TOWNSHIP OF ESQUIMALT STAFF REPORT
MEETING DATE: March 16, 2026 Report No. DEV-26-011
TO: Council
FROM: Bill Brown, Director of Development Services
SUBJECT: Short-Term Rental Policy and Options Analysis
RECOMMENDATION:
Recommendation
That Council receive for information the Short-Term Rental Policy Analysis Report as attached to Staff Report DEV-26-011, and provide direction to staff on guidance related to a proposed short-term rental framework that will inform proposed amendments to the Zoning, Parking, Bylaw Enforcement Notice, and Business Licence Bylaws.
Body
EXECUTIVE SUMMARY:
Both Council and members of the community have expressed a desire to examine the potential of legalizing short-term rentals in Esquimalt (beyond the current legal Bed and Breakfasts and a small number of zoned "Tourist Accommodation" units). To this end, staff have engaged Third Space Planning to prepare a detailed report (Appendix "A" of staff report DEV-26-011) that provides:
- An overview of the legislative framework for short-term rentals.
- An analysis of both potential positive and negative impacts for short-term rentals.
- An overview of the Esquimalt context.
- A jurisdictional scan of how other CRD municipalities are approaching short-term rentals.
- An analysis of the pros and cons for the various regulatory options.
- A summary of the results of the community engagement including detailed engagement results in an appendix.
- An overview of detailed decisions that Council must make to create a regulatory framework for short-term rentals in Esquimalt.
- A list of exempt accommodation service providers.
- An example of guest safety attestation.
- Example of STR-Specific bylaw contraventions and penalties from the District of Squamish.
This report is robust and detailed to provide Council and the public with a thorough understanding of the myriad of details that need to be considered in developing a regulatory framework for short-term rentals in Esquim...
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