I's too soon to say how enforcement will unfold in Shuswap electoral areas in relation to the B.C. government's recently announced Short-Term Rental Registry.
This was the Columbia Shuswap Regional District's response to a question shared with the regional district where short-term rental owners/operators stand if their rental property is not compliant with existing zoning.
"The province has just announced additional information regarding the provincial Short-Term Rental Registry and CSRD staff continue to seek further information regarding the local governments鈥� role in the registry process, including the provincial and local government role in STR enforcement," commented the regional district in an email.
On Jan. 20, the province announced details of the long-anticipated registry, intended to rein in illegal short-term rentals. As of May 1, 2025, anyone operating a short-term rental (STR) in B.C., and listing on platforms such as Airbnb, Vrbo and others, must register with the province. This includes hosts operating outside areas with the principal-residence requirement.
Registration will cost $100 annually for an STR in which the host lives, such as a whole home the host rents out while away or a bedroom within it. It will cost $450 per year if the host does not live in the STR, such as a secondary suite, cottage or laneway home; and $600 per year for an entire strata hotel.
Hosts who fail to comply will have their listings taken down beginning June 1, and may also face administrative penalties. Furthermore, the province has indicated registration may be denied or later cancelled if an STR is not permitted by local government.
The CSRD recently amended the official community plan for electoral areas C and G, where regional district staff have noted almost all short-term rentals were not permitted. Prior to the amendment, the Electoral Area C OCP (which applies to areas C and G) was the only one that did not offer an option for short-term renal owners to apply for a temporary use permit (TUP).
"Electoral Areas C & G combined have the highest population in the CSRD and based on a staff review of major STR platforms, has a significant number STR operations that are currently non-compliant with zoning," reported staff at the June 20, 2024 board meeting. "Providing the option for TUP applications to be considered by the Board in these areas will reduce the time and cost for property owners to seek approval to bring STRs into compliance, at least temporarily."
Asked about the process and time involved with the TUP application process, in relation to when the registry comes into effect, the CSRD answered it is still waiting on information from the province.
"Given there is still relatively limited information from the Province, it would be premature to communicate to the public at this time about how enforcement might unfold from the CSRD鈥檚 perspective," commented the regional district.
The CSRD said it would continue to share on its website any updated information it received from the province. For more information on short-term rentals within the CSRD, visit csrd.bc.ca/547/Short-Term-Rentals.
