Short Term Rental Policy for RDCO Electoral Areas – Updated
260319 – Next step in the STR process is today watch it at RDCO.com. Public hearing scheduled for April 16 5:30 PM at the RDCO Offices 1450 KLO Road in Kelowna. I don’t foresee any significant changes to the documentation already presented to us, but I guess that is what the Public Hearing is for. I’m told we are still on track for business this summer. –
260120 – Open Houses at both Wilson Landing Fire Hall and at the Killiney Beach Community Hall next to the firehall in Killiney Beach, tonight. 5:00 PM til 6:00 PM at both venues. Come out and meet the Staff that created the STR Policy. Ask questions and get answers from the experts. I will be at Wilson Landing for the opening and Killiney Beach for the close. If you have questions of me and don’t get an opportunity at either event my contact is Wayne.carson@rdco.com or 250-801-4859.
News Release
January 16, 2026
RDCO seeks feedback on 2026–2030 financial plan
The Regional District of Central Okanagan (RDCO) has published its proposed 2026–2030 financial plan and is inviting residents to review it and share feedback.
The financial plan outlines how the RDCO will fund services, maintain infrastructure and support regional priorities over the next five years. Residents are encouraged to provide feedback on specific elements, such as service levels, programming or funding priorities. Public input will help inform any final refinements before the plan is adopted by the Regional Board in March.
“The draft financial plan prioritizes the services people depend on today and the resilience of our region into the future,” said Tania McCabe, Director of Financial Services. “The RDCO has made strategic choices to manage rising costs and invest in essential infrastructure, and values public input to help shape a plan that reflects the community’s needs and priorities.”
The proposed 2026 operating budget is $77.8 million, an increase of $7 million or 9.8 per cent over 2025. This increase is largely due to inflation, scheduled wage increases under the current collective agreement and ongoing rollout of previously approved projects.
The plan includes significant investment in regional parks, including work to make parks safer and reopen areas closed by the McDougall Creek wildfire, continuing to expand year-round access at previously seasonal parks and improving active transportation and accessibility by advancing trail planning and design. The plan also prioritizes emergency management upgrades, improvements to the Westside Wastewater Treatment Plant and increased contributions to reserves to prepare for future projects. These investments are needed to maintain service quality and prepare for future growth.
Unlike municipalities, regional districts do not have a single tax rate. The impact on each property owner varies depending on where they live, the services they receive and the assessed value of their property. Preliminary average tax impacts for each community within the Central Okanagan are outlined below:
These amounts are for RDCO services only and excludes local service area taxes (eg fire protection, community centers, transit). Taxpayers may also see provincial, municipal or other tax authorities on their annual tax notice.
Beginning January 22, 2026, residents in Electoral Area East and Electoral Area West can use the RDCO’s property tax estimator tool at rdco.com/tax-estimator to view estimated 2026 property taxes and parcel charges based on the proposed financial plan. By searching their property address in the tool, Electoral Area residents can see their property totals, including RDCO-related property taxes and parcel taxes shown on their annual tax notice.
The draft financial plan will be presented to the Regional Board at the regular meeting on Thursday, January 22, 2026, with final adoption of the financial plan bylaw scheduled for March 19, 2026. Visit yoursay.rdco.com to learn more about the financial planning process and schedule, and to review the draft plan.
Residents can ask questions and provide feedback until 12 p.m. on February 6, 2026, in one of the following ways:
- Comment on the online forum at yoursay.rdco.com
- Email finance@rdco.com (subject line: 2026–2030 Financial Plan)
- Attend the February 5, 2026, Committee of the Whole meeting in person to speak to the Board
- Mail comments to 1450 KLO Road, Kelowna, B.C. V1W 3Z4
- Please include the civic address of the property you own or live in when submitting feedback.
Contact: Haley Oliver
Communications Manager
Regional District of Central Okanagan
250-469-6339 | cell: 250-215-2977 l haley.oliver@rdco.com
260115 – Had the first Public Hearing for STR today. This one was Virtual and was very informative. Questions were asked and answered. Looking good. See below for in person meetings dates and all relevant documentation and policy development. For more RDCO information on STR’s
MEDIA
The Kelowna Courier | Pat Bulmer | March 21, 12:55 p.m.
Enforcement of short-term rental rules questioned
(The bylaw amendments were presented to the regional board and will be put out to a public hearing on April 16…)
Castanet | Colin Dacre | March 18, 4:04 a.m.
RDCO proposes new rules for short-term rentals outside city limits
(…“Our goal with these changes is to support safe, livable communities while offering flexibility for responsible STR operators,” Brad Dollevoet, RDCO manager of development services, said in a previous statement…)
Kelowna Capital News · Jennifer Smith · January 20 · 2:30 am
Short-term rental expansion opinions sought in Westside, Ellison, Joe Rich
(… The Regional District of Central Okanagan (RDCO) is hosting an open house at the Killiney…)
*Also featured in The Vernon Morningstar, Lake Country Calendar, West K News and 54 other Black Press publications.
Kelowna Now · January 12 · 2:18 pm
RDCO seeks public input on proposed overhaul of rural short-term rental rules
(… The Regional District of Central Okanagan (RDCO) is looking to change its existing short-term rentals (STR) rules but they are seeking feedback from residents first…)
Castanet · Rob Gibson · January 12 · 1:46 pm
Changes could be coming to short-term rentals in rural parts of the Central Okanagan
(…The Regional District of Central Okanagan is considering overhauling its Airbnb rules, but they want your feedback before taking any action…)
Vernon Matters · January 12 · 11:16 am
Kelowna council to consider seeking exemption from provincial short-term rental rules
(…Meanwhile, the Regional District of Central Okanagan has launched public engagements and is inviting residents to provide input through a survey and a series of community open houses…)
News Release – Public Hearing Schedule
January 12, 2026
RDCO launches public engagement on proposed short-term rental regulations
The Regional District of Central Okanagan (RDCO) is inviting Electoral Area residents to provide input on proposed updates to existing short-term rental (STR) regulations for the Central Okanagan Electoral Areas.
The proposed changes aim to create a clearer, more consistent framework that reflects the needs and priorities of rural communities while remaining aligned with provincial requirements.
As part of the initial proposed approach, the RDCO is considering:
- Defining STRs, including bed and breakfasts, as a stay of 90 days or less
- Requiring an RDCO business license for all short-term rental operations
- Allowing STRs in guest rooms, secondary suites or full homes
- No principal residence requirement, meaning an eligible dwelling unit could be rented year-round without the operator living on-site
- Requiring properties to be located within a fire protection area and to meet minimum life safety standards, including emergency access and proper servicing
- Requiring at least one off-street parking space
- Prohibiting short-term rentals in accessory dwelling units such as carriage houses
“Our goal with these changes is to support safe, livable communities while offering flexibility for responsible STR operators,” says Brad Dollevoet, RDCO Manager of Development Services. “We want to hear from residents to ensure that these proposed updates strike the right balance.”
Public input will play a key role in shaping the final approach. Beginning January 12, 2026, until February 2, 2026, residents will be able to visit rdco.com/str to complete a survey and learn more about the proposed regulations.
In addition, Electoral Area residents and STR operators are invited to drop in to an in-person or virtual community open house to ask questions and learn more:
| Jan. 15, 5–6 p.m. Virtual Open HouseRegister here |
Jan. 20, 5–6 p.m. |
| Jan. 20, 5–6 p.m. Community open house Killiney Beach Community Hall |
Jan. 22, 5–6 p.m. |
Feedback gathered through the survey will inform the final recommendations presented to the RDCO Board in the spring.
For more information and updates on the project, visit rdco.com/str.
251229 – Dates for public hearings to be determined early in 2026 to allow for public input, board consideration and staff to develop and implement the new policy in time for the 2026 summer season. This Short Term Rental policy will only apply in the East & West Electoral Areas.
251212 – 6.1 Proposed Short-Term Rental Accommodation Bylaw Updates was received by the EASC:
Recommendation:
THAT the Electoral Area Services Committee recommends that the Regional Board direct staff to initiate community engagement on proposed Regional District of Central Okanagan bylaw updates in relation to Short-Term Rental uses in Central Okanagan Electoral Area West and Central Okanagan Electoral Area East;
AND THAT the Electoral Area Services Committee recommends that the Regional Board direct staff to prepare draft bylaw amendments for Short-Term Rental uses for Regional Board consideration.
If you get a chance watch the meeting and you will get the full story of where we’re at and where we can go. Things like accessory buildings, carriage houses and second kitchens can be addressed through the public input stage which should be in January/February but will be addressed later once the STR Policy is in place. The timeline will be designed to leave enough time to be up and running by summer.
Further to this a motion will come to the full RDCO Board on Dec 18 2025 with a Draft Recommendation:
THAT the Regional Board direct staff to initiate community engagement on proposed bylaw updates in relation to Short-Term Rental uses in Central Okanagan Electoral Area West and Central Okanagan Electoral Area East.
AND THAT Regional Board directs staff to prepare draft bylaw amendments for Short-Term Rental uses for Regional Board consideration following the completion of public engagement.
We get through this step and Staff will do what is necessary to meet the public input aspect and get on with the actual Policy and Bylaw development necessary to move for ward in early 2026. I will update when there’s news.
Updated Report due: EASC Dec 11 2025 Watch Live Documentation and \Staff Presentation available now at same link.
251121 – I have received many inquiries about a Short-Term Rental (STR) Policy for the RDCO electoral areas (EA’s). Most of the media on STR’s is municipality oriented and does not apply in many cases to the more rural or remote communities that make up the EA’s in RDCO. It is important to note that each regional district and municipality may create their own STR policies using the Provincial standard as their foundation. The current rules are listed on the Short-Term Accommodation Uses pamphlet.
The EASC received North Westside residents Jason Amer and Catherine Middleton who gave a Delegation Presentation 5.1 regarding short term rentals in legal suites was presented to the EASC on June 05, 2025. The Power Point illustrates their argument.
Following the delegation was Item 6.1 Short-Term Rental Current Regulation Status this would be the information in the above pamphlet. The STR Staff Report and STR Staff Presentation with Short-term rentals municipality overview were presented to the EASC. The Staff presentation lacked any changes to the existing Policy and falls far short of the position that the community delegation was looking for. Only municipal examples were used and most of Staffs argument was oriented to a municipal perspective. The other part of Staffs presentation where local services were questioned do not hold true. Emergency access is as good as most rural communities in the province and comparable to many areas within adjacent municipalities. Again, for the argument on steep driveways see the above response. Increased sewer or in our case septic use is a problem between Interior Health and the homeowner that operates, maintains, and pays for the system. Limited fire service is also a weak argument. Again most B.C. is serviced by paid on call fire departments. This is not a limiting factor but should be considered a requirement to operate a STR’s. Staff also acknowledged that Electoral Areas are NOT required to opt into the Provincial Regulations.
The need for STR’s in Electoral Area West is reached overload. La Casa is booked solid, Lake Okanagan Resort is gone, and the campsites are full of waiting lists and reservations. To visit the Westside Road area as either a tourist or to visit friends and relatives, your accommodation choices are extremely challenging. STR’s should allow in fully self-contained basement suites and accessory or carriage houses. Basement suites and carriage houses should be fully self-contained to allow for either short- or long-term rental depending upon the homeowner’s desires.
The policy that residents have requested would see the principal resident and single unit per property elements embedded within a Short-Term Rental Policy/Bylaw. I have asked for a short timeline on returning a revised policy to the EASC that will address the concerns and requests of the EA residents.
Media
RDCO considering changes to vacation rental rules outside city limits – Castanet 251217
