Province dismisses short-term rental appeal

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

FORT ERIE (July 26, 2024) – On September 1, 2022, the Town of Fort Erie initiated a Short-Term Rental Land Use Study to develop and recommend a land use approach to directing and regulating short-term rentals within the Town’s boundaries. The work entailed in-depth research and public engagement, followed by the development of several options for consideration and, ultimately, a recommendation made to Town Council.

On January 29, 2024, Town Council adopted Official Plan Amendment 77 (By-law 02-2024) and Zoning By-law Amendment (By-law 01-2024), which amended the Town’s planning documents to establish policies and regulations for Short-Term Rentals (STRs) within the Town, which was appealed to the Ontario Land Tribunal.

On July 15, 2024, the Ontario Land Tribunal dismissed the appeal filed by a third-party neighbourhood group regarding the Town of Fort Erie’s Official Plan and Zoning By-law Amendments to regulate Short Term Rentals within the Town.

The by-laws permit dedicated STRs in commercial zones where residential uses are permitted, as well as the ‘R2B’ zone within the Crystal Beach Neighbourhood and Waterfront Residential Zone west of Kraft Road to the western boundary of Lake Erie. Moreover, owner-occupied STRs are permitted within all residential zones, which allow both a principal dwelling unit and an accessory or secondary dwelling unit.

To review the Official Plan and Zoning Amendment By-laws regarding STRs, please visit Let’s Talk Fort Erie: https://letstalk.forterie.ca/short-term-rentals-in-fort-erie-land-use-study

The Town also has a Short-Term Licensing By-Law that stipulates qualifications for a licence, how to apply for a licence and an annual licence limit of 250 in any given year. That limit has been reached for 2024.  Town staff plans to provide a report in early fall this year for Council to consider modifications to that by-law to align with the zoning and Official Plan amendments.