What are the potential regulatory options?

We looked at what other cities have done, and have listed four regulatory options below, including our proposed change: “Option 4: Same Parcel Short-Term Rental". For background information, please review the staff report and presentation on short-term rentals.

Option 1 - Maintain Status Quo:

• Short-term rentals will not be allowed, except for licensed Bed & Breakfasts.

Option 2 - Commercial Operation:

• Short-term rentals taking place in a unit that is not someone’s principal dwelling unit (i.e., a vacation property, a secondary residence, etc., that is not the designated principal dwelling unit of the owner). No one permanently lives on the property.

Option 3 - Home Sharing:

• Short-term rentals taking place in someone’s principal dwelling unit (i.e., renting out a spare room in a home and/or renting out an entire home while on vacation). A principal dwelling unit, in this instance, is where an individual lives, makes their home and receives mail.

Option 4 - Same Parcel (recommended approach):

• Short-term rentals taking place on the “same lot” as someone’s principal dwelling unit, either in the form of renting out a spare room(s) in the principal dwelling unit or renting out another unit on the same property (i.e., secondary suite, coach house, garden suite). In this scenario, the property owner or principal resident permanently lives on the property where the short-term rental is occurring.

What are the proposed new changes to short-term rentals?

Based on the above policy review, the City of Chilliwack is proposing to expand short-term rental regulations to permit short-term rentals on the “same lot” as someone’s principal dwelling unit (“Option 4 - Same Parcel Short-Term Rental”). In this scenario, the property owner or principle resident permanently lives on the property where the short-term rental is occurring.

What could this potentially look like in Chilliwack? The property owner/principal resident could:

1. Share their primary residence by renting out a room or multiple rooms in their home (i.e., Bed & Breakfast or lodging/boarding situation - with or without breakfast); or,
2. Operate a short-term rental from a coach house, garden suite, or secondary suite, while living within the principal residence on the property (or vice versa).

Why require the property owner or principal resident to live on the property where the short-term rental is occurring?

Option 4 attempts to support local tourism while protecting housing stock by requiring the property owner or principal resident to live on the same property as the short-term rental. If the property owner or principal resident does not reside on the same property as the short-term rental, then a short-term rental is not permitted, and long-term housing stock is not lost.

Also, by requiring the property owner or principal resident to reside on the same property as the short-term rental, this ensures continual monitoring by the operator/host and, in turn, should help prevent “party houses”.

In addition, as off-street parking requirements and design guidelines are already in place for Accessory Dwelling Units (i.e. secondary suites, coach houses, garden suites). This will help minimize neighbourhood disruption and privacy concerns.