Wells short-term rental rules (Airbnb, Vrbo)
Can I rent out my home or a room on Airbnb in Wells?
Wells has no short-term rental bylaw posted. Its Zoning Bylaw allows a bed and breakfast in most residential zones if you live in the dwelling, with at most three sleeping units and six adult guests. Wells is exempt from the provincial principal residence rule, but hosts must still register.
Key facts
| Allowed | No short-term rental bylaw is posted. The Zoning Bylaw allows bed and breakfast in the R 1, R 1A, R 2, R 3, RR 1, RR 2, RC and R/A zones (not R 4) if the owner or operator lives in the dwelling, with at most three sleeping units and six adult guests.District of Wells Zoning Bylaw No. 26, 2000, ss. 3.9 and 3.16 · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-08Official wordingbed and breakfast accommodations shall not be permitted in any zone unless they conform to the following provisions: the dwelling unit shall be occupied by the owner or operator of the bed and breakfast establishment no more than three sleeping units to accommodate a maximum of six adult bed and breakfast guests shall be permitted in a dwelling unit |
|---|---|
| Business licence | Not confirmed. The District has not posted a business licence bylaw. |
| Provincial registration | Wells is on the Province's exempt list, so the principal residence requirement does not apply. Hosts offering stays of fewer than 90 consecutive days must still register with the Province, unless an exemption applies.Short-term rental principal residence requirement, Province of BC, List of exempt communities; Short-term rental principal residence requirement, Province of BC, Business licence exemptions; Short-term rental principal residence requirement, Province of BC, Types of exemptions, category 3 · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-08Official wordingWarfield Wells West Kelowna List of exempt communities and land where the principal residence requirement does not apply Provincial registration requirements apply to short-term rentals offered for fewer than 90 consecutive days Communities under 10,000 population and ski resort areas |
| Operating rules | Bed and breakfast: inside the owner's or operator's dwelling, at most three sleeping units and six adult guests, no change to the outside look of the property except one unilluminated sign up to 0.8 m², and parking of 1 space per sleeping unit.District of Wells Zoning Bylaw No. 26, 2000, ss. 3.9 and 3.16; District of Wells Zoning Bylaw No. 26, 2000, ss. 3.9 and 3.16, s. 3.9(d); District of Wells Zoning Bylaw No. 26, 2000, ss. 3.9 and 3.16, s. 3.16, Table 1 · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-08Official wordingbed and breakfast accommodations shall not be permitted in any zone unless they conform to the following provisions: the dwelling unit shall be occupied by the owner or operator of the bed and breakfast establishment no more than three sleeping units to accommodate a maximum of six adult bed and breakfast guests shall be permitted in a dwelling unit except for one unilluminated sign not larger than 0.8 square metre Bed and Breakfast/Rooming and Boarding - 1 per sleeping unit |
| Fine | No ticket amount is stated. A zoning offence carries a fine of not more than $10,000 on summary conviction; each day is a new and separate offence.District of Wells Zoning Bylaw No. 26, 2000, ss. 3.9 and 3.16, s. 1.2.4 · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-08Official wordingbe liable to a penalty or fine of not more than ten thousand dollars ($10,000) Each day or part thereof during which any contravention is continued shall constitute a new and separate offense |
| Bylaw | District of Wells Zoning Bylaw (Bylaw No. 26, 2000; the amending bylaws call it the Zoning and Tree Protection Bylaw), s. 3.9 (bed and breakfast accommodations)District of Wells Zoning Bylaw No. 26, 2000, ss. 3.9 and 3.16 · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-08Official wordingBED AND BREAKFAST ACCOMMODATIONS |
How it works
The District has not posted a short-term rental bylaw or a business licence bylaw. The Zoning Bylaw, s. 3.9 allows a bed and breakfast in the R 1, R 1A, R 2, R 3, RR 1, RR 2, RC and R/A zones (not R 4) if the owner or operator lives in the dwelling. Rules:
- At most three sleeping units and six adult guests.
- It must be inside the owner's or operator's dwelling.
- No change to the outside look of the property, except one unilluminated sign up to 0.8 m².
- Parking of 1 space per sleeping unit.
Other kinds of short-term rental, such as a whole house or a secondary suite, are not addressed in the Zoning Bylaw's listed uses.
Wells is on the Province's list of exempt communities (population under 10,000), so the provincial principal residence requirement does not apply. Hosts offering stays of fewer than 90 consecutive days must still register with the Province, unless an exemption applies.
Steps
- Check your lot's zone on the Zoning Maps and confirm it allows a bed and breakfast.
- Ask the District Office whether your type of rental is allowed and whether you need any local approval.
- Register with the Province if it applies to you.
Good to know
- No ticket amount is stated. A zoning offence carries a fine of not more than $10,000 on summary conviction, and each day is a new offence.
- Check the Province's page for the current exempt list and fees.
Official forms and pages
The same question in other places
Quesnel · Williams Lake · Prince George · 100 Mile House · Valemount · Vanderhoof
Short-term rental rules in British Columbia, by municipality →
Sources
- District of Wells Zoning Bylaw No. 26, 2000, ss. 3.9 and 3.16 (PDF) (read 2026-11-08)
- Short-term rental principal residence requirement, Province of BC (read 2026-11-08)
Checked by script, not yet by a person: the official wording behind 5 of 6 facts was matched to the official text; 1 could not be confirmed. How answers are checked.