Owen Sound city hall. (photo by Claire McCormack)
A discussion on a proposal from an Owen Sound councillor to implement a ban on non-owner occupied short-term rentals in residential neighbourhoods in the city isn’t going to happen for at least a few more months.
Owen Sound council resolved Monday night to defer consideration until its Sept. 12 meeting of a motion brought forward by Coun. John Tamming that calls for the prohibition of short-term rentals in areas zoned residential, with an exception for owner-occupied bed and breakfast operations.
It appears likely council’s discussion and any potential regulations on short-term rentals in Owen Sound could be pushed back even further from there, as several city councillors wanted to have a staff report available for consideration first.
City manager Tim Simmonds told councillors a staff report with information about short-term rentals couldn’t be available until January 2023, due to the upcoming municipal election dominating staff time.
“We need to have the information to make the right decision,” Owen Sound Mayor Ian Boddy says. “… And we do want to get it right. And we’d like to get it right sooner than that. But, realistically if we’ve got clerks running a municipal election that sucks up all of the oxygen for awhile, it has to be put off down the road.”
Prior to the decision to defer the motion on short-term rentals at Monday’s meeting, city council heard from two delegations with opposing views on the issue.
A petition with 175 signatures was presented to council by Owen Sound residents Linda Perks and Lynda Montgomery, urging the city to proceed with a ban on short-term rentals in areas zoned residential, with an exception for owner-occupied bed and breakfast operations.
“For us living in a neighbourhood where these short-term rentals have popped up, it didn’t take long to realize how disruptive they are to a peaceful neighbourhood where families raise their children, they sleep … and they enjoy their own outdoor space,” Perks told councillors. “The invasion of constantly rotating groups of vacationers who have no respect or engagement with the neighbourhood changes our lives.”
A second deputation from Nick Lee and Benson Ho was made to council Monday. Lee identified himself as the property manager and Ho as the owner of a 4th Street West home that has been used as a short-term rental. The property is the subject of concerns raised by permanent residents in the neighbourhood.
Lee says there’s been “a lot of misconceptions and rumours” about what is happening with the property. He described the use of the property as owner-occupied during the week, and then rented out on weekends to friends, family or through AirBnB and other digital platforms.
“This is not a means to make a profit or a business,” Lee claims. “This is a homeowner trying to offset some of his monthly expenses, just as many people do with basement in-law suites.”
The city is currently in the earlier stages of a lengthy process to move towards the implementation of a municipal accommodation tax — with Jan. 1, 2024 as a target date to have the four per cent tax in place on short-term stays like hotels, motels and other accommodations of less than 30 days. Part of the municipal accommodation tax process includes the implementation of a licencing bylaw for short-term rentals.