The deadline is fast approaching for Short Term Rental (STR) owners in Owen Sound to obtain their licence.
Owners have until March 1 to obtain a licence before the city’s new licensing by-law comes into effect.
Mayor Ian Boddy says, “anybody that is operating like an Airbnb in the City of Owen Sound, that’s doing short-term accommodation rentals, needs to register with city.”
This comes after city council settled on what the by-law would look like in November before passing it on Dec. 4.
Boddy adds the licensing program will help the city monitor STRs.
“Make sure they are safe for people and make sure they are in the appropriate places and follow the appropriate rules,” says Boddy.
Additionally, he says part of the licensing program is to ensure there are enough properties for people to live in.
“As we are looking at a shortage of houses, we don’t want the entire city to be taken over for short-term rentals and not long-term rentals that people could live in,” says Boddy.
He says looking at other regional municipalities who have implemented similar licensing, it ends up becoming a good policy.
“It will get perfected over the next number of years,” says Boddy.
STR owners who still need to register their properties can do so by visiting the City of Owen Sound website here.
