Wednesday, March 10, 2010

Tofino council wrestles with short-term vacation rentals (Victoria Times Colonist)

Tofino council wrestles with short-term vacation rentals (Victoria Times Colonist)

Tofino council wrestles with short-term vacation rentals (Victoria Times Colonist)

Posted: 09 Mar 2010 04:20 PM PST

A bylaw that would have limited short term rental of homes in Tofino was defeated Tuesday by the district council.

The proposed bylaw would have stipulated that the owner of a residential short-term rental must reside at the dwelling being used as a bed and breakfast, short-term rental or guesthouse.

But Tofino District council said that's not what it wanted.

Coun. Michael Tilitzky asked Bob Long, chief administrative officer, why the bylaw came forward without a report.

"I don't know the justification or the reasoning behind why this has come forward," Tilitzky said.

Long said legal matters and the report were discussed in camera and the amendments in the bylaw reflected some of the legal advice suggested.

"The intent to amend this bylaw was that they had efficacy when they went to court," Long explained.

Council instructed staff to come back with a report containing enforcement recommendations for the vacation rental bylaw for the April 14 council meeting.

Tofino's current bylaw governing short-term rentals requires an onsite caretaker in a separate dwelling unit on the property.

The bylaw amendment was included on council's Feb. 9 agenda but was tabled without discussion.

It states that a business license for a guesthouse, short-term rental or bed and breakfast would only be issued to the person who fits the definition of a principal resident.

The amendment defines a principal resident as someone who has "fee simple interest of at least 50 per cent or a leasehold interest of five years or more in the property" where the rental is situated.

The district had previously stayed court proceedings on tickets issued to property owners operating without an onsite caretaker in 2008.

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