By Roy Wood, Special to the Times Chronicle 

Osoyoos council has taken another step toward implementing its pilot program to allow and regulate short-term rental (STR) accommodations in the town.

Following a public hearing earlier this month, council unanimously approved a series of amendments to the town’s Official Community Plan (OCO) and several bylaws that will regulate the program, which is seen as part of a solution to the town’s chronic lack of affordable rental accommodation. 

Just before the vote, Councillor Johnny Cheong told the meeting: “Historically, short-term rentals were never allowed (in) Osoyoos. The issue was enforcement.

“We didn’t have the tools available to us to legally enforce (the) fines because the worst offenders know the rules; they know the loopholes. …

“This allows us to have a bigger stick. It allows us to make sure the units that are available for short-term rentals pass inspections and safety standard, which will ensure the health and safety of our tourists.” 

The move toward the trial program began last year when the town opted into the provincial Short-Term Rental Accommodations Act.

A key element is the so-called “Principal Residence Requirement,” which stipulates that landlords of vacation rentals must be the primary resident of the property.  

The rest of the regulations around STRs are similar to those already in place for bed and breakfast accommodations in the town. 

There will be a maximum of four bedrooms and a maximum capacity of eight people at one time in a unit. At least one on-site parking spot would be required for each bedroom.

STR landlords must obtain a business licence from the town. A licence application must include: proof that the principal residence requirement is met; a floor plan; a health and safety inspection; fire evacuation plan; and a parking plan. The business licence fee will be $750. 

The health and safety inspection required as part of the business licence application would include such things as: a visibly mounted fire extinguished on each floor; interconnected smoke alarms; carbon monoxide alarms where appropriate; bedroom windows meeting building code requirements; guard rails on stairs, decks and balconies; electrical and gas systems in good repair; and lockable hot-tub covers.

Amendments to the town’s municipal ticketing bylaw include fines of up to $3,000 for violations of the business licence bylaw as it relates to STRs.

In a report to the September 9 council meeting, contract planner Chris Garrish wrote that the bylaw changes are a response to growing public concern about the “impact of … (STRs) on housing availability and affordability by introducing clear policy and regulatory frameworks as well as enforcement tools.” 

As well, he said, the bylaws provide clearer direction to staff in dealing with STRs, particularly the “estimated 200-300 unpermitted STRs occurring within the town’s boundaries.”

As for timing, Garrish identified January 1, 2026 as “the commencement of a new business licensing year and implementing changes to the OCP and Zoning bylaws is a prerequisite to issuing licences for STR operations.”

Comments submitted to the public hearing ran the gamut from strongly opposed to heartily in favour.

Osoyoos resident Mike Harrison objected to the whole idea of temporary tourist accommodations in residential areas. “When (people) are trying to enjoy your backyard, for instance, you don’t expect to have tourists looking over at you … all summer. Not good,” he wrote.

Isabella Brusilo rejects the notion that STRs are to blame for lack of affordable accommodation generally: “The challenges in Osoyoos’ housing market are not caused by short-term rentals, but rather by an aging housing stock and a lack of suitable options for families and young professionals,” she wrote. 

Glen Peter echoed the thoughts of several respondents: “(STRs) helps bring in tourists and seasonal workers, which helps keep this town alive. If we have no tourists, the town makes no money. … Short term rentals are a more affordable option for people to come to our little town. The hotels are overpriced and not everyone can afford to stay (in them).”