Staff Report: Zoning Bylaw No. 900, 2014, Amendment Bylaw No. 1105, 2022 – Short Term Rental Regulations
A report introducing amendments to the Zoning Bylaw to provide enforceable regulations for Short Term Rentals (STRs).
TOWN OF VIEW ROYAL COUNCIL REPORT
TO: Council
DATE: August 12, 2022
FROM: Stirling Scory, RPP, MCIP, Community Planner
MEETING DATE: September 6, 2022
Zoning Bylaw No. 900, 2014, Amendment Bylaw No. 1105, 2022 – Short Term Rental Regulations
RECOMMENDATION:
THAT Zoning Bylaw No. 900, 2014, Amendment Bylaw No. 1105, 2022 be given first and second reading.
CHIEF ADMINISTRATIVE OFFICER’S COMMENTS:
I concur with the recommendation.
DIRECTOR OF DEVELOPMENT SERVICES’ COMMENTS:
I concur with the recommendation.
PURPOSE OF REPORT:
To introduce Zoning Bylaw No. 900, 2014, Amendment Bylaw No. 1105, 2022 for consideration of first and second reading to provide provisions in the Bylaw to regulate the operation of Short Term Rentals.
BACKGROUND DISCUSSION:
A Short Term Rental (STR) is a commercial short-term rental platform that provides overnight accommodations located in a portion of or within the entirety of a dwelling unit. The term STR is often associated with AirBNB, VRBO, and other rental platforms. The regulation of what is currently referred to as ‘vacation rental’ in the Town’s existing Zoning Bylaw is insufficient to regulate this use. Council’s objective with the regulation of STRs is to avoid the commercialization of a residential dwelling unit, and to ensure that a residential unit is not removed from the Town’s inventory of possible residential tenure, for either long-term rental or ownership.
Council was provided an update on July 19, 2022, detailing the necessity to abandon the previous amendment bylaw (Bylaw No. 1092) in favour of bringing forward amendment bylaw Bylaw No. 1105 (Attachment 1). The rationale for doing so was because the information that staff had relied on at the time of drafting the original amendment bylaw was found to be inadequate.
Proposed Bylaw No. 1105, is consistent with both the existing definitions and provisions of the Zoning Bylaw, making the changes enforceable. Furthermore, the changes ensure that Council’s desired objectives for enforcement and regulation are easily achieved.
Following Council direction provided in July, notice about this bylaw has been conducted. Notices that the bylaw was to be considered were placed in the Times Colonist newspaper on August 25, 2022 and September 1, 2022. This is consistent with the Bill 26 amendments to the Local Government Act that require earlier notice of rezoning amendments but does not require a public hearing unless Council wishes to host one.
RECOMMENDATION:
THAT Zoning Bylaw No. 900, 2014, Amendment Bylaw No. 1105, 2022 be given first and second reading.
SUBMITTED BY:
Stirling Scory, RPP, MCIP, Community Planner
REVIEWED BY:
L. Chase, RPP, MCIP, Director of Development Services
Attachments
- Amendment Bylaw No. 1105
Document Images
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