The return of warmer weather means some residents are preparing their properties for short-term-rental use, and a Tiny Township report on fourth quarter violations from 2024 showed that related bylaw complaints were trending down to a third of what they were a few years prior.
At the recent committee of the whole meeting, Mayor Dave Evans brought attention to the municipal law enforcement activity report profiling the period from October 1 through December 31.
“We continue to see a decline in the short-term-rental violations,” said Evans. “From the report… it seems like it’s one or two problem properties.”
According to the report, complaints regarding short-term rentals peaked in 2022 at 39, reduced in 2023 to 15, and had been lowered further in 2024 to just 12 complaints.
In the fourth quarter of 2024: three unlicenced properties received complaints with one property being charged on two counts; one property was charged twice for an advertisement violation; and one property received one complaint for renting less than six consecutive days but no resulting violation. Two other complaints were included although not directly related to short-term rentals.
Chief municipal law enforcement officer Steve Harvey commented on the status of applications, noting that interested members of the public could find information on short-term rentals through the township web page, including an interactive map containing approval status, location, and contact information.
“In 2024, we (received) 177 applications for short-term-rental licences; and we did at the end of the year issue 157,” said Harvey.
“So far this year, we’ve issued 80 licences that are approved,” Harvey noted, adding that many applications were still in the review process.
Coun. Kelly Helowka asked Harvey if there were updates regarding a tie-in between short-term rentals and administrative monetary penalties.
Harvey replied that due to pending court decisions: “I think it would be prudent to roll any amendments or updates into the whole package once we have that court decision, so that we’re not (presenting to council) twice or three times.”
Regarding the rest of the fourth quarter activity report, 2024 complaints totalled 106, down from just over 135 in both 2023 and 2022. Parking complaints spiked up to 21, there were 15 sign complaints, and 15 clean yard complaints.
The report further noted that just two complaints were received regarding the township’s interim control bylaw, down from eight complaints in 2023; staff concluded it was directly related to implementation of the bylaw that went into effect in mid-2023.
The fourth quarter municipal law enforcement report, including short-term rental violation information, can be viewed on the agenda page on the Township of Tiny website.
Archives of council meetings are available to view on the township’s YouTube channel.