Owen Sound council has voted down a proposal to ban most short-term rentals in residential neighbourhoods, but still plan to look at regulating AirBnBs and other short-term accommodations next year.
Coun. John Tamming gave notice of a motion in June to enact a ban on short-term rentals “from areas zoned residential,” with an exemption for owner-occupied bed and breakfast operations. A discussion and a vote on the motion were deferred until Monday’s meeting.
Tamming describes short-term rental properties as “pop-up motels” without any accountability. He also raises concerns about short-term rentals turning housing into a commodity, instead of a place to live.
“By definition, those travelling in and out of the neighbourhoods, on a daily or weekend basis, are transient. They are the residue of the short-term rental model,” Tamming explains. “A model in which the profits are kept by the owner and the cost: the trash, traffic, noise. These costs are externalized. And houses are no longer homes, but exist purely as investment vehicles.”
Council resolved in a 6-3 recorded vote to shoot down the proposed ban. Councillors Carol Merton and Scott Greig supported Tamming’s proposal.
Although the motion was defeated, Owen Sound is still expected to look at new regulations for short-term rentals as part of its ongoing process to study a municipal accommodation tax.
Some councillors who voted against Tamming’s motion acknowledged they’re open to more regulations for short-term rentals, but say they want to receive more information from staff before making any decisions.
Concerns about enforcement capacity, the structure of licensing for short-term rental providers, and other unanswered questions about how the city could proceed were mentioned during the discussion as well.
It’s an issue that will be re-visited during the next term of council.
City manager Tim Simmonds says an information report should come to council early next year, after the fall municipal election.
*Editor’s note: This story was updated from an earlier brief, to add more information and commentary from council’s Sept. 12 meeting.