Short-Term Rental Accommodations
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As part of the Stronger BC strategy, the Ministry of Housing released the Homes for People housing action plan in April 2023. This plan is intended to address the housing crisis across BC and includes several pieces of new or revised legislation with some implications for rural communities.
The Short-term Rental Accommodations Act, 2023, is intended to support communities by regulating short-term rentals based on individual community needs, such as balancing residential needs, affordability, and tourist accommodation needs.
Regional District zoning regulations allow for Short-Term Rentals if your property is located within any of the following:
- Electoral Area A, Kyuquot/Nootka-Sayward
- R-1 and R-2 zones in the Menzies Bay Zoning Bylaw No. 1794 Area
- Electoral Area B, Cortes Island
- All zones where residential use is permitted
- Electoral Area C, Discovery Islands-Mainland Inlets
- All zones where residential use is permitted
- Electoral Area D, Oyster Bay-Buttle Lake
- All zones where residential use is permitted
Registration
How does the Provincial Regulation apply to Short-Term Rentals in the SRD?
All Short-Term Rental Hosts in the SRD must register with the Provincial Short-Term Rental Registry.
A key provision of the STRAA is the Principal Residence Requirement, which limits the operation of STRs to a host’s principal residence, plus one secondary suite or accessory dwelling unit (ADU) located on the same property. This provision would apply in addition to local bylaws that regulate STRs (such as zoning bylaws). It applies automatically to municipalities with populations greater than 10,000 and adjacent communities (with some exemptions). In regional districts, electoral areas are exempted from this requirement; however, each individual electoral area may choose to opt in by SRD Board resolution.
Once an Electoral Area has opted in, the Principal Residence Requirement remains in effect indefinitely. Electoral areas that have previously opted-in to the Principal Residence Requirement may choose to opt-out by SRD Board resolution prior to the annual deadline. In contrast, Electoral areas that have previously chose to not opt-in to the Principal Residence requirement my choose to opt-in by the annual deadline.
- OPT-IN/OPT-OUT DEADLINE: March 31 annually
- TO TAKE EFFECT: November 1 annually
In 2024, the following Electoral Areas opted in to the Principal Residence Requirement and may opt-out prior to March 31:
- Electoral Area B, Cortes Island
- Electoral Area C, Discovery Islands-Mainland Inlets
In 2024, the following Electoral Areas chose to not opt-in to the Principal Residence Requirement and may choose to opt-in prior to March 31:
- Electoral Area A, Sayward Valley
- Electoral Area D, Oyster Bay/Buttle Lake
Frequently Asked Questions
- How long is a Short-Term Rental?
- The Provincial Short-Term Rental Accommodations Act considers that short-term rentals are “accommodations provided to members of the public in a host’s property, in exchange for money, for a period of less than 90 consecutive days.”
- Do I need a Business License to operate a Short-Term Rental?
- No, at this time the SRD does not issue Business Licenses
- How do I legally operate a Short-Term Rental in the SRD?
- To legally operate a Short-Term Rental in the SRD, your property’s zoning must include short-term rentals as a permitted use. Your zoning allows short-term rentals as a permitted use if your property permits residential use and is located in Areas B, C, or D, or if your property is zoned R-1 or R-2 within the Menzies Bay Zoning Bylaw.
- The Provincial Regulation also requires that Short-Term Rental Hosts register their listings with the Provincial Short-Term Rentals Registry.
Resources
BC’s Short-Term Rental Registry
BC’s Short Term Renal Accommodations Legislation: Overview
Staff Report on Bill 35 – Short Term Rentals Accommodations Act, 2023
Please see SRD’s Questions Posed & Answered by the Ministry of Housing
Contact
For more info, please contact SRD Planning Services at 250-830-6718 | planning@srd.ca