Haliburton County is a little closer to a framework to govern short-term property rentals in the lower-tier municipalities.
It’s an initiative started during the last term of council and it was discussed by the current administration Jan. 25 during its public meeting. Council directed staff to come back with a report based on council discussion that will result in a final draft bylaw to regulate short-term rentals. The final draft will be forwarded to the lower tier municipalities for consideration.
The project was initiated in summer 2022 by the previous county council. Consultants J.L Richards (JLR) prepared a report on the issue called Haliburton County Short-Term Rental Review.
The review provided insight into the short-term rental accommodation policies for comparator municipalities. It included a summary of public consultation with various stakeholder groups. And the report suggested framework options for STR regulations and licensing to be considered by council.
The final report tabled in October included two draft bylaws.
The first was a draft registration bylaw which would require rental operators to register their STR in the near term in order to determine their impact on Haliburton’s lakes.
The second was a draft licensing bylaw which had the effect of regulating STRs over the long term. The municipalities would have to develop a definition for short-term rentals and include it in zoning bylaws.
Operators will be responsible for such things as demonstrating their septic systems are fine and their properties conform to building and fire codes.
Rental establishments are proposed to be sorted into three classes based on number of properties operated by owners and the number of nights rented per year. Fees range from $250 for a class A license, which would govern the operation of one STR, to $750 for a class C license for the operation of three or more STRs.
Carter said those fees are too low. Short-term rentals in some locations charge as much as $10,000 a weekend, he said.