A draft bylaw to better regulate short-term rental properties in Essex that was scheduled to be presented to council on Tuesday night was instead put on hold by administration for some more fine tuning.
The town in recent years has welcomed an influx of short-term vacation rental properties, such as properties listed on Airbnb, to bolster tourism. But an escalating number of residents, especially near lakefront areas in Colchester, have voiced frustration about how too many of them are nothing more than party houses causing havoc in their neighbourhood.
The town has scheduled a handful of open houses to gather feedback and concerns leading to the development of the bylaw. It is now scheduled to come back and be presented at the next council meeting on May 2.