Post date: Sep 8, 2011 3:35:35 AM

Regional district considers controls on short-term rentals

September 6, 2011

Sally MacDonald

sally@dailytownsman.com

A rowdy vacation home on Jimsmith Lake has prompted the Regional District of East Kootenay to consider banning short-term rentals.

The home on Jimsmith Lake can be rented for as little as one night, and Area C director Rob Gay said vacationers are bothering the neighbours.

"Not all weekends but some weekends, it turns into a party house. In my view, it's right in the middle of a residential area so it's somewhat problematic," said Gay.

"There hasn't been any other problems, but noise is the biggest issue and obviously there is an increase in traffic."

The home has brought to the foreground a problem that is familiar to other East Kootenay communities, but new to the Jimsmith Lake area.

In Kimberley, Gay explained, homes can only be rented out for less than a month on the ski hill. Elsewhere, there is a one-month minimum by bylaw.

On Friday, September 2, the regional district's board of directors decided to ask staff to prepare a report on a similar bylaw for the regional district.

"We haven't put a bylaw in place; we've asked staff to do the research on that because we're not the only people that deal with this," said Gay.

But even if the regional district does bring in a bylaw to ban or limit short-term rentals, it won't solve the problem in Jimsmith. That home will be "grandfathered" - which means it will be an exception to the rule because it existed before the bylaw was put in place.

"It doesn't solve the current problem, it solves the future problem," said Gay.

"We are dealing with this one and I just don't want to see a whole bunch more of them in the area, nor do some of the citizens."

Gay said the regional district will work with the property owner in Jimsmith to develop some rules for short-term tenants, such as large damage deposits and rules around noise complaints.

"Many people that run them as a business have these safeguards in place because they don't want to disturb the neighbours anymore than anyone else does," said Gay.

Short-term rentals should be controlled, he added.

"My view is: there is a place for them and a place not for them. Where I live, I wouldn't particularly want to see one next door."

The board should consider the short-term rental bylaw at its October or November meeting