Gibsons council members received a milestone update earlier this month on the Residential Guest Accommodation (RGA) Program before the “initial batch” of Temporary Use Permits (TUPs) for non-principal residence RGAs expire at the end of the year.
During the Sept. 24 committee of the whole, Staff explained there are two streams of RGA (also known as short-term rental) permits.
Stream 1: Principal residence is where the owner lives in the home and rents out a portion of the house such as a bed and breakfast and is allowed anywhere in residential zoning.
Steam 2 - Non-principal residence is where an entire home that one does not primarily live in is rented out year-round. These include secondary suites and garden suites and are not allowed to be used as short-term rentals within zoning, requiring a TUP.
Staff clarified the intention was to initially allow the TUPs and then phase them out.
Staff said 46 per cent of RGAs are in principal residences, with the remaining 54 per cent being non-principal.
Since the program began, 75 RGAs have left the market, 29 of these have been converted into homes.
Staff also identified 25 homes drawn from the rental housing stock as the number of units that could be used as homes but are short-term rentals.
Twenty-nine Commercial Guest Accommodation (hotel) rooms were created during the report period at the Gibsons Landing Inn.
Staff research found residential guest accommodation's average price per night is $215 to $270 whereas commercial guest accommodation (hotels) average ranges from $150 to $165 a night.
Speaking to the future, town staff are expecting a batch of TUP renewal applications in October as people want to book accommodation over Christmas and into the new year.
The TUP renewal process will begin in November, including notice to neighbours, signage, and newspaper notifications before being sent to council for renewal decision.
Mayor Silas White proposed scheduling a workshop or a special meeting to discuss the report, and how and council wants to take the information forward.
RGA business licence fees
During its Oct. 8 regular meeting, council resolved to apply regulated business licences for residential guest accommodations.
White said councillors have recognized inconsistencies in how business licences are being charged.
White said Business licence fees are to be “consistently and fairly aligned,” so that rooms within a home and rooms being shared for a limited term of three months or under be eligible for a $200 business licence and that all self-contained units be eligible for a $2,000 business licence.
Jordan Copp is the Coast Reporter’s civic and Indigenous affairs reporter. This reporting beat is made possible by the Local Journalism Initiative.
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