Short Term Rentals - Licensing Update

At the December 9, 2019, Council meeting, Council approved the meeting minutes from the November 12, 2019, Glendale Task Force meeting. These minutes included the following recommendation from the Glendale Task Force:

"that the summary of suggested changes to the Short Term Rental By-law be referred to staff for review and consideration; and that the process include a public consultation session; and that the final by-law be brought to Council for adoption in the early spring."

At the January 20, 2020, Council meeting, Council approved the following motion:

"that staff consider allowing the existing short term rental fees to be paid over two installments for 2020; and that the short term rental licensing license fees be reviewed for 2021; and further that Council establish a working committee for short term rental operators to work in collaboration with Council and staff to work on issues of concerns and build a strong working relationship."

Staff reviewed the comments provided by the Glendale Task Force and provided a response and recommended actions through report CS-20-012 in June 2020.

At the June meeting, Council referred this report back to Staff to form a working group to review these recommended actions and report back to Council. The working group has now prepared proposed amendments to the Short Term Rental Licensing By-law and changes to the administration of the program. Prior to reporting these changes to Council, Staff are interested in hearing from the public in regards to these changes and hope to address any concerns in a future staff report.

The following list is a brief generalization of the proposed changes (for detailed changes see the STR by-law amendment):

• Transition short term rentals to be operated from principal residences only (by January 1, 2024)
• Restrict short term rentals from advertising without a license, and add a requirement for advertisements to include license number.
• Create requirements for property managers to respond within 30 minutes to complaints
• Introduce Renter's Code of Conduct and Good Neighbour Agreements
• Require signage for Short Term Rentals which includes Town's customer service number
• Technical amendments for approval of fees (to be through annual user fees)
• Introduction of a third-party compliance company to monitor rental advertisements, offer 24/7 complaint line, offer support to enforcement of the Licensing By-law.
• Suggest revisions to previously approved fee structure (decrease from proposed 2020 fees, increase from 2019 fees) to fund third party compliance company.