The City of Prince George is not eligible to “opt-out” of the province’s new Short Term Rental Accommodation Act.
On Dec. 4, 2023, council discussed a notice of motion from councillors Brian Skakun and Trudy Klassen asking city staff to seek feedback from the tourism and housing sectors and to prepare options for opting out of the act.
The act will take precedence over all local regulations and will limit short-term rentals to a host’s principal residence, and either a secondary suite or accessory dwelling unit.
However, the regulations and policy guidance for the Short-Term Accommodations Act were released by the province on Dec. 7.
The Principal Residence Requirement is the only framework item of the act that municipalities may request to “opt-out” of but must meet the eligibility requirements in order to do so.
The requirements state that municipalities with a population of over 10,000 in the 2021 Census and rental vacancy rate of three per cent or more for two consecutive years, as per the Canadian Mortgage and Housing Corporation (CMHC), are eligible for the exemption.
However, Prince George had a rental vacancy rate of 3.7 per cent in 2022 and a rate of only 2.8 per cent in 2023.
That means Prince George does not meet the requirements and is not eligible to “opt-out” of the principal residence requirements in 2024.
The earliest possible year the City of Prince George could seek an exemption to the Principal Residence Requirement is 2026, providing the rental vacancy data is three per cent or more in 2024 and 2025.
The city also reached out to Tourism Prince George and the Canadian Home Builders Association of Northern British Columbia for feedback and only Tourism PG provided a response.
Tourism Prince George CEO Colin Carson said they view all accommodations in Prince George as valued partners.
“Tourism Prince George understands how the province’s new rules for STRs could be positive in keeping hotels at their capacity, and also addresses the housing crisis, by expanding regulation and ensuring accurate data and data sharing-- strengthening both local and provincial government enforcement tools. This does not mean Tourism Prince George is against STRs,” he said.
“Our goal at Tourism Prince George is to position Prince George as a year-round Basecamp to Adventure, while putting efforts in place that drive our local and regional economy. We know that can only be achieved by working together with all our partners that play a role in enhancing the visitor experience.”
A report outlining the city’s ineligibility to opt-out will be discussed at the city’s next regular public council meeting on Monday night.
