Guelph’s Airbnb hosts and others renting out space in their home for overnight stays may soon be required to have a business licence, complete with safety inspections and insurance requirements.
That’s the recommendation of city staff heading to council’s committee of the whole meeting on Feb. 7. Staff is asking for the go-ahead to develop a short-term accommodations bylaw with licencing requirements, annual fees and proactive enforcement.
Having a licencing bylaw in place is intended to allow for regular safety inspections to ensure fire codes and building regulations are met, and treats overnight accommodators “equitably from a tax and regulatory perspective.”
It’s proposed 2023 licencing costs include a $241 inspection and a $208 application fee, with a $224 renewal fee in future years. Also, licenced overnight accommodations would be restricted to the owners’ primary residence.
If the committee agrees with the development of a licencing bylaw, and that decision is ratified by council later in the month, city staff plan to consult with key stakeholders – bed and breakfast owners, short-term rental platforms and the University of Guelph, etc. – ahead of its creation.