Magnetawan hosted a public meeting to discuss amending the current bylaw regulating short-term rental accommodations within the municipality.
After three hours of discussion, here are the key outcomes you need to know:
1. Cap on licences is temporarily removed to promote compliance
- The municipality agreed to suspend the annual maximum number (cap) of Short-Term Accommodation (STA) licences for one year.
- The cap will be revisited in October 2026 after a review to determine the actual number of properties that have successfully registered and complied with the required health and safety standards.
2. Minimum summer rental period modified
- The minimum stay requirement for the high season (July and August), which was a point of contention among operators, will be changed to mandate only one rental contract within a seven-day period.
- This new rule is intended to directly address the council’s core concern: preventing different, short-term “party groups” from booking back-to-back stays within the same week, while still allowing operators the flexibility to issue shorter contracts (e.g., three or four days) to single families or vetted groups.
3. Occupancy is based on septic capacity, not bedrooms
- Occupancy is strictly limited by the property’s septic system capacity, as certified by the North Bay Mattawa Conservation Authority (NBMCA). Any proposed occupancy that exceeds the septic system’s approved flow rate will be rejected, overriding any “per bedroom” count.
4. The three-week rule is protected, with limits
- The “three-week rule” (allowing rentals for less than three separate one-week periods annually without a licence) is retained for non-commercial use (friends/family). However, using this exemption prohibits advertising on public platforms, marking a clear boundary for commercial operation.
5. Safety inspection requirements clarified
- Reducing confusion and costs associated with fire and WETT inspections.
- WETT Certification: A full Wood Energy Technical Transfer (WETT) inspection report is required only every five years.
- Annual Check: The yearly requirement is simplified to providing proof of chimney sweeping/cleaning performed by a WETT-certified technician.
- Fire Safety: Staff will create a new, clear checklist/template to simplify the process of documenting required inspections for fire extinguishers and alarms.
6. Fines and application timelines
- The maximum $5,000 fine for operating without a licence remains, though enforcement involves multiple warnings before penalties are issued. The appeal process remains in place. Additionally, the four-month application completion window remains, but staff will be flexible with applicants who are actively pursuing documentation.
7. Waste management is an operator duty
- STA operators were strongly urged to educate renters and encouraged to use cleaning staff as the point person for taking garbage to the landfill. Special stickers are available for cleaning staff, allowing them to use the landfill without needing a residential card, ensuring proper disposal.
The meeting concluded on a positive and collaborative note, focusing on two key initiatives to improve future engagement between the municipality and short-term accommodation (STA) operators.
STA representative Justin Bellon agreed to bring the suggestion to his group to establish a formal STA association, which would help streamline communication and consolidate concerns for the municipality.
Magnetawan was encouraged by STA operators in attendance to hold regular workshops for prospective STA applicants to clarify procedures and simplify the licensing process.
Magnetawan will approve these changes at a later council meeting.