Short - Term Rental Fees Update

June 17, 2025

The City of Fernie is proposing changes to Short-Term Rental (STR) Business License fees to better reflect the time and resources needed to manage and enforce STR rules. 

Proposed new fees: 

  • $700/year for Condo/Hotel STRs 

  • $500/year for Primary Residence STRs 

Why Are Fees Changing? 

Fernie’s current STR license fee is $100/year, no matter the type of STR. This hasn’t changed since STR regulations were first adopted in 2017—even as the demands on staff and enforcement have grown. 

The proposed fee increase will help: Support STR enforcement , offset City staff time  for reviewing applications, verifying compliance, and responding to community concerns, and ensure fairness by shifting enforcement costs from general taxpayers to STR operators, who benefit from the use of their properties as tourist accommodations. 

What’s the Difference Between STR Types? 

There are two types of STR Business Licenses in Fernie, each with different impacts and levels of oversight: 

 

Type 

Definition 

Examples 

Condo/Hotel STR 

Located in specially zoned developments intended for short-term stays. 

Silver Rock, parts of Pinnacle Ridge 

Primary Residence STR 

A portion of the home where the owner lives full-time. Must be the owner’s legal principal residence. 

Owner-occupied houses 

Note: STRs are not allowed in carriage houses, garage suites, secondary suites, or garden homes. 

Why Now? 

  • Fernie’s STR fees are currently well below what similar communities charge. 

  • Public feedback since 2017 has supported stronger STR regulation and enforcement. 

  • STR activity has grown, and so have complaints about unlicensed rentals. 

  • These changes help us keep STRs fair, safe, and compliant, without asking general taxpayers to cover the cost. 

To provide feedback on the proposed changes please email cityhall@fernie.ca