Short-Term Accommodations

The Town of Innisfil is developing policies and regulations to enable the Town to have greater oversight over short-term accommodations. Short Term Accommodations (STAs) are generally defined as residential dwellings that are rented to others on a temporary basis (i.e. less than 28 nights). While vacation rental properties have had a long history within Innisfil, their prevalence has been increasing, along with their impacts.

Update - STA Licensing By-Law Not Approved, Council Decides to Strengthen Existing By-Laws

On June 22, 2022, in consideration of the Staff Report found at this link, Council decided not to pass an STA licensing by-law, instead deciding to strengthen existing land use provisions to re-affirm that the operator of a bed and breakfast or STA needs to live at the property (i.e. 'Option 3 of the Staff Report). These by-law amendments will be considered for Council's adoption at the August 10 Council Meeting.

Short Term Accommodations - Notice of Passing of Amendments to Zoning By-Law/CPPS

By-law 046-22 - Amendments to Zoning By-Law

By-law 047-22 - Amendments to Our Shore Community Planning Permit System

Furthermore, to better address both Council and resident concerns related to more problematic “party houses”, the Town’s enforcement staff have extended their operating hours to 11 p.m. on weekdays and until 2 a.m. on Friday, Saturdays and holidays until after the Labour Day weekend.

In addition, recent amendments to the Town’s Noise By-Law enable enforcement staff to pursue charges against short term rental operators who fail to take adequate steps to ensure their guests comply with the Town’s Noise By-Law. More refined reporting tools have also been implemented to allow staff to specifically track this enforcement and staff will report back to Council in the Spring of 2023.

Background

The Town conducted an online survey that closed in June 2021. Upon receipt of a Staff Report on August 11, 2021, Council directed staff to further consider:

• zoning provisions for Short-Term Accommodations;
• developing a Licensing By-law;
• implementing a 4% Municipal Accommodation Tax (MAT).

The aim was to regulate STAs more formally in Innisfil to help address the impacts that STAs may have on surrounding neighbourhoods.

A Public Meeting was held on November 17, 2021 to present the draft STA Licensing By-Law and a recording can be viewed on the Town's YouTube channel. More details are in the Staff Presentation and STAFF REPORT - DRAFT STA LICENSING BY-LAW.

A Virtual Public Meeting was held on April 20, 2022 to review the Town's proposed approach to allow STAs through an STA Licensing By-Law as well as amendments to the Town's Zoning By-Law and Our Shore Community Planning Permit System. The April Staff Report is found at this link.

The Final By-Laws were considered for approval by Council at the Council Meeting on April 27, 2022. However, in considering the recommended by-laws, the majority of Council voted not to approve the by-laws and referred the matter back to Staff for a report to be prepared for the June 22 Council Meeting. The June Staff Report is found at this link.

Please also see the resources at the bottom right of this webpage for further background.