Whistler proposes bylaw to restrict short term rentals

Whistler is considering a bylaw to helpcrack down on illegal overnightrentalsin itsresidential neighbourhoods, which would alsoaffect short termrentals through websiteslike Airbnb.

Any home rental under four consecutive weeks isillegal in Whistler, but enforcement has become an issue as rentals continue to proliferate, reducingthe availablehousing supply.

MayorNancyWilhelm-Morden says Whistler wants to preserve its rental stock for people that need and want to live in Whistler, including employees who are being thrown out of residential housing.

"We don't want our employees shoved out the back door, so that tourists can now rent those units on a nightly basis," said Wilhelm-Morden. "That's not the model that works for us."

The proposed bylaw would require all touristrentals, like hotels, condos, hostels and bed and breakfasts to have a business licence for an annual cost of $165.

"You can't get a business licence unless you're properly zoned,so we simply monitor the marketingand if people are marketing their units as available for nightly or short term rental, and they don't have a business licence, they will be issued a ticket with a fine of $1,000 per day,"saidWilhelm-Morden.

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In a notice to residents, the municipality outlined the bylaw's intent and appealed for feedback at a June 6 meeting.

The municipality says council and staff received feedback from 65 people, and the recommendations will come before it at an upcoming meeting.

Beyond the crunch on workers' housing, Wilhelm-Mordensays tourist accommodation isn't suited for residential subdivisions, because they don't have infrastructure like street lights andgarbage pickup.

In addition, she says illegal rentals put their own insurance at riskand risk the safety of their guests.

"We've had instances where someone has called 911 for some kind of emergency service, and they don't know the address of the place they're staying at. They don't even know what subdivision they're in, so our subdivisions simply are not set up for tourist accommodation."

Airbnb responds

According to one resident,Airbnblearnedof the municipality's proposed changes and sent anemailto some Whistler residents a few days ago, warning themthat a ban on home sharing in residentialzoned neighbourhoods would create "a confusing andimbalancedsystem for residents and guests."

The email went on to urge members of the home-sharing community to communicate to the mayor and city council why home sharing should be permitted in all zones.

While the mayor of Whistler says the bylawis not directed towards Airbnb, but illegal nightly rentals, she says Airbnb has sent a letter to herpleading that Whistler changeits zoning system.

With files from On the Coast