Wasaga Beach is laying out a road map to determine what direction it will take on the issue of short-term accommodations.
The project should lead to the creation of a bylaw that is able to strike a balance between supporting the local economy while preserving the character and livability of residential neighbourhoods.
The issue of STAs, particularly in the south Georgian Bay area, has been polarizing. Homeowners see it as a means to earn an income from a secondary home that may be otherwise be sitting empty, while neighbours have raised issues of noise and parking by tenants who move in for a weekend of partying.
Municipalities have also struggled to keep up with enforcement, especially with the rise of online services such as Airbnb and Vrbo and the sheer volume of homeowners posting their homes for vacation rentals.
Collingwood, for instance, recently outlined a proposed bylaw that would cap the number of STAs permitted in the municipality to 200. Municipal staff estimate there are upwards of 300 homes listed on vacation rental websites.
Clearview Township council was recently pitched to ease the rules for short-term rentals in order to increase the amount of tourism accommodation available in the municipality. That recommendation also suggested a licensing system and the potential for a municipal accommodation tax.
The town’s current rules limit STAs to commercial zones, provided the landowner has a business licence from the municipality, and has undergone inspections for property standards and fire safety.
The new rules could be rolled out for implementation in the spring of 2024, ahead of the summer tourism season.