Ask West Kelowna
Short Term Rentals
Short Term Rental accommodations are a growing trend and there are a number of opportunities and challenges that surround this type of use, particularly in predominantly residential areas.
Council provided direction to staff that Short Term Rentals be regulated, and that the creation of regulations for short-term rentals be done through the review of regional comparisons and consultation with both stakeholders and the public.
Short Term Rentals are a form of tourism accommodation, that is typically defined as renting a dwelling (house, apartment, condo townhouse), for a period of less than 30 days. Short Term Rentals are a form of accommodation service, and like hotels, resorts, and Bed and Breakfasts (B&Bs), serve the greater tourism industry. However, unlike traditional accommodation services like hotels and resorts, Short Term Rentals have the advantage of being located in a variety of neighbourhoods and a diversity of dwelling types, sizes, and locations which may make use of local amenities.
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Thank you to the residents, stakeholders and community members who provided feedback on the Draft Regulations for Short Term Rentals. An Online Questionnaire was launched on November 30th, 2020 and ran until January 3rd, 2021. Staff are now compiling the feedback received and will use feedback from the questionnaire, public and stakeholder correspondence to inform further refinements to the proposed Short Term Rental Regulations.
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Staff anticipates that Short Term Rentals would allow the rental of a portion of an operator’s primary residence, or the entire residence when they are away, for periods of less than 30 days. Staff further anticipates that they would not be permitted in secondary suites or carriage houses. Parking requirements and maximum occupancies are also under consideration. The City has created the DRAFT Regulations through a review of local and regional regulations and Council’s guiding principles, which prioritize mitigating potential negative impacts to neighbourhoods and protecting the long-term rental inventory.
Guiding Principles:
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| Additional Information |
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Staff Report
Decision/Resolution: Council provided direction to staff that Short Term Rentals be regulated, and that the creation of regulations for Short Term Rentals be done through the review of regional practices and consultation with both stakeholders and the public. Council's direction followed the decision points presented to Council (Attachment 5).
Decision/Resolution: Council directed staff to further engage the community and stakeholders on the proposed Short Term Rental program as outlined in the November 24th Council Report.
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Important Dates - Timeline |
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September 29, 2020 - Council gave direction to staff to complete the review, consultation, and drafting process in order to be ready for the next tourist season. The city is working towards the implementation of Short Term Rental Regulations in May of 2021. November 24, 2020 - Council considered a proposed Draft Regulation program for Short term Rentals and directed staff to further engage the community and stakeholders on the Draft Regulations. November 30, 2020 - January 3, 2021 - An online questionnaire was shared and available for community feedback from residents, short term rental operators, traditional operators and stakeholders. Present - Staff are compiling and reviewing feedback received via the online questionnaire, public and stakeholder correspondence. Working within the Guiding Principles and regionally consistent practices, staff will develop proposed Bylaw Amendments to introduce Short Term Rental regulations for Council's Consideration in Winter/Spring 2021.
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FAQs |
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Q: Will there be a public hearing for Short Term Rentals? A: Yes, once the engagement period closes on January 3rd, staff will review the feedback received from the community and refinements and changes may be considered for the draft regulations. Draft bylaw amendments will then be submitted for Council's consideration, and a Public Hearing will be held. It is anticipated that a Public Hearing could be held by February or March of 2021.
Q: I live on a property already zoned for Resort Apartment or Resort Townhouse use, how will these regulations affect me? A: The City's C6 - Resort & Tourist Commercial Zone and some CD (Comprehensive Development) Zones already permit a similar use to Short Term Rentals. This use is defined as "Resort Apartment or Resort Townhouse - meaning apartments or townhouses that may be occupied for periods of less than 30 consecutive days". The proposed new use of Short Term Rentals and the associated draft regulations would only apply to single detached dwellings. Properties with the permitted use of Resort Apartment or Resort Townhouse can continue to operate as rental units for less than 30 days, a business licence may be required. Examples of properties with this permitted use include: Barona Beach Lakefront Resort (C6 Zone), Casa Loma Resort (C6 Zone) and The Cove Lakeside Resort (CD2 Zone).
Q: It sounds like a Short Term Rental operator can only rent out a room (or rooms) in their home with a shared kitchen, is this correct? A: Yes, mostly. A Short Term Rental is proposed to be limited to a maximum of 3 bedrooms within the operators principal residence. However, an operator may rent out their entire home at times when they are away. This means that while the operator is at home, they may only rent out up to 3 bedrooms to a maximum of 6 guests. However, if the operator is away (e.g., away on on a business trip or away for a holiday/vacation), the operators entire home may be rented up to a maximum of 6 guests. Properties with a secondary suite or a carriage house are proposed to not be permitted to operate a Short Term Rental in the regulations.
Q: I didn't have an opportunity to complete the online questionnaire about the proposed regulations, how do I provide feedback? A: Don't worry! There will still be another opportunity for community feedback at a Public Hearing on the proposed Zoning Bylaw Amendments. After Council's initial consideration of the amendments, a Public Hearing will be scheduled to provide an opportunity for the community to directly provide Council feedback on the proposed regulations. Stay tuned here or sign up for Community Notifications, it is anticipated that a Public Hearing could be held sometime in Spring 2021.
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Contact Us |
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Have additional questions on Short Term Rentals? Please contact us!
Development Services City of West Kelowna Municipal Hall 2760 Cameron Road West Kelowna, BC V1Z 2T6
Phone: 778-797-8830 Email: dev.services@westkelownacity.ca |
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