During their January 26 meeting, Meaford council approved a five-phase plan for the implementation of short-term rental regulations within the municipality, with full implementation expected in 2028.
“The project plan outlines a five-phase implementation strategy spanning 2026 to 2028. Early phases focus on data collection, compliance tools, and administrative foundations, while later phases advance regulatory refinement, taxation considerations, and the formal licensing and enforcement of STR operations. This phased approach allows for ongoing evaluation, public and agency engagement, and alignment with municipal capacity and resources,” staff advised in their report to council.
In their report to council, staff outlined each of the phases. Phase one will see the launch of a registry pilot program this year, followed by the launch of an Administrative Monetary Penalty (AMP) program, also expected this year. Phase three will see the creation of a Regulatory By-law & Licensing Program in 2027. The final two phases to be implemented in 2028 are the implementation of a municipal accommodation tax (MAT) program, along with the initiation of STR licensing and enforcement in 2028.
“Staff have reviewed the proposed next steps and developed a phased implementation approach consisting of five distinct phases. These phases are scheduled to occur over the 2026 to 2028 time-frame,” staff noted in their report to council. “This phased approach provides a structured and manageable framework to guide implementation, allowing for ongoing evaluation, alignment with available resources, and flexibility to respond to emerging considerations as the project progresses.”
The development of a regulation and enforcement program for short-term rentals in the municipality has been a top priority for this term of council. In June 2023, council took the first steps toward regulating short-term rentals, and gave direction to municipal staff to explore the regulations and licensing bylaws that have been established by other municipalities to use as a framework for the Municipality of Meaford. Council also directed staff to limit the number of public input meetings to one, as they hoped to have a bylaw in place before the end of 2023. Staff turnover has been a primary cause of delays in achieving council’s goal.
Council’s focus on the development of of a short-term rental regulatory program has largely been driven by the concerns of residents expressed to council candidates during the 2022 municipal election campaign period. Those concerns have continued to be expressed to council during the first three years of this council term.
Sixty-eight Meaford residents attended four two-hour public engagement sessions held at Meaford Hall on October 24, 2023. In addition to the public engagement sessions, a questionnaire was made available from mid-October through early November of 2023, which garnered 501 responses. The public engagement identified a number of concerns from residents, including excessive noise and parking frustrations.
The plan approved by council with a unanimous 7-0 vote during their January 26 meeting will be implemented in phases beginning this year, and staff told council that they have developed a communications plan in order to ensure that residents and owners of short-term rental properties are aware of the progress.
“To support the rollout of the various phases of the STR regulation project plan, a phased communications plan has been developed. The communications plan will leverage an appropriate mix of channels, both print and digital to reach the intended audiences (STR owners and the broader community). It should be noted that digital channels will be used heavily to reach STR owners as these methods are in line with how they communicate and collaborate, they use digital platforms to facilitate their rentals,” staff advised in their report. “A dedicated page on the municipal website will service as a hub for information for the community. This will have an overview of the program, FAQs, link to the pilot registry, and associated staff reports. In the preliminary phases, staff will focus on communicating the benefits of joining the registry and the potential risks for those that do not join the registry. As related by-laws and programs such as AMPs are launched, staff will aim to clearly communicate the impacts to STRs. Communications will support the public engagement process and launch of the program to ensure stakeholders are involved and informed.”
