This is the exact embedded text of the captured official document.
Snapshot 60cf4ec77ebd · verified 2026-06-08 ·
original document ·
archived snapshot ·
unofficial consolidation, the official version is held by the municipal clerk.
SHORT-TERM RENTAL REGULATION BYLAW
BYLAW NO. 18-036
This consolidation is a copy of a bylaw
consolidated under the authority of
section 139 of the Community Charter.
(Consolidated on August 01, 2024 up to
Bylaw No. 24-059)
This bylaw is printed under and by
authority of the Corporate Administrator
of the Corporation of the City of Victoria.
2
NO. 18-036
SHORT-TERM RENTAL REGULATION BYLAW
A BYLAW OF THE CITY OF VICTORIA
(Consolidated to include Bylaws No. 19-067, 24-059)
The purposes of this Bylaw are to provide for the regulation of short-term rentals including
vacation rentals in operators' principal residences where permitted under the Zoning Regulation
Bylaw No. 80-159 or Zoning Bylaw 2018 No. 18-072, and where permitted pursuant to section
528 of the Local Government Act.
Contents
1
Title
2
Definitions
3
Licence Required
4
Power to Refuse a Licence
5
Licence Number to be Included in Advertising
6
Responsible Person
7
Offences
8
Penalties
9
Severability
10
Repealed
11
Commencement
Pursuant to its statutory powers, including section 8(6) of the Community Charter, the Council of
The Corporation of the City of Victoria, in an open meeting assembled, enacts the following
provisions:
Title
1
This Bylaw may be cited as the "Short-Term Rental Regulation Bylaw".
Definitions
2
In this Bylaw
"dwelling unit" has the same meaning as in the Zoning Regulation Bylaw;
"host" means the person who, either on their own behalf, or on behalf of the owner or
occupier, arranges to offer premises for a short-term rental and includes anyone who
manages advertising, booking, guest services, property maintenance, or other services
related to short-term rental;
"operator" means a person who rents out, or offers for rent, any premises for short-term
rental, and includes the owner, occupant, host, or manager of the premises offered as
short-term rental, but does not include a platform service provider;
19-067
24-059
24-059
24-059
3
"platform service provider" has the same meaning as in the Short-Term Rental
Accommodations Act;
"principal residence" means the residence in which an individual resides for a longer
period of time in a calendar year than any other place;
"responsible person" means a person designated by the operator as the primary contact
under section 6.
"short-term rental" means the renting of a dwelling unit, or any part of it, for a period of
less than 30 nights and includes strata hotels and vacation rentals but does not include
time-shares when occupied by a time-share owner;
"strata corporation", "strata council", and "strata lot" have the same meaning as in the
Strata Property Act;
"strata hotel" has the same meaning as in the Zoning Regulation Bylaw.
Licence Required
3
(1)
A person must not carry on business as a short-term rental operator unless the
person holds a valid licence issued under the provisions of this Bylaw and the
Business Licence Bylaw.
(2)
A person applying for the issuance or renewal of a licence to operate a short-term
rental must, in addition to meeting the requirements of the Business Licence
Bylaw:
(a)
make an application to the Licence Inspector on the form provided for that
purpose;
(b)
pay to the City the applicable licence fee prescribed under subsection (3);
(c)
provide, in the form satisfactory to the Licence Inspector, evidence that:
(i)
the person owns the premises where the short-term rental will be
offered, or
(ii)
the owner of the premises where the short-term rental will be
offered has consented to their use as a short-term rental;
(d)
if the premises where the short-term rental will be offered are located within
a strata lot, provide a letter from the strata council confirming that provision
of short-term rental does not contradict any bylaws of the strata corporation
or applicable provisions of the Strata Property Act; and
(e)
provide evidence, satisfactory to the Licence Inspector, that the premises
where the short-term rental will be operated are the operator's principal
residence.
(3)
The licence fee for purposes of subsection (2)(b) is $150.
24-059
24-059
24-059
24-059
24-059
24-059
4
Power to Refuse a Licence
4
The Licence Inspector may refuse to issue a licence for a short-term rental if, in the opinion
of the Licence Inspector,
(a)
the applicant has failed to comply with section 3; or
(b)
the short-term rental operation would contravene a City bylaw or another
enactment.
Licence Number to be Included in Advertising
5
A person may offer to rent premises for rent as a short-term rental only if a valid business
licence number is included in any advertising, listing, or promotion material that is intended
to communicate availability of the premises for short-term rental.
Responsible Person
6
(1)
A person may only operate a short-term rental if they ensure that the name and
contact information of the responsible person is prominently displayed in the short-
term rental premises at all times when the short-term rental is operated.
(2)
The operator may be the responsible person except when subsection (4 5) applies.
(3)
The responsible person must be able to attend at the short-term rental premises
within two hours of being requested to do so.
(4)
If a person who operates a short-term rental in their principal residence is going to
be away during the term of the short-term rental, they must designate a responsible
person and comply with this section.
Offences
7
(1)
A person commits an offence and is subject to the penalties imposed by this Bylaw,
Bylaw Notice Adjudication Bylaw, the Ticket Bylaw and the Offence Act if that person
(a)
contravenes a provision of this Bylaw;
(b)
consents to, allows, or permits an act or thing to be done contrary to this
Bylaw; or
(c)
neglects or refrains from doing anything required be a provision of this Bylaw.
(2)
Each instance that a contravention of a provision of this Bylaw occurs and each day
that a contravention continues shall constitute a separate offence.
Penalties
24-059
24-059
24-059
5
8
A person found guilty of an offence under this Bylaw is subject to a fine of not less than
$100.00 and not more than $10,000.00 for every instance that an offence occurs or each
day that it continues.
Severability
9
If any provision or part of this Bylaw is declared by any court or tribunal of competent
jurisdiction to be illegal or inoperative, in whole or in part, or inoperative in particular
circumstances, it shall be severed from the Bylaw and the balance of the Bylaw, or its
application in any circumstances, shall not be affected and shall continue to be in full force
and effect.
Transition Provisions
10
Repealed
Commencement
11
This bylaw comes into force on adoption.
READ A FIRST TIME the
22nd
day of
February
2018
READ A SECOND TIME the
22nd
day of
February
2018
READ A THIRD TIME the
22nd
day of
February
2018
ADOPTED on the
8th
day of
March
2018
"CHRIS COATES"
"LISA HELPS"
CITY CLERK MAYOR
24-059