News ItemsShort-term rentals: New municipal regulation currently in development to address this form of commercial accommodation
November 20, 2018
During the regular meeting of the Council on August 6, 2018, elected officials tasked the Urban Planning and Environment Department with developing a municipal regulation on short-term rentals (31 days or less). Rentals through platforms such as Airbnb fall in this category. Current municipal regulations make no distinction between short-term rentals (a form of temporary occupancy) and long-term rentals (a permanent residence). The goal of this new effort is not to make the increasingly popular form of accommodation illegal, but to regulate it. By regulating short-term rentals, the Municipality will be able to protect public safety, prevent disturbances, ensure compliance with potable water supply and wastewater management requirements, protect access to affordable housing, and promote tax equity. The Urban Planning Department’s initial work on the issue has brought to light several important aspects that will need to be considered in the new regulation:
The draft regulation is expected to be submitted to the Municipal Council in December and undergo public consultation in early 2019. |