Short-term rentals including Airbnb will be subject to a valid City of Nanaimo business license beginning in April. (File Photo/NanaimoNewsNOW)

By NanaimoNewsNOW Staff

rental stock

Changes loom for short-term rental operators in Nanaimo

Mar 8, 2022 | 5:27 AM

NANAIMO — Those operating short-term rentals have less than a month to begin application for a business license in order to keep letting out their space.

The new restrictions come from an updated plan from the City of Nanaimo to better regulate and monitor the volume of short term rentals, such as Airbnb’s and their impacts on available rental stock.

Lainya Rowett, city manager of current planning, told NanaimoNewsNOW via email the developed policies will push the region toward a better rental situation overall by requiring short-term rentals to have a business license as of April 1.

“The intent is to minimize the perceived and actual impact on the availability of rental housing for long-term tenants, and create a level playing field among operators.”

A short-term rental is defined by the City as a portion of, or the entirety of a primary residence offered for rent for a period of less than 30 days at a time.

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Changes to the rules mean secondary or investment properties will no longer be able to be rented out on a short-term basis.

Major changes include all operators requiring a $165 annual business license to operate, as well as restrictions on how long a property can be leased out.

Restrictions on short-term rentals stem from the Affordable Housing Strategy, developed in 2018.

A newly developed guide for operators further lays out restrictions including instructions on parking, number of guests and other elements of the short-term rental agreement.

Rowett said the new rules aren’t anticipated to drastically change the volume of short-term rentals available in the City

“The City does not have a count of [short-term rentals], and these typically fluctuate throughout the year; however, in 2021 we understand estimations (by others) ranged from 300-500+ active [short-term rental] listings in Nanaimo.”

A majority of Nanaimo’s 549 short-term rental listings during a survey done in February 2020 were for a whole home, meaning the owner would not be at the property at the same time.

However many of the listings were also available year-round.

More information on best practices and rules for short-term rental properties is available through the operators guide.

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