Short Term Rentals (STRs) such as Airbnb (and related sites) need your support now more than ever. 

Vote for your right to be able to rent homes for less than 30 days on the Sunshine Coast, BC.

WE NEED YOUR SUPPORT

The SCRD, along with the Town of Gibsons are in the process of passing new bylaws crippling the ability for families and groups to visit the Sunshine Coast and find suitable accommodations. 

Read up on their proposal here: https://www.scrd.ca/str

and https://gibsons.ca/government/mayor-and-council/meetings/virtual-public-hearings/

Visitors will no longer be able to come in groups larger than four, (sorry if you have five family members) or in any space that isn't attached to a dwelling or on someones property who is present during your visit. (Sorry if you wanted a relaxing, quiet, private vacation.)

A meeting was held on June 30th, 2020 (the day before the Canada Day holiday) via ZOOM, which did not allow for proper conversation on the subject and limited community involvement in the discussion. There needs to be a better forum for this ongoing conversation where ALL voices can be heard. 

We need YOUR SAY to tell the SCRD directors that STRs are an important part of our community, economy, and local tourism.

What will happen at the next meeting?

It's too soon to know. The SCRD will have another reading of the bylaws that are currently proposed.

What is this petition for now?

We need YOU to tell the SCRD directors that you want:

• The ability to rent on the Sunshine Coast for less than 30 days.

• That you want to be able to rent homes that may not be occupied by an owner.

That's ALL that this petition is for. Just those 2 things. 

Why is this so important?

Our limited local hotels don't have the flexibility to cater to groups who visit our region. STRs offer the flexibility that hotels simply can't. Visitors often require the amenities to make home-cooked meals, host holidays, or stay all together in one place. We also know that for many young families who struggle to make large mortgage payments in our part of Canada, having the option to rent out your home as an STR is the only way many people can make home ownership a reality.

We need to tell the SCRD that we want to reserve this right. Limiting our rights to keep STRs on the Sunshine Coast would cost HUNDREDS of people their jobs.

What are we NOT saying?

We are not saying that STRs don't need to be taxed or regulated.

We agree that there should be some regulation, with sensible taxes, permitting, and rules set in place for rentals that make the District money.

And by signing this petition, you're just telling the SCRD to keep the TWO (2) items above top-of-mind, and to not restrict Sunshine Coast property owners' rights. This injects money into the local economy, and creates jobs. 

It not only creates jobs for the hosts, but it also gives work to house cleaners, gardeners, handymen, and local businesses that benefit from tourism like restaurants, breweries, cideries, cafes, mountain bike stores, kayak rentals, and tourism in general. 

The SCRD will be meeting to continue the discussion on how to regulate STRs within the area. It's possible that if these bylaws go forward, we will have a severe lack of suitable accommodations for our local visitors, and they will choose to vacation elsewhere.

Please sign this petition if you want to continue to visit the Sunshine Coast and urge the SCRD to not further limit STRs.

SIGN NOW to tell the SCRD how important STRs are to the Sunshine Coast! And please leave a COMMENT as to how these changes will affect you and why you are opposed to them!

Please share with your friends. Their vacation rights are at risk too.