Halifax community group welcomes advent of short-term rental regulations
Global News
New rules for short-term rentals in Halifax come into effect Friday, and that's welcome news for one group that's been pushing for regulation for years.
The new land-use bylaw regulating short-term rentals in Halifax comes into effect Friday, a move that’s been long awaited by Bill Stewart.
Stewart is the spokesperson for Neighbours Speak Up, which was started four years ago by community members in the Hyrdrostone neighbourhood who were concerned about an Airbnb in the area causing issues with parties, late nights, conflicts and police visits.
“So, we began to advocate to the provincial government and the municipal government to see if some regulations can be put in place,” he said.
Since then, the province has implemented a short-term rental registry and on Sept. 1, Halifax Regional Municipality is set to usher in new rules setting limitations on how and where short-term rental units can operate within the city.
Under the new regulations, short-term rental units within residential zones will only be allowed to operate in the host’s primary residence — although, for neighbourhoods where hotels or other types of tourist accommodations already exist, commercial short-term rentals will be permitted.
Stewart said requiring the host to also live in the home should help address some of the partying and noise issues his group has seen.
“Primary resident, primary responsibility is an important thing,” he said.
He is also hopeful the move will free up some desperately needed long-term housing stock in residential areas.