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Short Term Rental Regulations

Aug 1, 2023

UPDATE

Thank you Winnipeg Free Press for covering this important issue: Short-term rentals long-term headaches

Council voted on regulating short term rentals on Feb 23, 2023. I will say I am disappointed in the final outcome related to the number of short term rentals an owner can operate in residential neighbourhoods (areas zoned R1 & R2) The final decision is to allow an owner:

To rent three (3) non-primary residential properties owned by them or the wholly-owned Winnipeg partnership or corporation as a short-term rental accommodation, conditional on their owning the properties on February 23, 2023, with a combination of the following:

i) In areas zoned multi-family, commercial, or under the Downtown Zoning By-Law;

ii) In areas zoned R1 and R2

I and 5 other Councillors were hoping to limit the number of short term rentals in single family homes – to only the primary residence; meaning the owner could only rent the home they live in.

  • Opposing three properties in residential neighbourhoods: Councillors Allard, Lukes, Santos, Schreyer, Sharma and Wyatt
  • Supporting three properties in residential neighbourhoods: His Worship Mayor Gillingham, Councillors Browaty, Chambers, Dobson, Duncan, Gilroy, Orlikow and Rollins

I guess the one redeeming aspect of rentals in residential areas, is that the three short term rentals are ‘grandfathered’ in  – meaning if the ownership of the property changes, the property can no longer can be registered a short term rental.

For complete details see:  Short Term Rentals Report

There is lots of complexity around short term rental and if you have additional questions, please contact clerks@winnipeg.ca

UPDATE: April 5, 2022:

An interim report on short term rentals was presented to the Standing Policy Committee on Property and Development, Heritage and Downtown Development. The committee accepted the information, and directed the public service to:

  • Gather public input on short term rentals
  • Review other cities, including Toronto’s legislation and licensing models for short term rentals,
  • Develop information on Sex Trafficking and Human Trafficking for owners of short term rentals,
  • Report back to the committee with recommendations on legislation and licensing models for Winnipeg within 120 days (early Fall 2022)

For full details of the interim report and next steps, see Regulating Short Term Rentals report.

UPDATE: October 13, 2021:

On October 13, 2021, The Standing Policy Committee on Property and Development, Heritage and Downtown Development:

  1. Granted an extension of time of up to 180 days for the Winnipeg Public Service to report back on the following:

A. Recommendations for regulating short-term rentals, including, but not limited to, fire and safety, land-use, and licensing requirements.

B. A review of the Accommodation Tax By-Law No. 70/2008, which includes the following:

i. Amendments required in order to include short-term rental properties in the collection and remittance of the Accommodations Tax;

ii. A summary of the current regulatory situation of the short-term rental industry in the City of Winnipeg as well as other as a cross-jurisdictional scan;

iii. Recommendations to regulate the Industry while recognizing the importance and increasing popularity of the short-term rental market and its ability to attract visitors to Winnipeg through an expansive marketing network;

See Short Term Rental Report

There has been an increase in ‘short term rentals’ throughout the city of Winnipeg. A short-term rental often is the rental of a house or condominium. Companies or individuals facilitate short-term rental reservations online and receiving payment for this service.  There are a variety of firms that facilitate these short term rentals:

  • Airbnb
  • Bookings.com
  • BNB Rental Group
  • And others

My office has received an increase in calls related to houses and condo’s being rented out as ‘short term rentals’. Neighbours have concerns about:

  • excessive trash
  • parking issues
  • noise disturbances
  • potential decrease in home values and
  • neighbourhood safety – to name just a few of the issues.

According to Mr. Scott Jocelyn, President and CEO of the Manitoba Hotel Association:

  • Only 17% of total Airbnb revenues in Canada is generated by true home-sharing where the owner is present during the guest’s stay – i.e. in 2016-2017 when the survey occurred (and the percentage is higher today) entire home rental units comprised 83% of total revenues in Canada.
  • Approximately 7 in every 10 unit on the Airbnb distribution platform are entire home rentals with guest having complete and sole access of the entire unit during their stay.
  • One in every 3 units in Canada is rented out for more than 90 days per year.

PLEASE KNOW:

If you are having issues with short term rentals located beside or near you – like noise, excessive garbage or other neighbourhood livability issues, please file a complaint to 311 or 311@winnipeg.ca and a by law officer will investigate.

I’m working with Councillor colleagues and the Public Service to initiate regulations on short term rentals. Cities around the world are regulating short term rentals and Winnipeg needs to look to these regulations and implement.

The Public Services has been directed to research and bring options to council to consider.

Two motions are directing the Public Service to research and bring regulatory options to Council to consider and ultimately implement. We expect an update in 120 days (October 2021)

I will be posting updates on my website as this unfolds.

Thank you to media who’ve covered this important issue: