Renting out your SilverStar place: rules and income

Since May 2024, BC’s Short-Term Rental Accommodations Act has limited short-term rentals in much of the province to the host’s own home plus one suite. SilverStar is different. SilverStar Mountain Resort is on the Province’s list of exempt mountain resort areas, so the principal-residence requirement doesn’t apply inside the mapped resort boundary. That’s why SilverStar is one of the few places near Vernon where you can buy a condo or chalet and rent it nightly when you’re not using it. But “allowed” comes with conditions. Here are the five layers, from the Province down to your strata.

1. The provincial exemption

The principal-residence requirement applies in municipalities over 10,000 people, communities within 15 km of them, and communities that opt in. Mountain resort areas on the Province’s exempt list are carved out, with boundaries mapped in the Short-Term Rental Accommodations Regulation (B.C. Reg. 268/2023). SilverStar Mountain Resort is on that list.

The catch: the exemption covers only the mapped area. A property lower on Silver Star Road may be outside it. Check the parcel against the regulation map before you buy with rental plans.

Source: BC principal residence requirement (page updated Sept. 21, 2026).

2. The provincial registry

Being exempt from the principal-residence rule doesn’t exempt you from the registry. Since May 1, 2025, hosts must register with the Provincial Short-Term Rental Registry and show the registration number on every listing. The listing address must match the registration.

Hotels, motels and similar are exempt, but assume a typical SilverStar condo or chalet needs to register. If a local business licence is ever required, the registry asks for that number too.

Source: BC host registration (updated July 23, 2026).

3. RDNO zoning

The Silver Star Zoning Bylaw No. 1926 defines “Short-Term Rental Accommodation Use” as renting a dwelling unit as temporary accommodation for people visiting the resort, including bed and breakfasts. The rules:

• It’s a permitted use in the Residential Single Dwelling, Residential Duplex, Residential Medium Density and comprehensive development zones.
• The rental must be wholly contained in the dwelling unit.
• No more than five sleeping units.
• One parking space per short-term rental for single and duplex dwellings.
• Real estate signs can’t be used to advertise a rental.

Source: Silver Star Zoning Bylaw 1926 (consolidated).

4. The resort association and area rules

Owners who rent in the Village, The Knoll, Cabin Colony and Alpine Meadows are generally required to be members of the Silver Star Resort Association and pay its annual fee. Then there are area-specific rules:

• Alpine Meadows: rentals must be managed through SilverStar Central Reservations.
• The Ridge: short-term rentals allowed with no mandatory rental management.
• Hotel condos: usually a rental pool or management agreement with its own fees and owner-use limits.

Ask for the current association fee and any management agreement before you remove subjects.

5. Strata bylaws

A strata can restrict or prohibit rentals through its bylaws, whatever the zoning says. Read the bylaws, the Form B and two years of minutes for any pending changes. A strata that is talking about restricting rentals is a risk to your plan.

Taxes on rental income

Short-term accommodation in BC usually attracts PST, may require GST registration, and may carry a municipal and regional district tax depending on the area. Rental income is taxable, and owners who aren’t Canadian residents have extra withholding rules. Speak to an accountant who knows resort rentals before your first booking.

Rental income estimator

Then put the net figure against your carrying costs in the cost-of-ownership calculator.

What makes a SilverStar rental work

• Location beats square footage. Guests pay for walking to the lifts and to dinner.
• Sleeping arrangements. Families and groups book by beds; a well-planned bunk room can matter more than a bigger kitchen, within the five-sleeping-unit cap.
• Summer counts. With the bike park, Crankworx and events such as Wine Fest, summer is no longer an afterthought.
• Ski storage, drying and parking. Boot dryers and a lockable ski locker earn reviews.
• Management choice. Know before you buy whether you can choose your manager (The Ridge) or must use one (Alpine Meadows, many hotel condos).

If you already own and want to rent, Sean can recommend local managers. If you’re comparing SilverStar with Vernon or lake property, remember the principal-residence rule does apply in the City of Vernon; Sean’s Vernon hub can help you compare.