With an estimated 300 Airbnbs, cottage rentals and other short-term rentals currently operating in Bracebridge, and more likely on the way, council considered a moratorium on the properties during their latest council meeting.
Bracebridge is currently in the midst of developing new rules and bylaws to govern short-term rentals but Coun. Don Smith argued those rules and bylaws could potentially take years before they go into effect.
During the latest Bracebridge Town council meeting, Smith proposed staff take a look at the feasibility of implementing a moratorium on short-term rentals.
He said there are considerable concerns in the community with short-term rentals and their growth has exploded locally in the past several years. With the potential for many of the existing uses of short-term rentals being grandfathering in under new rules, Smith said the Town needs to consider taking action.
“We need to slow them down until the regulations are in place or we may have many hundreds more in town,” he said.
Coun. Archie Buie agreed, saying many municipalities in Muskoka already have short-term rental rules on the books, and Bracebridge is lagging behind.
“I think it’s a wise motion that gives us a chance to see if we can deal with this quickly,” said Buie.
Other councillors had some serious concerns about staff’s ability to create such a report, considering the myriad other issues they’re facing as they head into 2022.
Town CAO Stephen Rettie pointed out that council just approved a business plan for the upcoming year and a request of this magnitude would require considerable reshuffling of priorities.
“We’re going to dig into this if we do it. It will be months of work,” said Rettie. “The department is overrun…and we proposed a business plan for you that you accepted.”
In the spirit of compromise, councillors decided to speak privately with staff to get more information without the need to create a formal report.
Don’t miss out on Doppler!
Sign up here to receive our email digest with links to our most recent stories.
Local news in your inbox three times per week!
Click here to support local news
Rhonda says
We need to stop all these anbs and short term rentals. As its the reason for no one being able to find any places to live for people that working here in Bracebridge and all other Muskoka towns.Then maybe we can get back to long term rental. Also look at the money the towns are losing because most are all cash deals for the arbs and short rentals.Some are going for $300.00 or more a night.
Donna & Lino Olivieri says
To be clear, as long as all was legal, would you want $300/night over $50/night for your property? Airbnb is taxable money with the added cost of cleaning often, stocking with amenities and higher insurance.
It’s Canada, a democracy and I believe property owners should be able to profit as much as they legally can. It is not the responsibility of these investors to provide affordable housing. That belongs To the community tax payer.
jayne mccaw says
I own and operate Jayne’s Luxury Rentals. I fully support the need that we need more affordable housing in Muskoka. Short term rentals should not be allowed where there is a housing shortage. The housing shortage results in a labour shortage which is a big issue all businesses in this region have to deal with. It would be great if there was a way to separate the properties that are more ‘vacation’ rentals such as waterfront properties from those that are non-waterfront where these properties true purpose is for long term housing.