Municipalities across P.E.I. grapple with short-term rental regulations

Now that Charlottetown has approved regulations for short-term rentals, some other communities in Prince Edward Island are looking at the issue as well, but no municipalities are expected to make any big rule changes soon. 

Those changes to Charlottetown's zoning and development rules mean that any short-term rental must be a primary residence. Owners will not be allowed to have multiple properties, and apartments will not be allowed. 

Cornwall and Stratford are neighbouring communities to Charlottetown, and their councils will be looking into what's needed. 

"I would like to see some sort of policy or bylaw or resolution come forward," said Jill MacIsaac, the chair of planning for Cornwall.

She said she has heard complaints from residents about parking and noise at short-term rental properties. She said council will consider how short-term rentals affect residents with neighbouring properties.

"What does that look like for a resident in that neighbourhood?" she said.

She said if someone is renting their property to visitors, tax brackets should be considered too. 

"Somebody else next door may be paying the same amount of tax, but making an income on that property," she said. 

She said Cornwall is short of all types of housing, and expects council to be discussing the issue for many months. 

Stratford has included a question on short-term rentals in its annual resident survey. The survey asks residents if they would support Stratford regulating STRs. 

"We're watching with great interest how Charlottetown is proceeding and we're learning from that," said Mayor Steve Ogden.

Ogden said council will base any decisions on responses from residents. 

He said he's only had a few complaints about short-term rentals and council is still waiting to determine if regulating them should be a priority. He said the town is just at the initial stage of seeking public input. 

"It's a source of income for people, but neighbourhoods are sometimes not designed for what's basically a hotel operating in their area," he said.