Short-term rental licensing wins EPC approval

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This article was published 17/10/2023 (748 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

Winnipeg city council’s executive policy committee gave a green light to a new licensing regime for short-term rental accommodations Tuesday, while calling for additional reporting on how such businesses operate.

If council approves, the business licences would cost between $260 and $1,560 per property, depending on size and whether the owner lives on site. The least expensive option would cost $260 per residence where an operator lives.

Short-term rental operators would also pay a five per cent tax on room rentals, submit to City of Winnipeg inspections and face fines if they break its rules.

The motion passed with an amendment that would require city staff to produce annual reports on short-term rentals, including the number of units licensed, as well as the number of inspections, offences, complaints and penalties.

Unpaid business taxes policy moves forward

A controversial effort that would pave the way for the city to shut down businesses as a last resort to get them to pay overdue taxes is moving forward.

On Tuesday, council’s executive policy committee approved a few changes that would make it possible to order a business to cease operations until its debt is paid, a power the city has never used before.

While the Winnipeg Chamber of Commerce called the move excessive, as businesses suffer from COVID-19 pandemic losses and soaring inflation, councillors said they were reassured the power would be a rarely used last resort.

Council will cast the final vote on the matter Oct. 26.