A staff report presented yesterday to City of Mississauga’s Planning and Development Committee recommends amendments to the Zoning By-law to regulate short-term accommodations (STAs) in the City.  The recommendations include allowing STAs in all dwelling types that are primary residences, subject to conditions.

The report also includes an update on responses from an online survey and public consultation process as well as an updated municipal scan and recommendations to amend the Zoning By-law to regulate STAs.

The City’s Zoning By-law currently does not prohibit STAs. Council directed Enforcement staff to further examine STAs in Mississauga, consult with stakeholders and recommend options for regulatory control within three months.

According to the report, the proposed amendments:

  • define short-term accommodation as the use of all or part of a dwelling unit, used by the owner or leaseholder as their principal residence, for temporary overnight accommodation for 28 days or less;
  • define a principal residence according to the Income Tax Act;
  • permit STAs in all principal residences in the City of Mississauga, in all types of residential units for 28 days or less; and
  • Require a minor variance or rezoning application to permit an STA in a dwelling that is not a principal residence. This will allow condominium boards, neighbours and property managers to comment on the application and City departments to evaluate the request. If a minor variance application is submitted, the Committee of Adjustment can impose conditions of approval including time limits.

The report also cites that similar regulations are proposed in Toronto and Vancouver and are already in place in New York City, Philadelphia, Portland and San Francisco.

There are existing by-laws to address nuisance concerns that may be related to STAs. Under these by-laws, City staff respond to any complaints in the community as they arise.

“The proposed amendments to the Zoning By-law represent a balanced approach to regulating short-term accommodations in Mississauga,” said Ed Sajecki, Commissioner, Planning and Building. “They clarify how residents can share their principal residences with others, while limiting the potential impacts on housing availability and affordability. They also provide some additional protection to buildings and neighbourhoods.”

Staff are also considering the potential to tax short-term accommodations. On November 1 at General Committee, Council approved in principle the introduction of a four per cent hotel tax effective July 1, 2018.

As next steps, staff will present the proposed Zoning By-law amendments to Council for approval in early 2018.The Enforcement Division will report to General Committee on a possible registry or licensing regime for short-term accommodations to reduce the potential for nuisance impacts in buildings and neighbourhoods.