Meaford is endorsing starting a short-term rental (STR) regulation program.
Council gave its approval to the phased STR project plan during a meeting on Monday.
The planned approach to implement the regulation program will allow the municipality to measure ongoing evaluations, community engagement, and the use of municipal resources.
This program comes after in 2022, when council directed staff to work on a program which could control and manage STR properties in Meaford. It aims to address STR impacts like nose and parking, as well as housing availability and long-term community stability.
Staff have reviewed next steps and have developed a five-phased approach to implement the program between 2026 and 2028.
The first two phases are slated for this year, with the first being a registry pilot program. The registry will act as a information repository for STR data in Meaford and will feature information about each property including a fire safety plan, parking management plan, and owner code of conduct.
Those who enter into the registry will be able to get first rights to the next year’s registration and formal licensing program as an anticipated cap on local STRs will be implemented.
The second phase this year will launch the Administrative Monetary Penalty (AMP) program, which will provide the authority to impose financial penalties for those who violate municipal by-laws. A report will be brought back later this quarter outlining more details.
In 2027, Meaford will move on to phase three, the creation of a regulatory by-law and licensing program.
This phase is proposed to be undertaken when the municipality reviews its official plan. This proposes STRs be removed from zoning by-laws and have its own regulatory by-law.
The last two phases will be in 2028, with the first being the implementation of the municipal accommodation tax (MAT). A MAT can be applied to transient accommodations other than STRs, including hotels and campsites. Many other municipalities across the region have implemented their own MAT.
The final phase is the initiation of STR licensing and enforcement of associated by-laws.
Municipal staff say both the AMP and MAT will be revenue generating tools for Meaford.