Short-term rental zoning bylaw approved
The short-term rental zoning bylaw, which Town of Milton Ward 2 Local Councillor John Challinor II had pursued with Town staff and the last Milton Council beginning in 2020, was approved by Council a few months prior to the municipal election last year.
Challinor reasoned that the need to license short-term rentals came about because of an increase in complaints by local property taxpayers about nearby unkempt properties, late-night noise and overnight parking problems stemming from such properties.
The new bylaw defines a short-term rental as a dwelling unit or part thereof offering short term lodging for compensation for 28 days or less that does not provide meals or other commercial services. A short-term rental does not include a bed and breakfast establishment.
Under the new policy, the following will be included:
• formal definition for a short-term rental, i.e. a rental in a residential property for 28 days or less;
• license and fee;
• requirement that short-term rentals only operate in principal residences;
• maximum number of guests per unit;
• limit of operation as short-term rental to maximum number of days per year;
• valid certificate of occupancy (zoning certificate); and
Mandatory annual life safety inspections.
An additional bylaw enforcement officer has been hired to investigate complaints on weekends. CR