What are Short-Term Rentals?
Short-term rentals are a type of temporary accommodation and are now defined by the District of Summerland as the use of a dwelling unit for the temporary accommodation (less than 28 consecutive days) of the travelling public for remuneration. Short term rentals are regulated under Section 7.2 of the Zoning Bylaw.
Is a Bed & Breakfast different from a Short-Term Rental?
The proposed bylaws use the same term of “short-term rental” to include a traditional “bed and breakfast” and the rental of a whole house. These uses will be licenced in the same way.
Business Licencing
If you wish to operate a short term rental, you must obtain a Short Term Rental Business Licence. Please visit the below link for a copy of the application form. To register and apply for your Short Term Rental Business Licence, the application must be completed in full prior to submission. Applications may be submitted in person at, or by mail to, Municipal Hall, or via email at business@summerland.ca
SHORT TERM RENTAL BUSINESS LICENCE APPLICATION FORM
Please visit our Business Licencing page for additional licence application information (forms, guidelines, requirements).
Bylaw Enforcement
As of September 6, 2022, zoning and/or business licencing bylaw requirements for short term rentals are being actively monitored by the District and violations may result in enforcement action. This will include monitoring of online advertising of short term rentals and issuance of warning letters and/or tickets.
Short term rentals will still require compliance with all other District of Summerland bylaws, including the Good Neighbour Bylaw (noise, property maintenance, etc.). If you would like to submit a nuisance complaint regarding a short-term rental property, or if there is a short-term rental in your neighbourhood that you would like to ensure is properly licensed, please visit Bylaw Services Page for contact information or to file a complaint with our Bylaw Services Department.
Zoning Requirement Summary
A Primary Residence is required on-site.
A Primary Residence is a dwelling unit that a person resides in for the majority of the year and declares for legal purposes as their principal home. You can only have one Primary Residence.
A Primary Residence is required for whole house rentals or rental of individual rooms. If you only have one Primary Residence on-site, you are limited to short term rental of individual rooms within your home. The bylaw does not allow for an entire Primary Residence to be rented short term ("whole house" rentals).
Short Term Rental of an Entire Dwelling: If you or someone else lives on the property for the majority of the year in a separate dwelling than the short term rental renting the entire dwelling, you will meet the Primary Residence requirement.
Short Term Rental of Individual Rooms: If you are seeking to rent individual rooms on a short term basis within the dwelling in which you live for the majority of the year, you will meet the Primary Residence requirement.
Other Zoning Requirements:
Short term rentals are allowed in the following zones: RSD1 Residential Medium Lot, RSD1(i) Residential Single Detached Intensive, RSD2 Residential Large Lot, RSD3 Residential Estate Lot, RDH Residential Duplex Housing, RSH Residential Strata Housing, CR1 Country Residential, and A1 Small Acreage and A2 Large Acreage.
Short term rentals are limited to the following dwelling types: single detached dwellings, manufactured housing (Type 1 or 2), secondary suites and carriage houses.
Short term rentals are limited to one per property. You cannot operate more than one short term rental on a property. You can have a long term rental and a short term rental on the same property.
Short term rentals are limited to a maximum of 4 bedrooms and 8 guests. If your dwelling has five bedrooms or more, it does not meet the maximum bedroom requirement.
Short term rentals require one parking stall in addition to parking stalls required for other property uses (such as the principal residence and suite). For example, if you have a house with a suite/carriage house, to operate a short term rental, you will need to provide 4 on-site parking stalls (2 for house, 1 for suite, plus 1 additional).
Kitchens are not allowed in bedrooms. Kitchens are allowed within the building, but rooms with sleeping accommodations are not allowed cooking facilities.
There is an option for those renting an entire dwelling (a non-principal residence) to hire a licenced property management company to manage the short term rental, if there is a primary residence and the resident is not the operator. This allows for an off-site owner to offer a long-term rental and a short-term rental on the same property without forcing the tenant to run the short term rental.
Short Term Rental Regulations Process
A comprehensive public consultation and review of existing and proposed Bylaw changes was undertaken as part of the process to develop these new regulations. Included below are some of the key steps taken.
August 2021 - Council Report - Short Term Regulatory Approaches
October 2021 - Online Open House - Presentation and Public Q&A
October 2021 - Online Publisc Survey
November 2021 - Council Report - Public Engagement Results
December 2021 - Council Report - 1st & 2nd reading of proposed regulations based on public feedback
February 28, 2022 - Short Term Regulations and Bylaw Changes adopted by District of Summerland Council