Magnetawan expects to regulate short-term rentals by next year, even as council had to postpone discussion on the draft bylaw at its Sept. 13 meeting “due to the threat of legal action received,” according to a post on the township’s social media account.
Under the proposed bylaw, 300 short-term rental licences would be available, with the stipulation that the rental homes are 300 metres apart and renters stay for a minimum of seven days. A rental owner can be fined and have demerit points noted if: they or a representative aren’t able to attend the property within an hour if requested by the township; don’t limit renters to two per bedroom or additional sleeping space with a maximum occupancy of 10 people; if the property is used commercially; and, if a rental is advertised but not licensed. Fines range from $1,500 to $5,000, and each infraction comes with four to seven demerit points. If a rental operator runs up 15 demerit points, their licence can be revoked.
Ravi Mali attended the Sept. 13 meeting. He owns two properties on Lake Cecebe that are rented out during the summer months when not being used by him and his family.
“The big picture is there should be some sort of a dialogue to come to mutual understanding to see both sides of the story,” said Mali, who first heard of the proposed bylaw from a neighbour this summer.
Additionally, he said. the minimum of a seven-day stay cuts into the market because “lots of people only want to rent for the weekend.”
Short-term rentals help fuel the economy, he said, with local residents hired for cleaning and visitors getting their groceries in the region. Mali is not part of the legal action the township referred to.
Discussion to license short-term rentals started in 2021 when the township went through its official plan and zoning bylaws review. Feedback from the community included surveys, letters and attendance at a July 2022 public meeting.
In 2022, over 370 Magnetawan properties were found by staff listed on the Airbnb site out of the township’s 825 permanent dwellings and 892 seasonal dwellings, according to the 2022 presentation at the public meeting posted on the township’s webpage.
This March, staff recommended that council move ahead with licensing short-term rentals.