Law and order

Bring on the short-term accommodation (STA) regulations. It was a brilliant weekend in Prince Edward County. Mostly sunny and warm. Visitors descended upon paradise by the thousands (despite another Toronto newspaper story seeking to blow the lid off of the simmering challenges in Ontario’s rising rural economic star).

The cafés and restaurants were humming. Wineries, cideries and craft beer makers were doing blockbuster business. The first Saturday market of the season in Wellington added to the festive feeling in the air.

But with our visitor economy comes some irritation. Cars are often abandoned thoughtlessly, blocking driveway access to businesses, rendering some streets barely passable. A dozen folks or more cram into a wee house on an otherwise quiet residential street. Lawns littered with red Solo cups, and the off-putting aroma of stale beer and vomit, the reminder of the raucous night before.

To be absolutely clear on this point: this is our economy. We can grumble about it. We can mourn for an imaginary yesteryear. Or pine for stasis—praying that nothing changes. Ever. But none of these emotions is particularly useful, nor do they reflect an adult understanding of how economies work.

We can, however, and should, work to buff out the sharper edges. We will not prevent every inconsiderate clod with sufficient wherewithal to find Prince Edward County on a map from sharing his or her obnoxious behaviour with us. But we can make the cost of doing so discouraging.

And thus we get to STA regs.

Late last year, the municipality laid the ground work, establishing new land use rules to limit the density and occupancy of STAs in rural and residential areas. In the next few weeks, council will consider the regulations and licensing requirements of what has been, until now, the Wild West of Airbnbs and the like.

Now to be clear—once more—STAs fill a gap in our economy. It has been clear, for more than a decade, that the County lacked anywhere near sufficient roofed accommodation to serve the surge of folks who wish to stay here—in an ever-widening season. So STAs filled a vacuum. And for many folks it is how they pay their mortgage and feed their children. STAs are a generally positive part of the County’s economic engine.

But until now, it has been lawless. Abuses have occurred. Neighbourhoods of families have been given over to visitors. Rules are needed. And welcome.

The package of regulations up for consideration by council this month is solid. They set standards for noise, parking, capacity and safety—and back them up with stiff fines to ensure compliance.

Every STA property will require a licence. The application will require contact information, a floor plan of the property showing number of guest rooms, up to date details of how the property is advertised and marketed. It will need to show how parking is accommodated on the property. STA owners must comply with fencing and buffering requirements and must submit proof of insurance.

Whole home STAs (where the guest accommodation occupies the entire home) will be subject to inspection every two years, where they must submit a copy of their licence, floor plans, parking arrangements and a copy of the municipal noise bylaw. Owners, or their representative, must demonstrate that they can, and do, respond to concerns within an hour.

Failing to comply with licensing provisions will result in fines ranging from $100 to $1,000. But repeat offenders will discover the penalties escalate quickly, to as much as $100,000 for those who may consider municipal licensing fines as just a cost of doing business any way they see fit. Ultimately, bad actors may see their licence revoked.

Council is expected to enact the new regulations in the next few weeks. STA owners will have the balance of 2019 to apply for a licence and ensure their property complies with the regulations. Strict enforcement will begin in 2020.

These STA regulations aren’t perfect. They won’t solve every problem, or nuisance or irritation. No set of rules ever achieves this ambition. They are, however, a good start. The County will continue to tweak and adjust the regulations as omissions or holes in the regulations reveal themselves.

But we do need to get on with it. There can be no more dithering, delays and analysis.

It is time to put the rules in place. And then fix as we go. Residents need to see that order is being restored to their neighbourhoods.

rick@wellingtontimes.ca