Meaford council is requesting a report on short-term accommodation rentals to re-assess available methods of regulating them as part of its official plan review.
The last time the municipality considered options for regulating short-term rentals in the area was in 2020.
Some on Meaford council are concerned the number of rentals has grown since and is affecting rental housing availability.
Council is requesting staff to bring them a report detailing the number of short-term accommodation rentals in the municipality, which includes properties with three or less bedrooms, and the number of complaints received by the Municipal Enforcement Division regarding short-term accommodation rentals.
Deputy Mayor Shirley Keaveney questioned if they need or have an effective way to address any complaints received regarding short-term accommodation rentals.
“We know we have some party houses shall I call them as Airbnbs, and do we need to address that?” says Keaveney.
Keaveney says she supports tourism and acknowledges they need visitors in the community to support local businesses, but believes the number of these rentals has grown since their last discussion.
“We believe we have over 200 and just to kind of get ahead of things, I thought we should have a look at whether or not we want any restrictions or regulating authorities or anything placed upon them,” says Keaveney.
She says during the official plan process, there will be a chance for people to inform council if they have had any issues living near Airbnbs.