City of Nanaimo to require business licences for Short Term Rentals

NEWS RELEASE - Distributed March 11, 2022 12:50 PM

Summary

New regulations have come into effect for operators of short-term rentals (STR) and bed and breakfasts in the City of Nanaimo. At their meeting on February 7, Council adopted amendments to the zoning and off-street parking bylaw that regulates and permit short-term rentals. Included in the changes is the requirement for a business licence.

The changes come after a review relating to STRs and Bed and Breakfasts Zoning and Business Licence regulations. Through the review, Council confirmed that a business licence will be required for all short-term rental accommodation, including bed and breakfasts.

To help inform prospective STR operators of zoning and bylaw regulations, building and fire safety information, relevant bylaw information (such as the Noise Control Bylaw) and other good neighbour practices, the City has published a Short-Term Rental Operator’s Guide. The guide will be available online and at the front counter of the City of Nanaimo’s Service and Resource Centre (411 Dunsmuir Street).

For more information and to view the operator’s guide, visit www.nanaimo.ca.

Link to Strategic Plan: The Short-Term Rental review and operator’s guide was a recommendation of the Affordable Housing Strategy; implementing the Affordable Housing Strategy (short-term rentals and adaptable housing regulations) is included in the 2019-2022 Strategic Plan.

Key Points

To give STR operators time to familiarize themselves with the new regulations, the City will begin accepting Short Term Rental business licence applications on April 1, 2022.
The Short Term Rental Operator's Guide is now available online and at the front counter of the Service and Resource Centre (411 Dunsmuir Street).
On February 7, 2022, Council adopted amendments to the zoning and off-street parking bylaw to regulate and permit short-term rentals.

Quotes

"Council has completed its thorough review of zoning and business licence regulations for short-term rentals. The proposed regulations will allow short-term rentals as an accommodation option while minimizing the impact of these rentals on the long-term rental market. The Short-Term Rental Operator's Guide will help operators understand the bylaw requirements and be good neighbours."

Councillor Ben Geselbracht

Acting Mayor

City of Nanaimo

Quick Facts

Short-term rentals refers to the rental of a room or an entire residential dwelling unit on a temporary basis (i.e., less than 30 days) often through an online platform such as Airbnb, HomeAway, or Vacation Rentals By Owner (VRBO) and includes bed and breakfasts.
The number of active short term rental listings in Nanaimo has ranged from 585 to 331 within the past two years (source: AirDNA).

Contact:

For media enquiries, please contact

Communications

City of Nanaimo

250-754-4251

Media.Requests@nanaimo.ca

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