---
title: White Rock short-term rental rules (Airbnb, Vrbo)
question: "Can I rent out my home or a room on Airbnb in White Rock?"
place: White Rock, British Columbia, Canada
place_path: ca/bc/white-rock
category: Housing and renting
owner: shared
sources_read: 2026-11-05
review: machine_checked
canonical: "https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/white-rock/short-term-rental/"
json: "https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/white-rock/short-term-rental.json"
---

# White Rock short-term rental rules (Airbnb, Vrbo)

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

**Short answer:** In White Rock a short-term rental (90 days or less) is allowed only from a registered secondary suite that meets the Building Code, run by the owner or an immediate family member who lives full-time in the home. It needs a City business licence and registration with the Province.

**Who handles it:** More than one level of government  
**Cost:** The Business Licence Bylaw fee schedule lists "Accessory Vacation Rental" at $150. That schedule is from the April 2020 consolidation and may be out of date. The Province also charges an annual registration fee.  
**Where:**
- Phone: Business Licence, 604-541-2139
- Email: Business Licence, licences@whiterockcity.ca
- Online: Business licence applications (MyWhiteRock), https://www.whiterockcity.ca/901/Business-Licences-Permits
- Phone: Province of BC short-term rental help (ServiceBC), 1-833-828-2240
- Email: Province of BC short-term rental registry, STRregistry@sbc.gov.bc.ca

## Key facts

- **Allowed:** Yes, in a limited form. A short term rental (90 days or less) may only be run from a registered secondary suite that meets the Building Code, by the owner or an immediate family member who lives full-time in the home. A tenant may not sublet the suite for this. It is a permitted accessory use in the SSMUH residential zones.
  - Source: [Zoning Bylaw 2024, No. 2506 (PDF, section 5.8), s. 5.8.1](https://www.whiterockcity.ca/DocumentCenter/View/8003/Zoning-Bylaw-2024-No-2506-Adopted-June-27-2024)
  - Official wording: "only be operated from an accessory registered secondary suite that complies with all" … "full-time resident and occupant of the one-" … "A tenant may not sublet the accessory registered secondary suite for"
  - Source: [Zoning Bylaw 2024, No. 2506 (PDF, section 5.8), s. 3 Definitions](https://www.whiterockcity.ca/DocumentCenter/View/8003/Zoning-Bylaw-2024-No-2506-Adopted-June-27-2024)
  - Official wording: "guests for periods not to exceed ninety (90) days."
  - Source: [Zoning Bylaw 2024, No. 2506 (PDF, section 5.8), s. 6.1.2](https://www.whiterockcity.ca/DocumentCenter/View/8003/Zoning-Bylaw-2024-No-2506-Adopted-June-27-2024)
  - Official wording: "f. a short term rental in accordance with the provisions"
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06
- **Business licence:** Yes. A valid business licence is required, and its number must appear in all advertising. The Business Licence Bylaw fee schedule lists 'Accessory Vacation Rental' at $150 (a different name from the zoning term).
  - Source: [Zoning Bylaw 2024, No. 2506 (PDF, section 5.8), s. 5.8.1(l)](https://www.whiterockcity.ca/DocumentCenter/View/8003/Zoning-Bylaw-2024-No-2506-Adopted-June-27-2024)
  - Official wording: "have a valid business license, and display the business licence number in all"
  - Source: [Business Licence Bylaw 1997, No. 1510 (PDF, consolidated April 2020), Sch. A, Group 4](https://www.whiterockcity.ca/DocumentCenter/View/272/Consolidated---Business-License-Bylaw-1997-Number-1510-PDF)
  - Official wording: "Accessory Vacation Rental (added by 2308) $150.00"
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06
- **Provincial registration:** Yes. Hosts must register with the Province and pay an annual fee for stays under 90 consecutive days. White Rock is on the Province's list of communities where the provincial principal residence requirement applies (as of June 1, 2026). Contact ServiceBC 1-833-828-2240, STRregistry@sbc.gov.bc.ca.
  - Source: [Short-term rentals, Province of British Columbia, Services and information topics](https://www2.gov.bc.ca/gov/content/housing-tenancy/short-term-rentals)
  - Official wording: "Short-term rental hosts, platforms and strata hotel platforms in B.C. must register and pay annual registration fees." … "Short-term rentals are limited to principal residences in many B.C. communities."
  - Source: [Principal residence requirement, Province of British Columbia, List of communities where the principal residence requirement applies](https://www2.gov.bc.ca/gov/content/housing-tenancy/short-term-rentals/principal-residence-requirement)
  - Official wording: "The expandable menu below lists the communities where the principal residence requirement applies (as of June 1, 2026)." … "Provincial registration requirements apply to short-term rentals offered for fewer than 90 consecutive days, regardless of whether a local business licence is required."
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06
- **Operating rules:** Up to two sleeping units and four adult guests, one booking at a time, stays of 90 days or less, no exterior signage. Business licence number must appear in all advertising. A named responsible person must reach the unit within two hours. Fire extinguishers and interconnected smoke and CO alarms. Parking per s. 4.14.
  - Source: [Zoning Bylaw 2024, No. 2506 (PDF, section 5.8), s. 5.8.1](https://www.whiterockcity.ca/DocumentCenter/View/8003/Zoning-Bylaw-2024-No-2506-Adopted-June-27-2024)
  - Official wording: "be limited to a maximum of two (2) sleeping units only;" … "be limited to no more than four (4) adult guests at any given time;" … "not have any exterior signage advertising the short term rental use;" … "term rental premises within two hours of being requested to do so;" … "install fire extinguishers, interconnected smoke and carbon monoxide alarms, and" … "have a valid business license, and display the business licence number in all"
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06
- **Fine:** Zoning ticket for failing to comply with the short term rental requirements: $500 first offence, $1,000 second, $2,000 third and later. Operating without a business licence: $200 per day.
  - Source: [Ticketing for Bylaw Offences Bylaw 1929 (PDF, consolidated November 2024), Schedule B13](https://www.whiterockcity.ca/DocumentCenter/View/2072/Consolidated---Ticketing-for-Bylaw-Offences-2011-No-1929-PDF)
  - Official wording: "Failure to comply with the short term rental Sec. 5.8 $500.00 1st" … "$2000.00 3rd and"
  - Source: [Ticketing for Bylaw Offences Bylaw 1929 (PDF, consolidated November 2024), Schedule B2](https://www.whiterockcity.ca/DocumentCenter/View/2072/Consolidated---Ticketing-for-Bylaw-Offences-2011-No-1929-PDF)
  - Official wording: "Operate without a business licence Sec. 2 $200 per day"
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06
- **Bylaw:** White Rock Zoning Bylaw, 2024, No. 2506 (s. 5.8); Business Licence Bylaw, 1997, No. 1510; Ticketing for Bylaw Offences Bylaw, 2011, No. 1929
  - Source: [Zoning Bylaw 2024, No. 2506 (PDF, section 5.8), Title](https://www.whiterockcity.ca/DocumentCenter/View/8003/Zoning-Bylaw-2024-No-2506-Adopted-June-27-2024)
  - Official wording: "WHITE ROCK ZONING BYLAW, 2024, No. 2506"
  - Source: [Business Licence Bylaw 1997, No. 1510 (PDF, consolidated April 2020), Title](https://www.whiterockcity.ca/DocumentCenter/View/272/Consolidated---Business-License-Bylaw-1997-Number-1510-PDF)
  - Official wording: "White Rock Business Licence By-law, 1997, No. 1510"
  - Source: [Ticketing for Bylaw Offences Bylaw 1929 (PDF, consolidated November 2024), Title](https://www.whiterockcity.ca/DocumentCenter/View/2072/Consolidated---Ticketing-for-Bylaw-Offences-2011-No-1929-PDF)
  - Official wording: "Ticketing for Bylaw Offences Bylaw, 2011, No."
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06

## How it works

The [Zoning Bylaw 2506](https://www.whiterockcity.ca/DocumentCenter/View/8003/Zoning-Bylaw-2024-No-2506-Adopted-June-27-2024) (section 5.8) allows a short-term rental (90 days or less) only from a registered secondary suite that meets the Building Code. The owner or an immediate family member must live full-time in the home, and a tenant may not sublet the suite for this. It is a permitted accessory use in the SSMUH residential zones. Only one accessory use is allowed at a time on a one-unit lot, so a short-term rental and a bed and breakfast cannot run together.

The Province also applies. White Rock is on the Province's list of communities where the principal-residence requirement applies (as of June 1, 2026), and hosts must register with the Province and pay an annual fee.

## Steps

1. Confirm your home has a registered secondary suite that meets the BC Building Code.
2. Get a City business licence (the licence number must appear in all advertising).
3. Register with the Province: ServiceBC, 1-833-828-2240, STRregistry@sbc.gov.bc.ca.
4. Name a responsible person who can reach the unit within two hours, and install fire extinguishers and interconnected smoke and carbon monoxide alarms.

## Good to know

- Limits: up to two sleeping units and four adult guests, one booking at a time, stays of 90 days or less, no exterior signage, and parking as required by section 4.14. The structure cannot be altered in a way that changes the home's character.
- The designated person must have authority over the rental agreement.
- Tickets under Bylaw 1929: failing to comply with the short-term rental requirements is $500, $1,000, then $2,000 for a third and later offence. Operating without a business licence is $200 per day.
- Whole-home rentals of a second home were not found to be allowed. Ask the Business Licence office, 604-541-2139.

## Official forms and pages

- [Zoning Bylaw No. 2506, section 5.8 Short Term Rental (PDF)](https://www.whiterockcity.ca/DocumentCenter/View/8003/Zoning-Bylaw-2024-No-2506-Adopted-June-27-2024)
- [Short-term rentals (Province of BC)](https://www2.gov.bc.ca/gov/content/housing-tenancy/short-term-rentals)

## Related questions

- [White Rock secondary suite and carriage house rules](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/white-rock/secondary-suite.md)
- [White Rock business licences: who needs one, fees and how to apply](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/white-rock/business-licence.md)
- [White Rock home-based business rules](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/white-rock/home-based-business.md)

## The same question elsewhere

- [Short-term rental rules in British Columbia, by municipality](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/short-term-rental.md)
- [Surrey](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/surrey/short-term-rental.md)
- [Langley City](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/langley/short-term-rental.md)
- [Township of Langley](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/langley-township/short-term-rental.md)
- [Delta](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/delta/short-term-rental.md)
- [New Westminster](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/new-westminster/short-term-rental.md)
- [Burnaby](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/burnaby/short-term-rental.md)

## Sources

- [Zoning Bylaw 2024, No. 2506 (PDF, section 5.8), City of White Rock](https://www.whiterockcity.ca/DocumentCenter/View/8003/Zoning-Bylaw-2024-No-2506-Adopted-June-27-2024) (read 2026-11-05)
- [Business Licence Bylaw 1997, No. 1510 (PDF, consolidated April 2020), City of White Rock](https://www.whiterockcity.ca/DocumentCenter/View/272/Consolidated---Business-License-Bylaw-1997-Number-1510-PDF) (read 2026-11-05)
- [Ticketing for Bylaw Offences Bylaw 1929 (PDF, consolidated November 2024), City of White Rock](https://www.whiterockcity.ca/DocumentCenter/View/2072/Consolidated---Ticketing-for-Bylaw-Offences-2011-No-1929-PDF) (read 2026-11-05)
- [Short-term rentals, Province of British Columbia](https://www2.gov.bc.ca/gov/content/housing-tenancy/short-term-rentals) (read 2026-11-05)
- [Principal residence requirement, Province of British Columbia](https://www2.gov.bc.ca/gov/content/housing-tenancy/short-term-rentals/principal-residence-requirement) (read 2026-11-05)
- [Business Licences and Permits, City of White Rock](https://www.whiterockcity.ca/901/Business-Licences-Permits) (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. 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/white-rock/short-term-rental/_