What Kelowna says about short-term rental rule changes

Short-term rentals have a negative impact on housing affordability and are contributing to labour shortages. However, they also provide much needed supplemental income, temporary housing and tourism options.

Those were some of the conflicting opinions voiced by residents who turned out in droves at a public hearing at City Hall Tuesday to weigh in on proposed rules changes for short-term rentals (STR) in Kelowna.

Lawmakers have been asked to sign off on a law that would essentially eliminate the operation of Airbnbs and other short-term rentals in much of the city.

There are an estimated 1,200 illegal STRs in Kelowna and an 89 per cent increase in these sorts of accommodations since 2020.

Properties already licenced to operate short-term rentals would be allowed to continue to do so. There are approximately 1,100 legal STRs in the city.

However, this could change depending on what is laid out in provincial legislation expected to come into force in May 2024.

The provincial Short-Term Rental Accommodations Act is being designed to tame the proliferation of STRs to help free up units for long-term living as the government looks to tackle the growing housing affordability crisis.

After more than four-and-a-half hours of public comment, lawmakers opted to defer a decision on the new rules until the province settles on its rules.

In an earlier interview with Kelowna10, Mayor Tom Dyas admitted a need to balance tourism and residential needs, but said it can be done.

Watch the video to get a sense of what residents had to say about the new rules.