Vacation Rentals
This page was last reviewed on April 4, 2024.
2024 Provincial Regulations – Existing Vacation Rentals
New provincial rules for short-term rentals, also known as vacation rentals, come into effect on May 1, 2024. Village bylaws for vacation rentals remain unchanged. This provincial change affects both existing vacation rentals and new applications.
PROVINCIAL PRINCIPAL RESIDENCE REQUIREMENT
The Province is implementing a principal residence requirement. This limits vacation rentals to the host’s principal residence or other dwelling on the same property. The province defines a principal residence as:
The residence an individual lives in for a longer period during a calendar year than any other place.
This provincial rule supersedes the Village permanent resident requirement. Village bylaws require that a permanent resident is living on the same lot as the vacation rental but do not specify that person must also be the host.
As of May 1, 2024, existing vacation rental hosts must demonstrate that the property used for a vacation rental is their principal residence. New applications must provide this proof as part of their application.
Vacation rental hosts are required to provide proof of principal residence every year they renew their vacation rental licence to demonstrate compliance with this provincial requirement. This proof can be one of the following items:
- Driver’s Licence;
- BC Services Card;
- Income Tax Assessment; or,
- Municipal Tax or Utilities Bill.
Proof of residency can be brought to Village Office during regular business hours or emailed to info@nullcumberland.ca.
PROVINCIAL CHANGES TO LEGAL NON-CONFORMING USE PROTECTION – EXISTING VACATION RENTALS
Effective May 1, 2024, protections for non-conforming use of property will no longer apply to vacation rentals. In the Village, these protections allowed some hosts to continue to operate their vacation rental after August 2022 when more restrictive Village regulations came into effect. After May 1, 2024, all vacation rentals must comply with the current Village regulations as well as the new provincial regulations.
BUSINESS LICENCE IMPLICATIONS
All valid 2023 business licenses for vacation rentals can be renewed for 2024 with proof of compliance of both provincial and Village requirements, provided to the Village before April 30, 2024. If not received, the business license will be cancelled as of April 30,2024.
If compliance with the new regulations means a different person will be the host, that individual may apply for a new business licence in their name before April 30, 2024. Please allow 3 weeks for processing.
Vacation rental hosts who submit and have their submissions accepted by the Village prior to May 1, 2024, will continue to have their business licence valid until the end of the year, as usual.
WHAT DO I HAVE TO DO? – CURRENT VACATION RENTAL OPERATORS
Bring the following items to the Village Office, or email them to info@nullcumberland.ca by April 9th, 2024 so that you are in compliance with Provincial regulations for May 1, 2024.
- Principal Residency Requirement. Please see above for items that work as proof.
- Complete a declaration, , which demonstrates compliance with the following Village regulations:a. Photo of outdoor sign on the property that includes the vacation rental name and the phone number of the host;
b. Number of bedrooms in use as part of the vacation rental, and what dwelling unit is in use for the vacation rental. For reference, the maximum number of bedrooms that can be used is 3 and is limited to only one dwelling unit on the property (i.e., max three bedrooms in either the main home, secondary suite or accessory dwelling unit, and not a combination of units on the property); and,
c. The number of guests permitted to stay in the vacation rental at any one time (maximum 6.)
The declaration is available for download here. Paper copies are available at the Village Office (2673 Dunsmuir Avenue).
The Village of Cumberland consulted with the community in early 2022 on how best to manage the benefits and challenges of vacation rentals, including:
Contributions to tourism and local businesses: As Cumberland has limited tourist accommodations like hotels, vacation rentals allow visitors to the village to stay in the community overnight and contribute to local business, as opposed to leaving for other communities.
Housing affordability: As vacation rentals occur on residential properties, these uses can impact the availability of long-term rentals. At the same time, vacation rentals are a source of income for homeowners and allow flexibility in the use of a unit.
Sense of community: Getting to know one’s neighbour is part of building community connections. If neighbours change every few days, neighbourhood connections can’t be built.
Cumberland’s vacation rental regulations aim to strike a balance between the above benefits and challenges.
If currently operating a vacation rental, keep scrolling down for new regulations coming into effect on May 1,2024.
If considering a new vacation rental, please review the information below:
Eligibility?
You may be eligible to operate a vacation rental on your property, if you meet the following criteria:
- You live on the property.
- The property is located within a R1-A – Residential Infill Zoned property (See the Village’s Mapping Portal here);
Requirements
If eligible to operate a vacation rental, the following Zoning Bylaw requirement apply:
- Vacation rental must occur on a lot where a residential use is occurring (i.e. operator of vacation rental lives on site);
- Only one dwelling unit is in use for the vacation rental use (e.g. operator lives in single-family dwelling and offers secondary suite for vacation rental);
- A maximum of three (3) bedrooms are on offer for vacation rental, with a maximum of six (6) guests at one time. All bedrooms must be contained in one dwelling unit (e.g.. vacation rental rooms are in a secondary suite only, and not split between single family home and suite.);
- Provide one (1) parking space per bedroom used for vacation rental, alongside parking for other dwellings on property. Each space must be paved, and be a minimum length of 5.4m and width of 2.6m;
- Provide a vacation rental sign which identifies vacation rental name and phone number of operator; and,
- Will not operate on a property with a daycare use occurring on the lot.
Additionally, all vacation rental operators must meet provincial principal occupancy requirements. Proof demonstrating the vacation rental operator lives on the property is required. For information on provincial requirements, click here.
What do I need to Submit?
- Completed business licence application form;
- Proof that the property is the vacation rental operator’s principal residence;
- Site plan, demonstrating where parking will be located on the property for the vacation rental use;
- Demonstrate where on the property the vacation rental use will occur (i.e. single-family dwelling, secondary suite or accessory dwelling unit), how many bedrooms will be used (max 3) and how many guests will stay on the property at one time (max 6); and,
- Proof of the required vacation rental sign.
How Much?
- A vacation rental licence costs $110.00 annually.
Further Reading
- The Village’s Zoning Bylaw and Business Bylaw govern vacation rentals.
- Provincial Regulations regarding the principal residence requirement are found here.
Questions?
- Please call 250-336-2291 and ask for the Planning Department. Otherwise, please email planning@nullcumberland.ca.