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

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

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

**Short answer:** In Ucluelet, vacation rentals are allowed only in zones that list them (VR-1, VR-2 and some CD areas), run by the full-time resident, and bed and breakfasts only in zones that list them. Both need a District business licence. Hosts must also register with the Province's rental registry.

**Who handles it:** More than one level of government  
**Cost:** $35 new application fee, plus an annual fee: B&B $450 for one room plus $125 per additional room; vacation rental $450 for the first unit plus $125 per additional unit. Schedule P is headed 2022; fees rise 2% each May 1 from 2024, so current amounts are higher.  
**How long:** Not stated for short-term rentals. See the business-licence answer for review times.  
**Where:**
- Email: Business licences, District of Ucluelet, info@ucluelet.ca
- Phone: Municipal Office, 250-726-7744
- In person: Municipal Office, 200 Main Street, Ucluelet, BC V0R 3A0 (Monday to Friday, 8:30 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. and 1:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m.)

## Key facts

- **Allowed:** Vacation rentals only where the zone lists VR-1 or VR-2 (VR-1 zone and some CD areas), run by the full-time resident. VR-1: single family dwellings, ADUs and duplexes, up to two dwelling units, not multiple-family buildings. VR-2: single family dwellings only. B&Bs: up to 3 guest rooms in the operator's principal residence, in zones that list B&B.
  - Source: [Zoning Bylaw No. 1160, 2013, unofficial consolidation, s. 406.1](https://ucluelet.civicweb.net/document/72466/)
  - Official wording: "406.1 Where a Zone specifically includes Vacation Rental (VR-1) or Vacation Rental" … "(a) accessory to a permanent residential use and administered by the full-" … "(b) occupying a maximum of two (2) dwelling units;" … "(1) VR-1 uses are permitted within single family dwellings, accessory residential dwelling units and duplexes (including their secondary suites), but are not permitted in multiple family residential buildings;"
  - Source: [Zoning Bylaw No. 1160, 2013, unofficial consolidation, s. 404.1](https://ucluelet.civicweb.net/document/72466/)
  - Official wording: "One bed and breakfast use is permitted within a single family dwelling if all" … "(2) A maximum of three (3) guest rooms may be used for the bed and breakfast"
  - Source: [Zoning Bylaw No. 1160, 2013, unofficial consolidation, R-1H Zone](https://ucluelet.civicweb.net/document/72466/)
  - Official wording: "with accessory residential uses and no short-term vacation rentals."
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-08
- **Business licence:** Yes. A valid Ucluelet business licence is required. New application fee $35, plus annual fee: B&B $450 for one room plus $125 per additional room; vacation rental $450 for the first unit plus $125 per additional unit. Schedule P is headed 2022; fees rise 2% each May 1 from 2024.
  - Source: [Zoning Bylaw No. 1160, 2013, unofficial consolidation, s. 406.3](https://ucluelet.civicweb.net/document/72466/)
  - Official wording: "406.3 A valid District of Ucluelet Business Licence is required in order to register"
  - Source: [Zoning Bylaw No. 1160, 2013, unofficial consolidation, s. 404.1(5)](https://ucluelet.civicweb.net/document/72466/)
  - Official wording: "(5) A valid District of Ucluelet Business Licence is required in order to"
  - Source: [Fees and Charges Bylaw No. 1186, 2016, unofficial 2025 consolidation, Schedule P, class B-1](https://ucluelet.civicweb.net/filepro/document/77211/1186%20Bylaw%202016%20-%20Fees%20and%20Charges%20-%20Consolidated%20-%202025%20-%20FINAL.pdf)
  - Official wording: "New Application Fee $35 (non refundable)" … "Breakfast bed & breakfast accommodation $450.00" … "$450.00 Rentals vacation rentals to transient travellers or vacationers For first unit, plus $125.00 each additional available unit" … "Business Licensing Fees shall increase by 2% annually on the 1st of May, effective 2024."
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-08
- **Provincial registration:** Ucluelet is on the Province's list of exempt communities, so the provincial principal residence requirement does not apply here. Hosts offering stays under 90 consecutive days must still register with the Province's Short-Term Rental Registry.
  - Source: [Short-term rentals, principal residence requirement, Province of BC, List of exempt communities](https://www2.gov.bc.ca/gov/content/housing-tenancy/short-term-rentals/principal-residence-requirement)
  - Official wording: "Communities exempt from the provincial principal residence requirement:" … "Tumbler Ridge Ucluelet Valemount"
  - Source: [Short-term rentals, principal residence requirement, Province of BC, Business licence exemptions](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"
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-08
- **Operating rules:** Online ads must show the business licence number, the number of off-street parking spaces (the guest vehicle maximum) and maximum guest occupancy. A licence sign must be displayed near the property line. Give booking records on request. B&B: 2 guests per room, 3 rooms, operator reachable by phone in 15 minutes and on site within 6 hours.
  - Source: [Business Regulation and Licensing Bylaw No. 2002, 2026, s. 11.6](https://ucluelet.civicweb.net/filepro/document/84288/2002%20Bylaw,%202026%20-%20Business%20Regulation%20_%20Licensing.pdf)
  - Official wording: "(a) Every online advertisement for a Bed & Breakfast, Vacation Rental or Guest" … "i) valid Ucluelet business licence number;" … "(b) The Licence holder for a Bed & Breakfast, Vacation Rental or Guest House is"
  - Source: [Business Regulation and Licensing Bylaw No. 2002, 2026, s. 11.7](https://ucluelet.civicweb.net/filepro/document/84288/2002%20Bylaw,%202026%20-%20Business%20Regulation%20_%20Licensing.pdf)
  - Official wording: "(a) Every person carrying on the business of a Bed & Breakfast, Vacation Rental or"
  - Source: [Business Regulation and Licensing Bylaw No. 2002, 2026, s. 11.5(j)](https://ucluelet.civicweb.net/filepro/document/84288/2002%20Bylaw,%202026%20-%20Business%20Regulation%20_%20Licensing.pdf)
  - Official wording: "The operator of a B&B must remain available to respond to inquiries or" … "problems raised by guests by phone within 15 minutes and in person within"
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-08
- **Fine:** Bylaw notices: no valid business licence $500 ($400 early, $625 late); vacation rental beyond the legal number of suites or rooms $150 ($112.50 early, $187.50 late); missing licence number in an ad $100. Zoning Bylaw Schedule C: non-compliant vacation rental $200 first, $400 subsequent.
  - Source: [Bylaw Notice Enforcement Bylaw No. 2019, 2026, Schedule A, Business Regulation and Licensing Bylaw](https://ucluelet.civicweb.net/filepro/document/84303/2019%20Bylaw,%202026%20-%20Bylaw%20Notice%20Enforcement%20Bylaw.pdf)
  - Official wording: "No Valid Business Licence $500.00 $400.00 $625.00" … "Vacation Rental in contravention of $150.00 $112.50 $187.50" … "Failure to advertise valid business"
  - Source: [Zoning Bylaw No. 1160, 2013, unofficial consolidation, Schedule C](https://ucluelet.civicweb.net/document/72466/)
  - Official wording: "Non-compliant Vacation Rental $200 $400" … "Non-compliant Bed & Breakfast $100 $200"
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-08
- **Bylaw:** Business Regulation and Licensing Bylaw No. 2002, 2026 (s. 11); Zoning Bylaw No. 1160, 2013 (ss. 404 and 406); Bylaw Notice Enforcement Bylaw No. 2019, 2026.
  - Source: [Business Regulation and Licensing Bylaw No. 2002, 2026, s. 1](https://ucluelet.civicweb.net/filepro/document/84288/2002%20Bylaw,%202026%20-%20Business%20Regulation%20_%20Licensing.pdf)
  - Official wording: "Business Regulation and Licensing Bylaw No. 2002, 2026"
  - Source: [Zoning Bylaw No. 1160, 2013, unofficial consolidation, footer](https://ucluelet.civicweb.net/document/72466/)
  - Official wording: "Zoning Bylaw No. 1160, 2013 (unofficial consolidation up to Bylaw 1412, 2026)"
  - Source: [Bylaw Notice Enforcement Bylaw No. 2019, 2026, Schedule A](https://ucluelet.civicweb.net/filepro/document/84303/2019%20Bylaw,%202026%20-%20Bylaw%20Notice%20Enforcement%20Bylaw.pdf)
  - Official wording: "BYLAW NOTICE ENFORCEMENT BYLAW"
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-08

## How it works

Ucluelet allows short-term rentals only where its [Zoning Bylaw](https://ucluelet.civicweb.net/document/72466/) lists them. Vacation rentals are allowed where a zone lists VR-1 or VR-2 (the VR-1 zone and some CD areas), run by the full-time resident. VR-1 allows single family dwellings, ADUs and duplexes, up to two dwelling units, but not multiple-family buildings. VR-2 allows single family dwellings only. A bed and breakfast (B&B) may have up to 3 guest rooms in the operator's principal residence, in zones that list B&B (such as R-1, R-2, R-4, RU and some CD zones; R-1H allows none).

You need a valid Ucluelet business licence. Provincially, Ucluelet is on the exempt list for the principal residence requirement, but hosts offering stays under 90 consecutive days must still register with the Province's Short-Term Rental Registry. Local rules still require the host to live in the home for VR-1, VR-2 and B&B.

## Steps

1. Check your zone for VR-1, VR-2 or B&B in the Zoning Bylaw, or ask Planning.
2. Apply for a business licence (see the business-licence answer).
3. Register with the Province if you offer stays under 90 consecutive days.
4. Put your licence number, parking and guest limits in every online ad, and display the licence sign.

## Good to know

- Ads must show the business licence number, the number of off-street parking spaces (the guest vehicle maximum) and the maximum guest occupancy.
- Display a licence sign near the property line. A vacation rental sign must also show the maximum occupancy, maximum guest vehicles and a contact number. Give booking records to the District on request.
- B&B: 2 guests per room, 3 rooms, operator reachable by phone within 15 minutes and on site within 6 hours.
- Parking: 1 space per vacation rental unit; 1 space per B&B bedroom or guest room.
- Bylaw notices: no valid business licence $500 ($400 if paid early, $625 if late); a vacation rental beyond the legal number of suites or rooms $150 ($112.50 early, $187.50 late); a missing licence number in an ad $100.
- Zoning fines: a non-compliant vacation rental is $200 first offence, then $400; a non-compliant B&B is $100, then $200. The bylaw also allows a court fine of up to $50,000.

## Official forms and pages

- [Business Regulation and Licensing Bylaw No. 2002, 2026 (PDF)](https://ucluelet.civicweb.net/filepro/document/84288/2002%20Bylaw,%202026%20-%20Business%20Regulation%20_%20Licensing.pdf)
- [Zoning Bylaw No. 1160, 2013, unofficial consolidation](https://ucluelet.civicweb.net/document/72466/)
- [Bylaw Notice Enforcement Bylaw No. 2019, 2026 (PDF)](https://ucluelet.civicweb.net/filepro/document/84303/2019%20Bylaw,%202026%20-%20Bylaw%20Notice%20Enforcement%20Bylaw.pdf)
- [Short-term rentals, principal residence requirement, Province of BC](https://www2.gov.bc.ca/gov/content/housing-tenancy/short-term-rentals/principal-residence-requirement)

## Related questions

- [Ucluelet business licences: who needs one, fees and how to apply](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/ucluelet/business-licence.md)
- [Ucluelet secondary suite and carriage house rules](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/ucluelet/secondary-suite.md)
- [Ucluelet home-based business rules](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/ucluelet/home-based-business.md)
- [Ucluelet zoning: find your zone and what it allows](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/ucluelet/zoning-lookup.md)

## The same question elsewhere

- [Short-term rental rules in British Columbia, by municipality](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/short-term-rental.md)
- [Tofino](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/tofino/short-term-rental.md)
- [Port Alberni](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/port-alberni/short-term-rental.md)
- [Cumberland](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/cumberland/short-term-rental.md)
- [Courtenay](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/courtenay/short-term-rental.md)
- [Qualicum Beach](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/qualicum-beach/short-term-rental.md)
- [Comox](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/comox/short-term-rental.md)

## Sources

- [Zoning Bylaw No. 1160, 2013, unofficial consolidation, District of Ucluelet](https://ucluelet.civicweb.net/document/72466/) (read 2026-11-08)
- [Business Regulation and Licensing Bylaw No. 2002, 2026 (PDF), District of Ucluelet](https://ucluelet.civicweb.net/filepro/document/84288/2002%20Bylaw,%202026%20-%20Business%20Regulation%20_%20Licensing.pdf) (read 2026-11-08)
- [Bylaw Notice Enforcement Bylaw No. 2019, 2026 (PDF), District of Ucluelet](https://ucluelet.civicweb.net/filepro/document/84303/2019%20Bylaw,%202026%20-%20Bylaw%20Notice%20Enforcement%20Bylaw.pdf) (read 2026-11-08)
- [Fees and Charges Bylaw No. 1186, 2016, unofficial 2025 consolidation (PDF), District of Ucluelet](https://ucluelet.civicweb.net/filepro/document/77211/1186%20Bylaw%202016%20-%20Fees%20and%20Charges%20-%20Consolidated%20-%202025%20-%20FINAL.pdf) (read 2026-11-08)
- [Short-term rentals, principal residence requirement, Province of BC](https://www2.gov.bc.ca/gov/content/housing-tenancy/short-term-rentals/principal-residence-requirement) (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/ucluelet/short-term-rental/_