The Town of the Blue Mountains is one of AirBnb’s top trending destinations across Canada this fall, and with the Town of Collingwood set to approve a new zoning bylaw to allow short-term accommodations within the municipality, Collingwood could also climb the short-term rental company's popularity ladder.
During council’s committee of the whole meeting on Sept. 9, Collingwood council considered approving a new zoning bylaw amendment that will pave the way for the final phase of allowing short-term accommodations in Collingwood through licensing.
Also this week, AirBnb revealed the top trending destinations across Canada according to searches, with the Town of the Blue Mountains near the top of the list.
“(Blue Mountains) is typically a trending destination for us, particularly in the winter it makes a lot of sense,” said Matt McNama, spokesperson for AirBnb. “It’s in a place with four distinct seasons so it’s a great time to visit all times of year.”
“People are looking for affordable destinations... and are travelling within their own backyards,” he said.
The Town of the Blue Mountains was one of three Ontario locales that made AirBnb’s list, also including Caledon and Port Dover. Other Canadian towns on the list include Cavendish, Summerside and Charlottetown in Prince Edward Island, La Haute-Gaspésie and Québec City in Quebec and Truro and Baddeck, Nova Scotia.
The list is made up of destinations that saw the biggest increase in searches on AirBnb from Jan. 1 to Aug. 15 this year for fall trips (in September, October and November) compared to the same time period last year.
Last November, Collingwood council approved new short-term rental rules for Collingwood, which would be phased in. The first phase launched in February, where bed and breakfasts had to apply for a "class A" license from the town.
Previous to this, short-term rentals were prohibited in Collingwood, aside from bed and breakfasts, although in previous reports on the matter town staff have estimated there are about 400 illegal short-term rentals operating in Collingwood at any given time.
During their May 22 council meeting, a public meeting was held regarding short-term accommodations in Collingwood, and feedback from the community was mixed.
This second and final phase of the roll-out will introduce licensing programs for other short-term rental units, which refers to the use of any dwelling unit, or part of one, being used as a rental for 30 days or less. This does not include motels or hotels.
Under the new system approved by council in November, once short-term rentals are allowed through the licensing regime, they will only be permitted in someone’s principal residence, or in an accessory unit where the owner lives in the principal residence.
Under the amendment considered this week, clarity was added to the zoning bylaw that a bed and breakfast is considered a type of short-term accommodation, allowing two home occupations per lot with one being a short-term accommodation and specifying parking requirements.
Once the zoning bylaw amendment is approved, the next and final step will be for council and committee of the whole to approve the final rules for licensing, which are expected this fall.
The schedule estimates the town will start approving short-term rentals through the new licensing regime this winter.
When asked about Collingwood’s new rules for short-term rentals coming down the pipe, McNama said there could be a tourism spike once Collingwood’s rules are in force and effect.
“I think it’s reasonable to say Collingwood could see a spike in bookings when it comes to short-term rentals,” he said. “It brings visitor spending into the community. Seeing these trends points to economic recovery.”
On Monday, committee of the whole unanimously approved the new zoning bylaw amendment.
For more information on the town’s short-term accommodation bylaw, click here.
