Highlands East is looking to move ahead with a short-term rental (STR) licensing dashboard – while hoping to avoid some of the flack Dysart et al received when they publicly posted information about STRs in their township.
Junior planner Kim Roberts presented a report to a June 17 council meeting, asking elected officials to direct staff to publish the interactive GIS Dashboard on the municipality’s STR licensing webpage.
Dysart released its on May 12 and eventually all four townships are planning to do the same.
The dashboard shows the location of licensed STRs countywide.
Roberts said, given the concerns raised after Dysart et al released its map, staff wanted to bring information on the map, its purpose, and relevant information about personal privacy to councillors.
She said under the Municipal Act, townships are allowed to both issue licences and licence details may be posted on the municipality’s website.
She said most cottage country municipalities that licence STRs provide a list or map, including Tiny Township, Huntsville, Ramara, Bracebridge and Lake of Bays.
She said staff see three benefits.
“It allows the travelling public to quickly and easily confirm that the STR they are intending to book has a valid licence; provides residents with a resource to know whether or not a STR being operated in their neighbourhood is licensed and is in compliance with the requirements for fire safety, parking, and septic capacity; and allows prospective purchasers in a neighbourhood or lake to know if there are any/many STRs in the area before purchasing.”
Roberts said staff have received feedback from operators and the public with concerns about personal privacy and security, and indicated they would complain to relevant privacy bodies.
She said the Privacy Commissioner’s Office (IPC) decisions “have long recognized that information required for business licensing is not considered private or personal information, even if that business relates to the individual’s dwelling.”
Roberts added land ownership information in Ontario is not private information, and can be accessed via the Ontario Land Registry Office, and people can look at roll books at township offices for MPAC ownership information for free.
“The STR dashboard will only provide a STR licence number and a civic address,” she said. Roberts added although many municipalities provide identifying information of the ‘responsible person’ for licensed premises, enabling direct contact by the public, staff have opted to direct complaints or concerns to the 24/7 hotline or complaints dashboard so only an address or licence number is required to process a complaint or concern.
She said some operators are worried about being targeted by thieves or people not supportive of STRs. She said staff could find no evidence of this.
Roberts said there is a small body of research that demonstrates the presence of STRs in a neighbourhood can increase crime, but mostly in urban areas. Theories around cause include neighbours not knowing one another, eroding the community’s ability to police itself, increased traffic and a transient population.
“Staff are of the belief that disclosing the locations of licensed STR accommodations will foster trust and transparency in the neighbourhoods where these operations are situated.”
Mayor Dave Burton said if people are properly licensed, he would think they would want the address public for promotion.
Coun. Cec Ryall said several STR operators had contacted him. He anticipates “kick back.” He asked for even more information before they go live. Roberts said once the site is ready – they hope for the end of the first week in July – staff would be happy to circulate a private link ahead of time to councillors, and do a demonstration at the July 15 meeting.
CAO Brittany McCaw said they could also alert the public it’s coming, with relevant information on why they are allowed to do it.
Roberts said they had 66 applications to date, 33 approved, four rejected, and 26 pending. She added they had collected $8,487.18 in MAT tax; and $33,000 in licensing fees.
