Homeowners in Area D will soon need to seek rezoning in order to operate an in-home short-term rental. At the most recent Squamish-Lillooet Regional District board meeting, the bylaw amendment passed its third reading and will be referred to the Ministry of Transportation and Infrastructure.
The bylaw amendment only applies to Area D so far. While other areas didn't want to make changes yet, Area D is moving forward because there have been issues with such vacation rental businesses in Britannia Beach, Tony Rainbow, the director of Electoral Area D, said after the April 24 meeting.
Rainbow said there is one particular property in Britannia Beach "that has been very troublesome. Parking on the street, leaving garbage around. It's attracted a bear. The bear has been there several times — we've had to call a conservation officer."
The house in question, he said, is not owned by someone who lives in Britannia. Even though the owners have been issued several fines related to their short-term rental, they have not paid them. Rainbow said the board can issue fees up to $400 per night.
At the last meeting, the board instructed the staff to pursue legal action. The SLRD board also made a motion, in addition to the bylaw amendment, to begin proactive bylaw enforcement in Area D.
"We don't know what it's going to cost, and we don't know what effect it will have. We just feel the people of Britannia deserve better enforcement than they're getting," Rainbow said. "I'm unhappy that we haven't been able to do more, and I'm hoping this latest move will result in some real change."
Meanwhile, bed and breakfast owners in Area D will need to apply to rezone their property. The approximately $3,000 fee was the source of some objection at a previous public meeting, but Rainbow said short-term rental operators in municipalities such as Squamish are required to pay for an annual business license, whereas the rezoning would be a one-time application.
Rainbow said he is not against short-term rentals.
"What I'm opposed to is this blatant disregard for rules, for the community, and for wildlife," he said. "Those are the people we're targeting and trying to get some change."
The bylaw hasn't been adopted yet, as it still needs to be approved by the Ministry of Transportation and Infrastructure.
