The town has been working on its Short Term Rental Licensing Bylaw for two years, trying to find a way to limit the noise and congestion of renters partying in neighbourhoods along Lake Huron.
Town staff estimates there are about 60 Airbnb type rentals in the community. Only six of those have the owner staying at the property with the guests.
For neighbours of the Airbnb rentals, the noise and congestion can be overwhelming. Monday, council looked at a draft of a bylaw which would put limits in place on the number of people in a unit and the number of cars parking in the area. There were also some provisions around noise and others which would have owners available to deal with trouble makers in a matter of hours.
The legal advice the town has received about shaping the new bylaw says forcing the rental units to be owner occupied could be found to be discriminatory.
But some councillors saw no reason entrepreneurs should not buy homes for the sole purpose of renting them out.
Council eventually agreed the idea of limiting rentals to only homeowners who live on the property deserved a second look and deferred the bylaw so the lawyers can be consulted.
Some councillors were opposed to the bylaw because it would require enforcement.