To address impacts from short-term rentals, the town is proposing new regulations and zoning bylaw amendments — a process first started in 2020 — as it held online engagement and meetings with community members and rental operators for feedback.
The latest draft proposal includes licensing and fee for hosts, limiting rentals to principal residences, and capping the number of guests per unit and maximum number of days per year, as well as requiring valid certificates of occupancy and mandatory annual safety inspections.
During the discussion, town staffing limitations was one of the topics raised by council members. Coun. Colin Best said that he’d like to see a report on how the town would enforce the proposed regulations, especially at night.
“To even get a hold of someone and the bylaw enforcement office at that time of night is very difficult,” he said.
The town will bring forward a technical report with recommendation on the licensing and zoning matters at the council meeting on June 20.