On this page you will find the following:

• What is a Short Term Rental?
• Where are STRs Permitted?
• What are the Rules?
• What is Being Done to Enforce the Rules?
• How do I Get a Business Licence?

For convenience, please find below a List of Licenced Short Term Rentals/B&Bs in Tofino.

Short-Term Rentals and Vacation Rentals are terms that are used interchangeably. From a land-use and zoning perspective, they are commercial uses rather than residential uses. Short-term rentals are defined as rentals for a period of less than one month. Bed and Breakfasts are regulated seperately, but also require a business licence.

The District of Tofino Zoning Bylaw defines the terms as follows:

• SHORT TERM RENTAL means means the use of a dwelling unit to provide tourist accommodation.
• BED AND BREAKFAST means the use of a single family dwelling by a permanent resident of the dwelling as tourist accommodation including breakfast, while the operator continues to reside in the dwelling.
• DWELLING UNIT means one or more habitable rooms which together constitute a self-contained living unit with a separate entrance providing cooking, sanitary and living and/or sleeping facilities to be used as a dwelling.

Short-term rentals are allowed in the R1, R4, RA1, RA2, RA3, A1, A2, A3, A4, and CD(EL) zones, as well as the Fred Tibbs condos.

To find the zoning of a particular property, use our GIS Portal.

Regulations regarding Short Term Rentals are found in two Bylaws:

• District of Tofino Business Licence Regulation Bylaw 

This Bylaw requires owners or operators of buisnesses to hold valid business licences, sets the licence fees and establishes different regulations for different classes of business.

*NEW* An amendment passed at the December 14th, 2017 Council meeting requires owners or operators of tourist accommodation businesses to display their valid District of Tofino business licence number on any marketing, advertisements or promotions for the business. (Bylaw No. 858.09, 2017)
See more.

• District of Tofino Zoning Bylaw: This Bylaw divides the District of Tofino into zones, and provides regulations governing the use of land, buildings, structures, parking, and landscaping. 
  
  The sections copied below are for convenience only, see the the  full text of the Bylaw for any specific regulations in your zone or for your proposed use.

Regulations for Bed and Breakfast use:

i. The maximum number of guests in a Bed and Breakfast use at any one time is 6;
ii. The resident of the dwelling must be resident in the premises while the Bed and Breakfast use is operating;
iii. The maximum number of guests per sleeping unit (bedroom) is 2;
iv. No separate or additional facilities for the keeping or preparation of food is permitted within any sleeping unit (bedroom); and,
v. A Bed and Breakfast use is only permitted in a dwelling that contains no more than four sleeping units (bedrooms).

Regulations for Short Term Rental use:

i. The maximum number of dwellings on a lot that may be occupied by a Short Term Rental use is 1;
ii. A Short Term Rental use may be operated within a Secondary Suite, Caretaker Cottage or principal Dwelling, and in any calendar year may be operated only in one of the dwelling units on any lot;
iii. A Short Term Rental use may not be located within any dwelling unit that has more than three sleeping units or bedrooms in total;
iv. The maximum number of guests in a Short Term Rental use at any one time is 6;
v. Short Term Rental use is permitted only where a Residential Use, occupied by a Permanent Resident, is occurring in a dwelling unit on the lot other than the dwelling unit in which the Short Term Rental use is occurring;
vi. Short Term Rental use is only permitted on a lot that contains two dwelling units; and,
vii. As a limited exception to the home occupation requirements set out in this bylaw and Part 4.3.2(f)(i), a property operated as a Short Term Rental by a licensed property management company can also be used as a home occupation provided that the Short Term Rental use complies with all other provisions of this bylaw, including the presence of a permanent resident on the lot. 

Since 2016, District of Tofino Council has authorized a proactive approach to enforcement of unlawful short-term rentals. This means that staff are actively enforcing compliance in this sector through inspections and investigations.

The Enforcement Process:

District staff gather information about existing short-term rentals in Tofino using “Host Compliance” software. "Host Compliance" allows staff to find current and past advertisements of short term rentals listed on a variety of online platforms using proprietary software and methods. Staff’s review of the listings indicates that there are several categories of non-compliance:

• Short-term rentals offered and occurring where there is no business license;
• Short-term rentals offered and occurring where not permitted by zoning:
• Short-term rentals offered where there is no primary resident;
• Multiple short-term rentals offered and occurring where only a single short-term rental is permitted.

Actions Taken:

1. Send letters to every property owner in Tofino outlining what is permitted and prohibited for short-term rentals as well as the District’s plans for moving toward proactive enforcement. (July 2016 Letter)
2. Amend short-term rental business license fees to meet enforcement costs. (Bylaw No. 858.08)
3. Dedicate more resources to allow for direct and proactive enforcement. (Business Licence Inspector)
4. Using Host Compliance and onsite inspections, prepare a list of vacation rentals that are in compliance with District bylaws and compare against information of known short-term rentals. (See List Below)
5. Contact observed non-compliant property owners.
6. Increase enforcement activity on non-compliant properties that includes:
   • Consideration of suspending business licenses.
   • Issuing fines to businesses operating unlawfully.
   • Issuing fines to agencies facilitating unlawful rentals.
   • Prosecution of bylaw offences in BC Supreme Court and Adjudication.

Over 65 Tickets were issued in 2017 for Short Term Rental non-compliance. 

To view Adjudication Notices for tickets that are being disputed, Click Here.

Staff are committed to working with all owners to come into compliance. 

To obtain a District of Tofino Business Licence, make sure you have taken the following steps:

• Determine the zoning of your property by viewing the District of Tofino GIS Portal 
• Check the District of Tofino Zoning Bylaw to determine the uses permitted in your zone
• Learn about Business Licencing: Application process, fees, regulations.

Please find below a list of the short term rental properties that have current District of Tofino Business Licences.*

*NOTE: Having a current business licence does not confirm compliance with all District bylaws. The District of Tofino is currently reviewing business licenses and working with owners to gain compliance with all applicable bylaws.

This list will be updated quarterly by District staff. 

Last Updated: July, 2019

To learn more, contact:

Damon Johnson
Business Licence Inspector
djohnson@tofino.ca
250-725-3229 ext. 605