The introductory report is being presented to council TONIGHT (November 13) at the Committee of the Whole meeting.at 6:30 PM.  You can attend this meeting in person at the Plex, 600 Tomlinson Dr., or watch online at: https://www.youtube.com/@TownOfSaugeenShores/featured.

The Full Report can be found on the Agenda at https://saugeenshores.civicweb.net/filepro/documents/6766/?preview=228085. Click on the report under 8.2 Staff Reports #2 .

To give you a brief overview they are looking at the possibility of:

1. Implementing a Municipal Accommodation Fee (MAF) to be levied on short-term and overnight accommodations including motel, hotel, short-term rental and campground stays. It will be a percentage of the rental fee.  Most Ontario municipalities that have implemented this fee set it at 4%.  The municipality can use 50% of this revenue for services and infrastructure.  The other 50% is to be shared with a not-for-profit "tourism entity" and used solely to promote tourism in the area.  This fee is paid by visitors to the area.

2. Implementing a Short-Term Rental (STR) Licensing program.  This would regulate short-term rentals, identified as all or part of a dwelling unit rented out for less than 28 days in exchange for payment.  Inspections would be required and all units would have to meet the Ontario Fire Code. They have not identified a fee for this or if it is annual or a one time fee. 

3. It is unclear if there is a fee for Short Term Rental Companies. 

After reading this report, If you want to contact the elected officials for your property regarding this matter, click here for the list and scroll down to Council.