Victoria short-term rental rules (Airbnb, Vrbo)

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

Victoria, British ColumbiaChecked against official textSources read 2026-11-05

Short answer

In the City of Victoria you can rent only your principal residence, for under 30 nights, with a City short-term rental business licence ($150 a year) and a provincial registration. While you are home you may rent up to two bedrooms; while away, the whole home for up to 160 nights a year.

Key facts

Allowed	Only in the operator's principal residence, with a City licence. While the operator is home, up to two bedrooms may be rented and the rental cannot take up an entire self-contained dwelling unit. While temporarily away, the whole residence may be rented up to 160 nights a calendar year. Rentals are under 30 nights.Short-Term Rentals, Short-Term Rentals page; Zoning Regulation Bylaw, Schedule D Home Occupations, Zoning Regulation Bylaw, Schedule D, s. 12; Zoning Bylaw 2018, Zoning Bylaw 2018, s. 20(i) · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06 Official wording Short-term rentals are only permitted in your principal dwelling unit. Short-term rental cannot occupy an entire self-contained dwelling unit. you can rent your entire unit for no more than 160 nights in a calendar year. you can rent no more than two bedrooms in your principal dwelling unit throughout the year. a short-term rental is no more than two bedrooms may no more than 160 nights in a calendar year; the entire Principal Residence may be used for a Short-term Rental while
Business licence	Yes. A Short-Term Rental Business Licence is required to advertise or operate, even with no bookings. The fee is $150 and it is renewed each year (expires January 15). Applicants need owner consent, a strata letter if in a strata lot, and proof the home is their principal residence.Short-Term Rental Regulation Bylaw 18-036, Short-Term Rental Regulation Bylaw 18-036, s. 3; Short-Term Rentals, Short-Term Rentals page · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06 Official wording A person must not carry on business as a short-term rental operator unless the The licence fee for purposes of subsection (2)(b) is $150. The cost of a Short-Term Rental Business Licence is $150. All Short-Term Rental Business Licences expire January 15 and must be re-applied for annually. a valid licence is required to advertise short-term rentals regardless if you have accepted any bookings.
Provincial registration	Yes. Hosts must register each short-term rental unit with the Province to operate in B.C., and pay an annual registration fee.Short-Term Rentals, Short-Term Rentals page; Short-term rentals, Province of British Columbia, Province of B.C. short-term rentals page · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06 Official wording Short-term rental hosts must register each of their short-term rental units with the Province to operate in B.C. Short-term rental hosts, platforms and strata hotel platforms in B.C. must register and pay annual registration fees.
Operating rules	Show the City business licence number in every advertisement. Display the responsible person's name and contact in the rental at all times; that person must reach the rental within two hours, and must be named if the operator is away. No liquor may be provided to guests and no advertising sign may be posted.Short-Term Rental Regulation Bylaw 18-036, s. 5, s. 6; Zoning Regulation Bylaw, Schedule D Home Occupations, Zoning Regulation Bylaw, Schedule D, s. 12(3), (4) · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06 Official wording only if a valid business licence number is included in any advertising, listing, or promotion material prominently displayed in the short- The responsible person must be able to attend at the short-term rental premises within two hours of being requested to do so. no liquor may be provided to short-term rental guest; No sign may be erected, used, or maintained for the
Fine	Ticket Bylaw Schedule GG: $500 for operating without a valid licence ($500 if paid within 30 days); $250 for no licence number in advertising; $350 for each responsible-person failure. Court fines range from $100 to $10,000 per offence per day.Ticket Bylaw 10-071, Schedule GG; Short-Term Rental Regulation Bylaw 18-036, s. 8 · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06 Official wording Operate without a valid Failure to include business licence number in advertising Failure to designate a responsible person a fine of not less than $100.00 and not more than $10,000.00 for every instance that an offence occurs or each
Bylaw	Short-Term Rental Regulation Bylaw No. 18-036; Zoning Regulation Bylaw No. 80-159, Schedule D (Home Occupations); Zoning Bylaw 2018 (No. 18-072), s. 20; Business Licence Bylaw No. 89-071.Short-Term Rental Regulation Bylaw 18-036, title · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06 Official wording SHORT-TERM RENTAL REGULATION BYLAW BYLAW NO. 18-036

How it works

The City of Victoria allows short-term rentals (under 30 nights) only in the operator's principal residence, with a City licence. While you are home, you may rent up to two bedrooms, and the rental cannot take up an entire self-contained dwelling unit. While you are temporarily away, you may rent the whole residence for up to 160 nights in a calendar year. Renters may operate with the owner's permission (and the strata's, if any). Strata bylaws still apply.

Steps

Register your rental with the Province (ServiceBC, 1-833-828-2240, STRregistry@sbc.gov.bc.ca). Hosts must register each unit and pay an annual fee.
Email a complete application to str@victoria.ca with owner consent, a strata letter if you are in a strata lot, and proof the home is your principal residence.
Pay the $150 licence fee. You need the licence to advertise or operate, even with no bookings.
Renew each year before the January 15 expiry.

Good to know

Show your City business licence number in every advertisement.
Display the responsible person's name and contact in the rental at all times. That person must be able to reach the rental within two hours, and must be named if you are away.
No liquor may be provided to guests and no advertising sign may be posted.
Ticket Bylaw Schedule GG: $500 for operating without a valid licence; $250 for no licence number in advertising; $350 for each responsible-person failure. Court fines range from $100 to $10,000 per offence per day.
A denied licence can be appealed through the City Clerk's Office at legislativeservices@victoria.ca.
The bylaws are the Short-Term Rental Regulation Bylaw 18-036 and Schedule D of the Zoning Regulation Bylaw; Zoning Bylaw 2018 section 20 applies to properties it covers.

What you'll need

Proof the home is your principal residence
Owner consent if you rent
A letter from your strata if you live in a strata lot

Official forms and pages

The same question in other places

Oak Bay · Esquimalt · View Royal · Saanich · Colwood · Langford

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

Sources

Short-Term Rentals, City of Victoria (read 2026-11-05)
Short-Term Rental Regulation Bylaw 18-036 (PDF) (read 2026-11-05)
Zoning Regulation Bylaw, Schedule D Home Occupations (PDF) (read 2026-11-05)
Zoning Bylaw 2018 (PDF) (read 2026-11-05)
Ticket Bylaw 10-071 (PDF), Schedule GG (read 2026-11-05)
Short-term rentals, Province of British Columbia (read 2026-11-05)

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.