Minden Hills is the latest township to decide it will put licensed short-term rentals on a map on its website, along
with addresses.
Dysart et al and Algonquin Highlands have gone live with the STR dashboard and Highlands East council has given
staff the go-ahead, chief building official, Eric Guay, told Minden Hills councillors Aug. 14.
Guay told council the County of Haliburton’s IT department, in conjunction with the four member municipalities and the Geographic Information Systems (GIS) working group, had developed the dashboard.
Guay said the map will “allow the public to search the locations and confirm licensed STRs.”
He added there had been some opposition from the public to posting of licence numbers and addresses, including
concerns about privacy, personal safety, and security. However, he said Section 151 of the Municipal Act authorizes municipalities in Ontario to licence businesses within their jurisdictions, and that the information may be posted on the municipality’s website.
Guay noted Lake of Bays, and the towns of Huntsville, Bracebridge and Tiny are doing it.
He added the map lets renters know the STR complies with all the rules; lets residents know if ones in their area
are licensed, legal and safe, and lets property buyers know whether there are STRs in the area.
“Based on information provided in this report and in consultation with member municipality colleagues, it
is staff’s recommendation that the STR dashboard (in collaboration with the County of Haliburton IT department)
be imbedded into the Township’s STR webpage, and in keeping with other local municipalities, only the
STR licence number and municipal address would be displayed,” Guay recommended.
Guay added the Municipal Freedom of Information and Protection of Privacy Act has no problem with the
dashboard. He said Tiny Township won a recent legal challenge.
“Based on information provided in this report and in consultation with member municipality colleagues, it
is staff’s recommendation that the STR dashboard (in collaboration with the County of Haliburton IT department)
be imbedded into the Township’s STR webpage, and in keeping with other local municipalities, only the
STR licence number and municipal address would be displayed,” Guay recommended.
Coun. Tammy McKevley asked if STR operators in Minden Hills still have to have a sign with a phone
number, and Guay said they did. She added a cottage association reached out to her early in the STR process.
She suspected they would be pleased with the decision, as they could now take information to owners about things such as lake health.
Coun. Shirley Johannessen added she thought it was “great the public is going to be able to access that.” She
said she had been contacted in past by neighbours of suspected short-term rental owners who may not have
registered for a licence. She asked if they could make anonymous complaints. Guay said people could complain
via the township website, but not anonymously.
