As in Ontario and many other jurisdictions, Airbnb and similar short-term leasing web-based services are big business in British Columbia. While some condo communities have embraced Airbnbs, requiring owners to provide guest information to the concierge and charging user fees to pay for increased security, etc., other condo communities which are not suited to this type of enterprise, have been plagued by the downsides of Airbnb. Many stratas are unable to pass the required ¾ vote to implement a bylaw to specifically ban this type of rental and therefore passing one may be problematic. Therefore, they must seek other viable routes to address their concerns. In this post, I discuss how an Ontario decision may impact how we do things in BC.
Most stratas have standard bylaw which states that it is a contravention to use a strata lot in a way that is either illegal or contrary to the use shown on the strata plan. Furthermore, in the City of Vancouver and other municipalities, city bylaws prohibit most residential properties for being used for a hotel-like accommodations. This makes sense from the city’s perspective, because hotels are subject to certain taxes, safety standards, and increased regulations. However, many stratas have grown frustrated after repeatedly requesting the city enforce its own zoning bylaws.
