City of Kamloops begins process of changing short-term rental bylaws

KAMLOOPS — The City of Kamloops has begun the process of rewriting the community’s bylaws governing the use of short-term rentals, looking to fall in line with recent provincial legislative changes.

Council’s Committee of the Whole voted to approve a motion to permit short-term rentals for less than 30 days within the principal dwelling of an owner or in a residential suite. Currently, just 20 per cent of short-term rentals are permitted under city regulations.

“We would allow short-term rental accommodation less than 30 days within the owner’s principal residence or a suite. It’s that suite component that is different here than [the other option]. Allowing less than 30 days, you could rent out your suite, you could be on an AirBnB-type platform — that is the difference here. This would also allow short-term rentals in strata developments, provided that the strata signs off on it,” said Stephen Bentley, Community Planning Manager.

The approved motion will come forward at a future council meeting for further debate.

All short-term rentals, allowing for stays under 90 days, will now also need to have a business license from the City of Kamloops, allowing the city to ensure the rental suites are both safe and bylaw-conforming.

“In order to be on a short-term rental platform, they would need to go through the legalization process, which really means focusing on a Development Permit Application, if applicable, but more significantly, a building permit. A building permit means the suite complies with B.C. Building Code. It meets basic life and safety regulations — things like smoke alarms, egress. We know it’s safe for people to live in,” said Bentley.