GovHandbook

Ucluelet short-term rental rules (Airbnb, Vrbo)

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

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

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.

Key facts

AllowedVacation 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.Zoning Bylaw No. 1160, 2013, unofficial consolidation, s. 406.1; Zoning Bylaw No. 1160, 2013, unofficial consolidation, s. 404.1; Zoning Bylaw No. 1160, 2013, unofficial consolidation, R-1H Zone · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-08
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;
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
with accessory residential uses and no short-term vacation rentals.
Business licenceYes. 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.Zoning Bylaw No. 1160, 2013, unofficial consolidation, s. 406.3; Zoning Bylaw No. 1160, 2013, unofficial consolidation, s. 404.1(5); Fees and Charges Bylaw No. 1186, 2016, unofficial 2025 consolidation, Schedule P, class B-1 · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-08
Official wording
406.3 A valid District of Ucluelet Business Licence is required in order to register
(5) A valid District of Ucluelet Business Licence is required in order to
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.
Provincial registrationUcluelet 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.Short-term rentals, principal residence requirement, Province of BC, List of exempt communities; Short-term rentals, principal residence requirement, Province of BC, Business licence exemptions · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-08
Official wording
Communities exempt from the provincial principal residence requirement:
Tumbler Ridge Ucluelet Valemount
Provincial registration requirements apply to short-term rentals offered for fewer than 90 consecutive days
Operating rulesOnline 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.Business Regulation and Licensing Bylaw No. 2002, 2026, s. 11.6; Business Regulation and Licensing Bylaw No. 2002, 2026, s. 11.7; Business Regulation and Licensing Bylaw No. 2002, 2026, s. 11.5(j) · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-08
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
(a) Every person carrying on the business of a Bed & Breakfast, Vacation Rental or
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
FineBylaw 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.Bylaw Notice Enforcement Bylaw No. 2019, 2026, Schedule A, Business Regulation and Licensing Bylaw; Zoning Bylaw No. 1160, 2013, unofficial consolidation, Schedule C · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-08
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
Non-compliant Vacation Rental $200 $400
Non-compliant Bed & Breakfast $100 $200
BylawBusiness 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.Business Regulation and Licensing Bylaw No. 2002, 2026, s. 1; Zoning Bylaw No. 1160, 2013, unofficial consolidation, footer; Bylaw Notice Enforcement Bylaw No. 2019, 2026, Schedule A · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-08
Official wording
Business Regulation and Licensing Bylaw No. 2002, 2026
Zoning Bylaw No. 1160, 2013 (unofficial consolidation up to Bylaw 1412, 2026)
BYLAW NOTICE ENFORCEMENT BYLAW

How it works

Ucluelet allows short-term rentals only where its Zoning Bylaw 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

The same question in other places

Tofino · Port Alberni · Cumberland · Courtenay · Qualicum Beach · Comox

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

Sources

  1. Zoning Bylaw No. 1160, 2013, unofficial consolidation, District of Ucluelet (read 2026-11-08)
  2. Business Regulation and Licensing Bylaw No. 2002, 2026 (PDF), District of Ucluelet (read 2026-11-08)
  3. Bylaw Notice Enforcement Bylaw No. 2019, 2026 (PDF), District of Ucluelet (read 2026-11-08)
  4. Fees and Charges Bylaw No. 1186, 2016, unofficial 2025 consolidation (PDF), District of Ucluelet (read 2026-11-08)
  5. Short-term rentals, principal residence requirement, Province of BC (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.