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

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

White Rock, British ColumbiaChecked against official textSources read 2026-11-05

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.

Key facts

AllowedYes, 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.Zoning Bylaw 2024, No. 2506 (PDF, section 5.8), s. 5.8.1; Zoning Bylaw 2024, No. 2506 (PDF, section 5.8), s. 3 Definitions; Zoning Bylaw 2024, No. 2506 (PDF, section 5.8), s. 6.1.2 · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06
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
guests for periods not to exceed ninety (90) days.
f. a short term rental in accordance with the provisions
Business licenceYes. 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).Zoning Bylaw 2024, No. 2506 (PDF, section 5.8), s. 5.8.1(l); Business Licence Bylaw 1997, No. 1510 (PDF, consolidated April 2020), Sch. A, Group 4 · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06
Official wording
have a valid business license, and display the business licence number in all
Accessory Vacation Rental (added by 2308) $150.00
Provincial registrationYes. 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.Short-term rentals, Province of British Columbia, Services and information topics; Principal residence requirement, Province of British Columbia, List of communities where the principal residence requirement applies · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06
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.
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.
Operating rulesUp 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.Zoning Bylaw 2024, No. 2506 (PDF, section 5.8), s. 5.8.1 · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06
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
FineZoning 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.Ticketing for Bylaw Offences Bylaw 1929 (PDF, consolidated November 2024), Schedule B13; Ticketing for Bylaw Offences Bylaw 1929 (PDF, consolidated November 2024), Schedule B2 · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06
Official wording
Failure to comply with the short term rental Sec. 5.8 $500.00 1st
$2000.00 3rd and
Operate without a business licence Sec. 2 $200 per day
BylawWhite Rock Zoning Bylaw, 2024, No. 2506 (s. 5.8); Business Licence Bylaw, 1997, No. 1510; Ticketing for Bylaw Offences Bylaw, 2011, No. 1929Zoning Bylaw 2024, No. 2506 (PDF, section 5.8), Title; Business Licence Bylaw 1997, No. 1510 (PDF, consolidated April 2020), Title; Ticketing for Bylaw Offences Bylaw 1929 (PDF, consolidated November 2024), Title · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06
Official wording
WHITE ROCK ZONING BYLAW, 2024, No. 2506
White Rock Business Licence By-law, 1997, No. 1510
Ticketing for Bylaw Offences Bylaw, 2011, No.

How it works

The Zoning Bylaw 2506 (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

The same question in other places

Surrey · Langley City · Township of Langley · Delta · New Westminster · Burnaby

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

Sources

  1. Zoning Bylaw 2024, No. 2506 (PDF, section 5.8), City of White Rock (read 2026-11-05)
  2. Business Licence Bylaw 1997, No. 1510 (PDF, consolidated April 2020), City of White Rock (read 2026-11-05)
  3. Ticketing for Bylaw Offences Bylaw 1929 (PDF, consolidated November 2024), City of White Rock (read 2026-11-05)
  4. Short-term rentals, Province of British Columbia (read 2026-11-05)
  5. Principal residence requirement, Province of British Columbia (read 2026-11-05)
  6. Business Licences and Permits, City of White Rock (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.