Local councils implement new short-term rental regulations

Local governments in Australia and Canada are navigating the complexities of regulating short-term rental (STR) accommodations.

In Cairns, Australia, the Regional Council rejected two additional Airbnb applications in the residential areas of Mooroobool and Bayview Heights. The council is currently working to finalize a planning policy to manage the industry, which Councillor Matthew Tickner noted has operated with limited oversight for 14 years. He indicated that a new strategy is expected to provide clearer benchmarks for future decisions.

In Whitehorse, Canada, the city council postponed a vote on finalizing STR regulations following concerns regarding administrative readiness. The proposed bylaw would ban short-term rentals in residential zones unless the property serves as the operator’s primary residence. Ben Pereira, president of the management company Neighbourly North, raised concerns that the transition to mandatory business licensing could inadvertently cause tax compliance issues for operators if the city is unable to issue licenses in a timely manner.