By Lyonel Doherty
The Town of Oliver needs more information before it moves ahead with bylaw amendments regulating vacation rentals, B&Bs and home occupations in the community.
On Monday, council asked staff to come back with more information on home occupation signage guidelines and other housekeeping items.
Director of Development Services Randy Houle explained the Town is regulating vacation rentals and B&Bs to ensure that BC building codes and health and safety issues are addressed. He noted the intention of the amendments is to include vacation rentals and B&Bs as allowable uses in Oliver as long as they do not have negative effects on neighbourhoods.
For one thing, residents operating these rentals must have a valid business licence, and it is recommended that the annual fee is $200.
Houle also pointed to a recommendation that home occupations be limited to one per parcel. The other change is removing the reference to home workshop as a permitted home occupation.
“This amendment is not prohibiting residents from having a hobby workshop, it’s just clarifying that a resident is not permitted to operate a workshop as a business,” Houle said.
Councillor Aimee Grice raised the issue of signage advertising B&Bs and home occupations.
Houle said it’s up to council to decide what size is appropriate.
A public hearing on the bylaw amendments is slated to be held in the near future.
