South Bruce Peninsula, Ontario, 2022 Bylaw Requirements

[Jon279]

Hello All:

As you may know, South Bruce Peninsula is seriously changing the landscape for Airbnb hosts. Fortunately I have a fellow Airbnb host who has been keeping me up-to-date on all of the changes and requirements. I predict that is going to be highly problematic when hosts attempt to re-open for next summer.

The requirement that has been problematic for me is that the host be able to reply to a bylaw complaint 24/7 within 30 minutes by phone and 60 minutes on site. We operate all aspects of our Airbnb by ourselves (no property managers) BUT we live two hours away. This is not a problem for those within an hour, those that use property managers already, or those that have a helpful neighbour (though we decided it was time to involve formal property manager rather than informal helpful neighbor).

To be clear, in the 4 years that we have had an AIrbnb, we have not had a single bylaw complaint brought to our attention.

After contacting a number of Airbnb hosts, property managers and security companies we decided to go with a product offered by Bruce Peninsula Cottage Specialists. So if you like to operate your own Airbnb, but do not live within a 1 hr radius, I recommend contacting them.

In this thread I would also be curious about any other issues that the new bylaws are creating for Airbnb hosts on the Bruce Peninsula!

[M199]

@Jon279 

Just a couple of other points, of which other hosts may not be aware of....

1 - The initial Registration Fee is $300 and along with that is the Annual Registration Fee of $500.  Therefore for 2022, the cost is $800, thereafter, $500 annually.  The local newspaper stated that the Town's logic is that the initial $300 is the average daily cost of a STR accommodation on the Bruce Peninsula.

2 - There Is no guarantee that the Town will approve the licence.  Whether they do or not, the Fees are Non-Refundable.

3 - The Town also requires $2,000,000 liability insurance AND the Town must be added the the owner's insurance as "additional insured".

4 - Before approving any registrations, the owner's STR property may be subject to building and fire code inspections.  I believe at the property owners cost.

5 - The STR Licensing Package is available from the Town of Wiarton office on Berford or from the Town of South Bruce website.