Short-Term Rental Regulations

For information on the Province of British Columbia’s Short-Term Rental Legislation, please scroll down to the next section of this page or click here.

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The District of Tofino is dedicated to ensuring a balanced approach to accommodating visitors while preserving the quality of life for residents. The District of Tofino has specific bylaws related to short-term rental operations. The regulations in these bylaws help protect long-term rental housing stock and reduce disturbances while allowing owners to participate in the local tourism economy.

Zoning Bylaw No. 770, 1996 regulates which properties may be eligible for a short-term rental, bed and breakfast, guest-house, or temporary accommodation use, and specific conditions that must be met to qualify for that use. For more information on Zoning in Tofino, click here.

Business Licence Regulation Bylaw No. 1239, 2022 establishes the requirements for any business operating within the District of Tofino. All businesses operating in the District of Tofino must apply for and maintain a Business Licence and ensure it is displayed in a prominent place in their business.

Section 7.2 of the Business Licence Regulation Bylaw also establishes specific requirements for short-term rental operations, including but not limited to:

• A maximum of 3 bedrooms for guests
• No more than 6 overnight guests at one time, including children and visitors
• A Permanent Resident must live at the premises
• A Permanent Resident or licenced property manager must, at any time guests are staying on the premises, be present in Tofino and available to respond to guests or law enforcement within 2 hours
• Provide copies of the Good Neighbour Guide and Water Conservation Information to all guests

The District of Tofino reviews all business licence applications and renewals to confirm compliance with District bylaws. A District of Tofino Business Licence serves as a certificate of compliance with these bylaws based on the information provided at the time of the application.

For more information on Business Licencing, click here.

These bylaws are enforced by the District of Tofino Bylaw Services. Please contact Bylaw Services directly if you are concerned about a short-term rental that may be out of compliance with District of Tofino bylaws.