On 1 June 2026, Kelowna became the first city in British Columbia to opt out of the province's principal residence rule. Investment condos can legally operate as short-term rentals again, but only in the buildings the city rezoned. Below is the full list of 25 addresses, and what the change does and does not cover.
For two years, provincial law required you to live in the property you were renting out short-term. That single rule took most investment condos in Kelowna off the market overnight.
The province allows a city to opt out once its rental vacancy rate holds above three percent for two consecutive years. Kelowna cleared that bar and became the first municipality in BC to do it.
The exemption applies only to properties the city rezoned into its short-term rental sub-zone. Being in Kelowna is not enough. Your specific building has to be on the list.
Most owners inside the sub-zone stopped short-term renting when the rules changed in 2024. A lot of them have not heard that anything has changed back.
Check by street address rather than building name. Some entries cover a range of numbers because the rezoning applies to the whole property.
The sub-zone takes in buildings including Sole, Sole Downtown, Sole on KLO, Brooklyn, Cambridge House, Discovery Bay, Waterscapes, Sunset Waterfront, Playa del Sol, Caban, Mission Shores and Aqua. If you recognise the name but are not sure of the number, find it on your strata paperwork and match it below.
Zoning is one of three things that has to line up. We would rather tell you this before you plan around the income than after.
Zoning is only the first gate. Operating legally also means a City of Kelowna business licence, renewed every year, plus registration with the province. Both sit with the owner.
The city rezoning does not override your building’s bylaws. A strata can restrict short-term rentals on its own, separately from zoning. Check your bylaws before you count on the income.
Buildings join the sub-zone by applying, and the city requires strata consent as part of that application. If your building is not here yet, it is a conversation with your strata rather than a closed door.
The sub-zone is not fixed. Buildings join it by applying to the city, with strata consent as part of the application. Leave your details and we'll let you know if your building is added, and what it would mean for your unit.
Eligibility is the easy part. What a unit earns depends on the building, the layout, the season and how it is run. Tell us the address and we'll give you a straight answer on what it could do.
Address list sourced from the City of Kelowna's short-term rental regulations. Zoning and licensing rules change. Confirm your own address with the city before you commit to anything.