Business, Building & Development

Short Term Rentals (Residential Guest Accommodations)

Short-term rentals (called RGAs in Gibsons) is the rental of a residential dwelling unit by paying guests for a temporary period (often less than a month). This includes homes, suites, apartments, garden suites, and more.

The Town of Gibsons regulates RGAs in order to protect long-term rental housing and maintain the character of residential neighbourhoods, while also allowing homeowners to earn extra income and providing tourists with accommodation options for staying in Gibsons.

Which Operating Stream Applies to Me?

Refers to dwelling units that have a principal resident (i.e someone who lives there at least nine consecutive months of the year)

*A person cannot have more than one principal residence, and a principal residence cannot include more than one dwelling unit.

Entire-Unit RGA Rentals

  • You may rent your entire principal residence for a maximum of 3 consecutive calendar months in a calendar year.
  • One-time application fee of $400* + annual business licence fee of $200.

Partial-Unit RGA Rentals

  • You may rent up to two bedrooms in your principal residence year-round (you must be present during guest stays).
  • One-time application fee of $400* + annual business licence fee of $200.

*Separate $400 application fees will be charged if you apply for both Partial Unit and Entire Unit licences at the same time (for the same unit).

This refers to dwelling units where no one permanently resides. This could be an entire house or apartment, a secondary suite attached to your principal residence, or a garden suite located on your property.

*Please note that a secondary suite or garden suite must be a legal, permitted rental unit before it can be used as an RGA.

Entire-Unit RGA Rentals:

  • A limited number of Temporary Use Permits (TUP) will be made available to operater residence RGA year-round.
  • Permits will be valid between 1 and 3 years based on Council decision, and you may apply for one renewal for a final period of 1 to 3 years
  • One-time TUP application fee of $2,500 + annual business licence fee of $2,000. Renewal TUP fee of $1,000 (after the initial 1 to 3 year permit period, if applicable).
  • Preference will be given to units in or near the Harbour Area and Lower Gibsons

Eligibility

Only individuals (not companies) are allowed to operate RGA. Companies can still help with
things like maintenance and managing complaints, but it is individual operators who must
hold the RGA business licence, whose name and contact information must appear in RGA
advertisements and listings, and who are ultimately responsible for ensuring RGA use complies
with Gibsons’ regulations.

Here’s an overview of the requirements:

  • You must be an individual (not a company or corporation).
  • You must apply for and hold a valid business licence issued by the Town of Gibsons.
  • You must provide a complete application, including:
    • A Guest Safety Attestation
    • A Fire Safety Plan
    • A Parking Plan
    • Contact information for a Designated Responsible Person
  • Your unit must be a legal dwelling unit (not a tent, RV, boat, etc.).
  • You must include your business licence number in all advertising.
  • You must agree to inspections and ongoing compliance with all Town regulations.
  • Both owners and renters can operate RGA (with Strata and Landlord approvals, as applicable).
For safety and administrative reasons, Residential Guest Accommodation are not permitted in boats, RVs, tents, yurts or anything that isn’t a dwelling unit.

How to Apply

  • Apply for a Business Licence

Both Stream 1 and Stream 2 RGA operators require a business license. You must submit a new business licence application, even if you have previously held a business licence for your rental unit. Operators will require a separate business licence for each subtype of RGA they wish to operate.

  • Fill out the following forms
  • Obtain Your Property Title

All RGA applications require a copy of your Property Title. There are two ways to obtain this:

  1. Search yourself via the BC Land Titles Office
  2. The Town can request it for $50 (payable with application)
  • Apply for a Temporary Use Permit (Stream 2 only)

The fee for a Temporary Use Permit is $2,500.00 per application.
Renewal of a Temporary Use Permit (if not lapsed and if no changes to terms) is $1,000.00
per application.

Frequently Asked Questions

Council did not set a maximum number of RGA business licences or Temporary Use Permits to issue, but may opt to limit permits.

Yes, the province has developed a new regulation under the Short-Term Rental Accommodations Act to implement a provincial short-term rental registry. More information can be found here: https://www2.gov.bc.ca/gov/content/housing-tenancy/short-term-rentals/registry

An entire dwelling unit means a self-contained room or set of rooms, with a private entrance, that is designed and intended to be occupied as a residence, and includes, at a minimum, separate and distinct sleeping, sanitary and cooking facilities.

Yes, all new and pre-existing short term rentals, need to apply for a business licence.

Yes, residential guest accommodation business licences get renewed annually. You will need to submit a new application, title and guest safety attestation. You only need to submit the fire safety plan and parking plan with your renewal application if there have been changes.

No, only legally permitted dwelling units are eligible for an RGA licence.

No, your dwelling unit must be legally permitted. You can contact the building department to discuss permitting requirements at building@gibsons.caYour Content Goes Here

Yes, please make sure to complete the landlord consent form along with the other required documents.

Definitions

Dwelling Unit means a self-contained room or set of rooms, with a private entrance, that is designed and intended to be occupied as a residence, and includes, at a minimum, separate and distinct sleeping, sanitary and cooking facilities.

Principal Residence means a single dwelling unit (see definition below) where a person lives at least nine months in a calendar year and conducts their daily affairs, including, without limitation, paying bills and receiving mail, and is the dwelling unit with the residential address used on documentation related to billing, identification, taxation and insurance purposes, including, without limitation, income tax returns, Medical Services Plan documentation, driver’s licenses, personal identification, and vehicle registration.

*A person cannot have more than one principal residence and a principal residence cannot include more than one dwelling unit.

Residential guest accommodation (RGA) means the accessory use of a dwelling unit or a portion of a dwelling unit, for the accommodation of paying guests, but is not a residential tenancy.

 means the use of an entire dwelling unit or portion thereof under a tenancy agreement that has a term of 30 days or more, and is subject to the Residential Tenancy Act.

Provincial Regulations

As of May 1, 2025, all short-term rentals in B.C. must be registered with the Province under the new Short-Term Rental Accommodations Act. Hosts must display both a provincial registration number and a valid Town of Gibsons business licence number in all listings. The Province’s Compliance and Enforcement Unit will work alongside local bylaw enforcement to ensure compliance with both provincial and municipal regulations.