Short-term rental operators in Bracebridge now must be licensed and follow a set of rules if they want to continue business in Bracebridge.
The new short-term rental accommodation licensing by-law caps the number of licenses that can be issued and lays out how issues will be enforced.
As part of the by-law, Mayer says a full-time by-law enforcement officer will be hired. He says their salary for 2024 will be $101,405.
Also, $20,000 has been budgeted to buy new monitoring software.
First and foremost, Michael Mayer, Chief By-Law Enforcement Officer, told the town’s General Committee on Oct. 3 that they will take an education-first approach. “It’s worked very well for us,” he said. “We’ve gained voluntary compliance.”
However, if that fails, penalties are now in place.
Mayer explained the penalties cannot be more than the cost of the license. With the approval of the by-law, the fee has been increased from $250 to $1,500. In Mayer’s report to committee, he outlined how the demerit point system will work. He wrote the system is gradual and will see fines increased after each offence leading up to a potential license suspension. After 7 demerit points, a license may be suspended and after 15 it could be revoked.
He added that complaints will be monitored 24/7 under the new system through a hotline. If no one is available at the time, the next business day a by-law officer will follow up and figure out what next steps need to be taken.
Also under the by-law is how many licenses can be issued. Mayer writes that it cannot exceed 4 percent of the total number of private dwellings in Bracebridge as identified by the town’s Statistics Canada census profile. If the number of licenses does hit that threshold, Mayer says all subsequent applicants will be put on a waiting list.
“We may find things that need an adjustment or change,” said Mayer.
In his report, Mayer estimated there are 350 short-term rentals in Bracebridge and 9,053 private dwellings in the town. Using that data, 362 short-term rentals would be allowed in Bracebridge under the current rules.
“I know that there has been a substantial amount of interest in the community,” said Coun. Don Smith. “I think it will be something that provides a go-forward plan for those who are in the short-term rental business, it will be valuable from a standpoint of credibility for those businesses that participate. On the flip side for those that have expressed a concern I think it now provides an opportunity to direct those concerns and to have some follow-up.”