Williams Lake short-term rental rules (Airbnb, Vrbo)
Can I rent out my home or a room on Airbnb in Williams Lake?
Short answer
Yes, in Williams Lake, if it is your principal residence. You need a City business licence ($150 a year) and must register with the Province's Short-Term Rental Registry. The zoning bylaw treats stays under 30 consecutive days as short-term rentals.
Key facts
| Allowed | Yes, in the operator's primary residence, for stays under 30 consecutive days. Zoning s. 3.11.1 and the City page say residential and mixed-use zones, but s. 3.1.3(g) lists short-term rental accommodations as permitted throughout all zones. The provincial Act also applies.Sources differ: Zoning s. 3.1.3(g) lists short-term rental accommodations among uses 'permitted throughout all zones' subject to s. 3.11, which is wider than s. 3.11.1. The Business License Bylaw defines short-term rental as under 90 consecutive days; zoning says under 30.Zoning Bylaw No. 2430, 2025, section 3.11 and definitions, s. 3.11.1, 2.4.1; Short-Term Rental Accommodations, City Regulations · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06Official wordingShort-term rental accommodation is permitted in residential and mixed-use zones, subject to compliance with all requirements and provisions of the Short- members of the public in a short-term rental operator’s primary residence, in consecutive days. (g) short-term rental accommodations subject to Section 3.11; short-term rentals are permitted in Residential and Mixed-Use zones |
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| Business licence | Yes. A City business licence is required: category 0101 Short-Term Rental, $150 a year, for operating one or more short-term rentals at the operator's principal residence, including secondary suites and accessory dwelling units. Licences expire December 31.Zoning Bylaw No. 2430, 2025, section 3.11 and definitions, s. 3.11.2; Business License Bylaw No. 2365, 2022 (consolidated PDF), Schedule A, code 0101; Short-Term Rental Accommodations, Business License Requirement · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06Official wordingShort-term rental accommodation must have a valid license issued under City of SHORT-TERM RENTAL $150.00 or renting one (1) or more short-term rentals located at their principal residence, including secondary suites and accessory dwelling units. A valid City of Williams Lake Business License is required to operate a short-term rental. |
| Provincial registration | Yes. All short-term rental hosts and platforms in B.C. must register with the Province's Short-Term Rental Registry and pay annual registration fees.Short-Term Rental Accommodations, Provincial Requirements; Short-term rental registration, Province of British Columbia, Registration overview · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06Official wordingAll short-term rental hosts and platforms operating in B.C. must register with the Province Short-term rental hosts, platforms and strata hotel platforms in B.C. must register and pay annual registration fees. If you have a short-term rental registration, you must renew it each year to continue operating. |
| Operating rules | Must be the operator's primary residence, hold a valid City business licence (displayed permanently where the public has access) and be in a building meeting BC Building Code life-safety requirements. No limit on guests, bedrooms or parking and no local-contact rule were found.Zoning Bylaw No. 2430, 2025, section 3.11 and definitions, s. 3.11.2, 3.11.3, 2.4.1; Business License Bylaw No. 2365, 2022 (consolidated PDF), s. 12 · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06Official wordingShort-term rental accommodation must have a valid license issued under City of Short- term rental accommodations must occupy a building or a portion of a building that complies with the BC Building Code requirements for life and safety. short-term rental operator’s primary residence, in Licenses shall be permanently displayed at all times in the business area of the premises to which the public has access. |
| Fine | Bylaw notice: $200 ($150 if paid within 14 days; $250 late) for failing the short-term accommodation rules in Zoning s. 3.11. Carrying on business without a licence: $250 ($190 early; $315 late).Bylaw Notice Enforcement Bylaw No. 2196, Schedule A-19 (zoning) and A-4 (business licensing) · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06Official wordingFail To Meet Regulations For Short 3.11 $200.00 $150.00 $250.00 Yes Carry on Business without 10. $250.00 $190.00 $315.00 Yes |
| Bylaw | City of Williams Lake Zoning Bylaw No. 2430, 2025 (s. 3.11); City of Williams Lake Business License Bylaw No. 2365, 2022Zoning Bylaw No. 2430, 2025, section 3.11 and definitions, s. 3.11; Business License Bylaw No. 2365, 2022 (consolidated PDF), s. 1 · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06Official wording3.11 SHORT-TERM ACCOMMODATIONS 3.11.1 Short-term rental accommodation is permitted in residential and mixed-use zones, subject to compliance with all requirements and provisions of the Short- ZONING BYLAW AMENDMENT TABLE List of Amendments to the City of WILLIAMS LAKE ZONING BYLAW NO. 2430, 2025 BYLAW CIVIC ADRESS TYPE /SECTIONS PURPOSE DATE OF 3.11.2 Short-term rental accommodation must have a valid license issued under City of Williams Lake Business License Bylaw No. 2365, as amended or replaced from time to time. This Bylaw may be cited as the “Williams Lake Business License Bylaw No. |
How it works
The City of Williams Lake allows short-term rentals (stays under 30 consecutive days) in the operator's principal residence, including secondary suites and accessory dwelling units. It is also a community where the Province's principal residence rule applies. Both the City and the Province have rules:
- City business licence: category 0101 Short-Term Rental, $150 a year, under the Business License Bylaw. The City checks zoning compliance before issuing it, and licences expire December 31.
- Provincial registration: all short-term rental hosts and platforms in B.C. must register with the Short-Term Rental Registry and pay annual fees. ServiceBC: 1-833-828-2240.
Steps
- Confirm the rental is in your principal residence and check the zone rules with Development Services (250-392-1765).
- Apply for the City business licence (email development@williamslake.ca or visit City Hall) and pay the fee.
- Register with the Province's Short-Term Rental Registry.
- Display your licence permanently where the public has access.
Good to know
- The building must meet BC Building Code life-safety requirements.
- Zones differ between sources. Zoning Bylaw 2430 s. 3.11.1 and the City's page say residential and mixed-use zones. The same bylaw's s. 3.1.3(g) lists short-term rentals as permitted "throughout all zones". Confirm your zone with the City.
- Length of stay differs. Zoning says under 30 consecutive days; the Business License Bylaw defines a short-term rental as under 90.
- No limit on guests, bedrooms or parking and no local-contact rule was found.
- A bylaw notice for breaking the zoning rules in s. 3.11 is $200 ($150 if paid within 14 days; $250 late). Operating without a licence is $250 ($190 early; $315 late).
What you'll need
- Completed City business licence application
- Provincial short-term rental registration
Official forms and pages
The same question in other places
100 Mile House · Quesnel · Wells · Clinton · Cache Creek · Clearwater
Short-term rental rules in British Columbia, by municipality →
Sources
- Short-Term Rental Accommodations, City of Williams Lake (read 2026-11-05)
- Zoning Bylaw No. 2430, 2025 (PDF), section 3.11 and definitions (read 2026-11-05)
- Business License Bylaw No. 2365, 2022 (consolidated PDF) (read 2026-11-05)
- Bylaw Notice Enforcement Bylaw No. 2196 (PDF) (read 2026-11-05)
- Short-term rental registration, Province of British Columbia (read 2026-11-05)
- Short-term rental principal residence requirement, 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.