Fines for unauthorized short-term rentals in B.C. should be increased to $3,000 daily, the Union of B.C. Municipalities (UBCM) told Victoria Sept. 19.
The resolution brought to the UBCM's annual general meeting by the City of Burnaby said the province intends to increase the maximum fine a local government may issue to any bylaw non-compliant operator from $1,000 to $3,000 per day utilizing the Municipal Ticket Information system.
However, the resolution said, under the Local Government Bylaw Notice Enforcement Act, a maximum fine of $500 per day is permitted, with no increase proposed by the province.
So, their resolution asks that the province permit that legislation to increase the penalty to $3,000.
Local governments have the ability to add unpaid bylaw violation penalties to property taxes to better allow municipalities to regulate short-term rentals.
The resolution was endorsed by the Lower Mainland Local Government Association.
The UBCM membership has endorsed resolutions addressing regulation of short-term rentals in 2023, 2022 and 2018.
However, the resolution committee said the UBCM membership has not previously considered a resolution which asks the province to permit the Local Government Bylaw Notice Enforcement Act maximum bylaw violation penalty per day to be increased to $3,000.
Nor had the UBCM be asked to allow local governments to have the ability to add unpaid bylaw violation penalties to property taxes to better allow local governments to regulate short-term rentals.
