The City of West Kelowna’s proposed short-term rental program is now going into public consultation.
During the Sept. 29 meeting, council asked city staff to put together a short-term regulation program draft that will help the city monitor short-term rentals.
City staff came back with a draft framework proposing short-term rental properties be permitted in single-detached homes only, must be operated by the occupant of the home, have a maximum occupancy of six guests and require off-street parking. The proposed program does not allow short-term rentals on properties with a secondary suite or a carriage house.
Staff also proposed that short-term rental operators must have a business licence, have proof of the owner’s or the strata’s consent, have proof that it is their principal residence, do an annual self-evaluation safety audit, have another local contact in case they are away, as well as a signed document that shows the operator acknowledges the expected code of conduct: to be a good neighbour.
“We’ve seen some challenging situations where the conduct hasn’t necessarily been in accordance with neighbourhood and council expectations,” development services director Mark Koch said.
Other parts of the regulatory framework state that operators can only operate within a licenced dwelling, display their licence number, display a fire safety plan, and only have one booking at a given time.
Koch also proposed that there be infraction fees if an operator doesn’t adhere to something in the program.
The proposed program is now out for public engagement and feedback. To learn more, visit the City of West Kelowna’s website.
READ: City of West Kelowna to regulate short-term rentals