2025 (s. 16.7); Zoning Bylaw No. 747, 2025 (s. 5.8); Fees and Charges Bylaw No. 623, 2017 (Schedule F)
  - Source: [Business Licence Bylaw No. 757, 2025, s. 16.7](https://tumblerridge.civicweb.net/document/3487/)
  - Official wording: "A Non-Resident Business Licenceis valid for the licence year in whichit is issued, unless otherwise stated on the licence. 16.7 Short-Term Rental 16.7.1 Licence Requirement (a) No person shall operate, offer, or advertise a Short-Term Rental without a valid" … "DISTRICT OF TUMBLER RIDGE BUSINESS LICENCE BYLAW NO.757, 2025 A Bylaw to provide for the Licensing and Regulation of Businesses in the"
  - Source: [Zoning Bylaw No. 747, 2025, s. 5.8](https://tumblerridge.civicweb.net/document/66310/)
  - Official wording: "year. 5.8 SHORT-TERM RENTALS 5.8.1 Short-Term Rentals are only permitted in the following zones: R1, R2, R3, MHL, MHP, RM1, RM2, and C1." … "DISTRICT OF TUMBLER RIDGE ZONING BYLAW No. 747, 2025 A Bylaw to regulate the location and use of buildings and structures and the use of land including the surface"
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-08

## How it works

In Tumbler Ridge, a short-term rental needs a business licence under Part 16.7 of the [Business Licence Bylaw No. 757](https://tumblerridge.civicweb.net/document/3487/). The [Zoning Bylaw No. 747](https://tumblerridge.civicweb.net/document/66310/) allows it only in the R1, R2, R3, MHL, MHP, RM1, RM2 and C1 zones, and not in a building with an occupied secondary suite or a bed and breakfast. A guest's stay may not exceed 90 consecutive days. No local principal-residence rule was found.

The licence is valid for the calendar year and must be renewed annually. The fee is $150 a year, half price if issued after July 31 ([Fees and Charges Bylaw No. 623](https://tumblerridgedist.municipalwebsites.ca/ckfinder/connector?command=Proxy&lang=en&type=Files&currentFolder=%2F&hash=c245c263ce0eced480effe66bbede6b4d46c15ae&fileName=Bylaw%20623%20-%20Fees%20and%20Charges%20Bylaw%20Consolidation%20-%20December%202025.pdf), Schedule F).

## Steps

1. Check that your zone allows it and that no occupied secondary suite is in the building.
2. Apply to Corporate Services (corporate@dtr.ca, 250-242-4242) with proof of ownership and one local contact who can answer by phone 24 hours a day. Strata and multi-unit buildings need a consent letter.
3. Register with the Province's short-term rental registry.

## Good to know

- Rules: enough on-property parking (at least the minimum for the principal use), a daily guest registry (name, phone, address, licence plate) given to the District on request, a 24-hour local contact, annual inspections, and the licence visible on the premises. Follow noise, traffic and zoning bylaws.
- Municipal tickets ([Amendment Bylaw No. 759](https://tumblerridge.civicweb.net/document/66320/)): $150 with no licence; $100 for not enough parking; $100 for no guest registry; $50 for not displaying the licence.
- Provincial registration applies to rentals under 90 consecutive days. As of June 1, 2026, the Province lists Tumbler Ridge among communities exempt from its principal-residence requirement. The list changes yearly, so check the Province's [page](https://www2.gov.bc.ca/gov/content/housing-tenancy/short-term-rentals/principal-residence-requirement).

## Official forms and pages

- [Business Licence Bylaw No. 757, 2025 (PDF), District of Tumbler Ridge](https://tumblerridge.civicweb.net/document/3487/)
- [Zoning Bylaw No. 747, 2025 (PDF), District of Tumbler Ridge](https://tumblerridge.civicweb.net/document/66310/)

## Related questions

- [Tumbler Ridge business licences: who needs one, fees and how to apply](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/tumbler-ridge/business-licence.md)
- [Tumbler Ridge home-based business rules](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/tumbler-ridge/home-based-business.md)
- [Tumbler Ridge secondary suite and carriage house rules](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/tumbler-ridge/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)
- [Chetwynd](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/chetwynd/short-term-rental.md)
- [Dawson Creek](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/dawson-creek/short-term-rental.md)
- [Pouce Coupe](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/pouce-coupe/short-term-rental.md)
- [Hudson's Hope](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/hudsons-hope/short-term-rental.md)
- [Mackenzie](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/mackenzie/short-term-rental.md)
- [Taylor](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/taylor/short-term-rental.md)

## Sources

- [Business Licence Bylaw No. 757, 2025 (PDF), District of Tumbler Ridge](https://tumblerridge.civicweb.net/document/3487/) (read 2026-11-08)
- [Zoning Bylaw No. 747, 2025 (PDF), District of Tumbler Ridge](https://tumblerridge.civicweb.net/document/66310/) (read 2026-11-08)
- [Fees and Charges Bylaw No. 623 consolidation, December 2025 (PDF), District of Tumbler Ridge](https://tumblerridgedist.municipalwebsites.ca/ckfinder/connector?command=Proxy&lang=en&type=Files&currentFolder=%2F&hash=c245c263ce0eced480effe66bbede6b4d46c15ae&fileName=Bylaw%20623%20-%20Fees%20and%20Charges%20Bylaw%20Consolidation%20-%20December%202025.pdf) (read 2026-11-08)
- [Municipal Ticket Information Amendment Bylaw No. 759 (PDF), District of Tumbler Ridge](https://tumblerridge.civicweb.net/document/66320/) (read 2026-11-08)
- [Short-term rentals: principal residence requirement, Province of British Columbia](https://www2.gov.bc.ca/gov/content/housing-tenancy/short-term-rentals/principal-residence-requirement) (read 2026-11-08)
- [Business Licences, District of Tumbler Ridge](https://www.districtoftumblerridge.ca/p/business-licences) (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. 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/tumbler-ridge/short-term-rental/_