Business, Building & Development

Short Term Rentals

The Town regulates Short-Term Rentals to support housing availability for residents while continuing to provide visitor accommodation. The current framework includes zoning regulations, business licensing requirements, and a maximum of 35 Non-Principal-Residence Short-Term Rental Business Licences outside the CM-1 Mixed-Use Commercial Lower Gibsons Zone.

A Short-Term Rental 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.

All Short-Term Rentals operating in the Town of Gibsons require a valid Town of Gibsons Business License and must comply with the Town’s Zoning Bylaw, Business License Bylaw, and applicable provincial requirements.

Short-Term Rental License Types

There are two types of Short-Term Rental Business Licenses in Gibsons:

1.Principal-Residence Short-Term Rentals

A Principal-Residence STR is operated in the operator’s principal residence.

Outside the CM-1 Mixed-Use Commercial Lower Gibsons Zone, a Principal-Residence STR may operate:

  • in up to two bedrooms of the operator’s principal residence while the operator is living in the dwelling unit during the guest stay; or
  • in the operator’s principal residence for up to three months in a calendar year when the operator is not living in the dwelling unit during the guest stay.

There is no limit on the number of Principal-Residence STR Business Licenses.

Annual Business License Fee: $200

2. Non-Principal-Residence Short-Term Rentals

A Non-Principal-Residence STR is a Short-Term Rental operating in a dwelling unit that is not the principal residence of the operator.

  • Outside the CM-1 Mixed-Use Commercial Lower Gibsons Zone, the Town has established a maximum of 35 Non-Principal-Residence STR Business Licenses.
  • These licenses are allocated through a Continuous Renewal process for existing eligible license holders, followed by a First-Come, First-Served waitlist when licenses become available

*A maximum of 35 licences are available each year.

Annual Business License Fee: $2,000

*Please note: STRs in the CM-1 Zone Mixed-Use Commercial Lower Gibsons Zone, Short-Term Rentals are not subject to the principal residence requirement or the 35-license cap.

Application and Annual License Fees

One-time Application Fee (new applicants only): $400

Annual Business License Fee:

  • Principal-Residence STR: $200 per year
  • Non-Principal-Residence STR: $2,000 per year

How to Apply

  • Principal-Residence STR

Submit:

  • completed STR Business License Application Form;
  • required supporting documentation;
  • applicable fees; and
  • any owner or strata approval, if applicable.
  • Non-Principal-Residence STR (Applications are open)

Submit:

  • completed STR Business License Application Form;
  • required supporting documentation;
  • applicable fees; and
  • any owner or strata approval, if applicable.

Non-Principal-Residence STR Waitlist
If all 35 Non-Principal-Residence STR licenses have been allocated, applicants may register on the waitlist.

Non-Principal-Residence STR Waitlist

When all 35 Non-Principal-Residence STR Business Licenses have been allocated, applicants may register on a waitlist. Waitlist priority is determined by the date and time the Town’s email server receives a complete waitlist registration email.

To join the waitlist, email planning@gibsons.ca with:

  • full name;
  • telephone number;
  • email address;
  • address of the proposed STR; and
  • type of dwelling unit, such as detached house, apartment unit, secondary suite, duplex unit, or garden suite.

No application fee or supporting documentation is required to be placed on the waitlist.

Placement on the waitlist does not guarantee that a Business License will be issued.

When a license becomes available, the Town will contact the next applicant on the waitlist and invite them to submit a complete Business License application, supporting documentation, and applicable fees within the timeframe established by Town policy.

  • Business License Renewal

STR Business Licenses must be renewed every year.

Renewal requirements may include:

  • completed STR Renewal Application Form;
  • current copy of property title, or payment for the Town to obtain title;
  • completed guest safety attestation;
  • plans showing any changes to the rental, such as floor plans, parking, or rooms; and
  • payment of the annual Business License fee once the license is ready for pickup.

Licences are Non-Transferable

Short-Term Rental Business Licenses are not transferable between:

  • owners;
  • properties;
  • dwelling units on a property;
  • corporations; or
  • operators.

A Short-Term Rental Business License expires upon sale or transfer of the property, change in property ownership, change in operator, or transfer of the license holder’s interest in the property.

Provincial Short-Term Rental Registry

Before operating, Short-Term Rental operators must register with the Province’s Short-Term Rental Registry using the Business License number issued by the Town of Gibsons.

Registration with the Provincial Short-Term Rental Registry does not replace the requirement to obtain a Town of Gibsons Business License.

 

Resources

Frequently Asked Questions

Bedroom means a room located within a Dwelling Unit that is used for sleeping.

 

Business Licence means a valid business license issued by the Town authorizing operation of a Short-Term Rental.

 

Complete Application means an application submitted with all required forms and supporting documentation satisfactory to the Town.

 

Continuous Renewal means an annual license renewal process that prioritizes existing, compliant license holders.

 

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 Facility.

 

Non-Principal Residence STR means a Short-Term Rental operating in a dwelling unit that is not the principal residence of the operator, as regulated by the Town’s Zoning Bylaw and Business License Bylaw.

*A separate Dwelling Unit on the same property as the owner’s principal residence is considered a Non-Principal Residence STR under the Town of Gibsons’ STR regulations.

 

Operating means actively providing short-term accommodation for compensation.

 

Principal Residence means a single Dwelling Unit 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.

 

Recreational Vehicle means a motor vehicle or a vehicle towed by a motor vehicle, providing accommodation and includes travel trailer, tent trailer, camper, caravan, and motor home.

 

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.

 

Short-term Rental 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.

 

Short-term Rental Operator means a person who is listed as the operator on a valid Town of Gibsons Short-Term Rental business licence.

 

Waitlist means the list maintained by the Town of persons seeking a Non-Principal-Residence Short-Term Rental business license.

 

Waitlist Registration means the information required under Section 7.3.3 to establish a position on the Waitlist.

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.

No, only legally permitted dwelling units are eligible for a short-term rental licence.

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

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

Contacts

Planning Department
604-886-2274
planning@gibsons.ca

Building Department
building@gibsons.ca

Bylaw Enforcement Department
beo@gibsons.ca