Guelph/Eramosa council agrees on regulation of short-term rentals

BRUCEDALE – It appears Guelph/Eramosa council will regulate short-term rentals within the township.

According to a report shared by staff during a June 22 meeting, there are 35 unique rental units across 41 listings in the township. 

The report outlined several regulation options, including a municipal accommodation tax, a licence cap and/or a licensing bylaw. These options were not discussed by council and nothing has been approved.

“I’m really quite in favour of this,” said councillor Bruce Dickieson. “I think it’s high time we get on with it.”

Staff also proposed a demerit system to hold property owners accountable. This was not looked on favourably by most councillors.

“I’m really against that,” said Dickieson, expressing concerns that one bad guest or someone with bad intentions could jeopardize a business at no fault of the owner.

The proposed demerit system suggested suspending short-term rental licenses after reaching seven points, and rescinding licenses if 15 points are accumulated. 

Several councillors agreed short-term accommodations should be confined to agricultural and rural residential zones, avoiding the hamlets and Rockwood. 

“There are a lot of challenges with these things,” said councillor Steven Liebig. But he expressed his “100% confidence” in staff to put together an adequate proposal. 

“I know Centre Wellington has been at this for two years from an urban perspective, and that’s a level of complexity were not looking at here at this point,” said Mayor Chris White.

The matter will return to council at a later date.