Frustration mounts over fines for illegal rentals in Canmore

Efforts to crack down on illegal vacation rentals in Canmore are causing tension, as homeowners facing $2,500 charges for a first offence lose appeals against stop orders and fines issued by town officials.

After running an informational campaign to educate residents about the rules around short-term rentals, such as those advertised on websites like AirBnB and VRBO, the town of Canmore started issuing fines to first-time offenders.

Those fines are now being leviedwithout a warning or grace period after the homeowners are caught.

"I know it feels very heavy handed to the residents ... but I'm certain it's going to focus the intent of the community, of the council to maintaincompliance with our existing bylaws," saidCanmoreMayor JohnBorrowman.

I know it feels very heavy handed... it's going to focus the intent of the community.- CanmoreMayor JohnBorrowman

Regulations around where tourist rentals are allowedin Canmore havebeen in place for years, but were typically only enforced on a complaint basis.

"[This changed] because of the various concerns within the community... around the impact to residential neighbourhood of having visitors on a nightly basis and the erosion to our long term rental inventory," explained the Mayor.

"A little more than half [of those ticketed] became compliant right away," he added.

Three of three appeals lost so far

However, several homeowners have appealed the stop orders and associated fines. Three of those appeals have been heard so far, in front of Canmore's Subdivision and Development Appeal Board.

"All three appeals were denied. The SDABsaid the application of the stop order was appropriate," said Borrowman.

However, according to the mayor, the SDABcannot address the $2,500 fines.

"Specifically to have the fines or tags removed or reduced ... it's the court system that will address that," added the mayor.

• IllegalCanmorevacation rentals lead to $2,500 fines
• Airbnb-stylerentals are illegal and worseningCanmore'shousing crunch, mayor says

Bylaws inCanmoreallow renting out properties to touristsin commercial and mixed-use areas, butvacation rentals are not permittedin residential zones.

A search by CBC News on both AirBnB and VRBO showed hundreds of properties availablefor rent, with most in locations with the correct zoning.

AirBnB and VRBOhosts with properties that appeared to be in residential zones did not respond to orrefusedrequests for comment from CBC News.

Bylaw may be working

Some observers of Canmore'sreal estate market say the bylaw enforcement couldbe discouragingresidential purchases for the purpose of short term rentals.

"The amount of buyers we see that are looking to purchase properties that are zoned residential and rent on a short term basis is very low," said local real estate agent Devin Stephens.

"The illegal rented suites is in properties that have been owned for many years andI think it's many owners that are kind of looking to get on the bandwagon."

Land use bylaw changes coming

Changes to the rules may come later this year. According to Mayor Borrowman, town council will be looking at amending the land use bylaw so some short-term rentals may be allowed in residential areas.

Thosechanges won'tinclude allowingresidential properties to be continually available on sites like AirBnb.

"That's a commercial activity and there is long term impact to the neighbourhood, so there's a lot of discussion to be had around that," said Borrowman.