Sechelt council has officially adopted new short-term rental(STR) regulations that will curb unhosted operations in the District.
At their Sept. 21 meeting, several council members spoke to the intention behind the amendments to the bylaw.
The changes include 15 temporary use permits (TUPs) for short-term rentals in the Type 3 category, otherwise known as the secondary residency category or "unhosted" STR. Operators of such units will need to apply to be considered for a TUP.
There is no community maximum on the numbers STR suites within dwellings that are also someone's permanent residence or accessory units to such dwellings, staff said.
Licencing details
Business licence fees are $500 for rooms in a house, $900 for separate suites in the principal residence or external to the principal residence up to a maximum of two, and $3,000 for Type 3. All short-term rental operators in Sechelt will need a business licence, and operators cannot have more than two STR business licences. “The District of Sechelt may refuse to grant a license for short-term rental if the applicant has a history of bylaw offences or unpaid fines,” the regulation's terms and conditions state.
Comments from councillors
Coun. Matt McLean said the amendments will affect a lot of people, but will put residents first, and gave his “full support.”
“It’s going to hurt some people, but what this bylaw does is it makes sure houses are for housing people first. People need to live on the Sunshine Coast, and they are moving away in droves. And one of the big causes of the limited housing supply on the Sunshine Coast across rental ownership, across the entire market, is investors looking in our community to make a buck off our homes without housing our people,” McLean said.
Coun. Alton Toth said it’s not so much about solving the housing problem, as it is about “getting our neighbourhoods back, making our communities feel more cohesive and inclusive.”
Coun. Brenda Rowe thanked staff and the community for their feedback for the amendments, which she said is a “great foundation.” She added that the work is not done, and will be monitored.
They acknowledged that the next council — who will be in office when the regulations come into effect in January 2023 — could change the number of TUPs available.
