By Roy Wood, Special to the Times Chronicle
Nearly nine in 10 Osoyoos residents are in favour of allowing short-term vacation rental accommodations in the town, with views varying on how to regulate them.
An analysis of public feedback about the town’s short-term-rental (STR) pilot project was presented to a council committee this week.
The top-line number showed that 87 per cent of participants “indicated some level of support for permitting STRs, with a range of views on the appropriate level of regulation.”
In 2024 council exercised its option to opt into the provincial Short-Term Rental Accommodations Act, by which the province hopes to address the spread of such lodging by Airbnb, VRBO and others.
The town’s pilot project, which was given the go-ahead late last year and will run for two-to-three years, includes the requirement that landlords of vacation rentals be the primary residents of the property.
Other rules include a maximum number of four bedrooms and eight patrons in one unit at a time, at least one on-site parking spot for each bedroom, and payment of a $750 for a business licence.
The “What We Heard” report prepared by Urban Systems offered findings from two public information meetings, a virtual meeting with stakeholders, and other feedback through emails and letters to town staff.
According to the report, 71 per cent of respondents favour STRs with regulations, while 16 per cent preferred no regulations. Just 13 per cent believe STRs should be banned in the town.
A key theme under the “general support” section of the report showed, “Many participants supported some level of regulation that allows flexibility for property owners and offers a range of accommodation options for tourists, including for those not living in Osoyoos full-time.”
As for the “pilot project” section, a slim majority – 53 per cent – support implementing the program. “Some participants raised concerns about the Town’s capacity to effectively administer the program, including processing applications, enforcing regulations, and managing complaints and violations,” the report said.
Views were mixed on the principal residence requirement, with some supporting it a way to limit the number of STRs and others fearing it could create barriers to potential owners.
In the area of tourism and the local economy, several participants saw STRs as beneficial to the tourism economy and local business in general. Others expressed concern that increasing STRs would have a negative impact on the housing availability for long-term residents, including seniors, low-income folks and seasonal workers.
Views varied on enforcement and administration of the STR pilot project. Some were concerned about the cost to the town of enforcing the regulations, while others urged more stringent regulations better enable the town to pursue enforcement.
Some participants saw the $750 business licence proposal as too high, while others suggested it should be even higher to better pay for enforcement.
There was also mixed support around the principal residence requirement. Wrote one potential STR landlord: “Remove principal residence requirement. Osoyoos is my summer home and short-term rental would allow me to use it for the months I am there. With principal residence requirement, I would NOT rent out the home at all.”
The “What We Heard” report was presented to council strictly for information.
Mayor Sue McKortoff pointed out that the bylaw and Official Community Plan amendments necessary to launch the STR pilot project will be presented at an upcoming meeting.
