The City of Revelstoke decided on Tuesday to take a custom approach to managing the laws and limits for short-term rentals (STRs) in the unique context of a tight housing market and resort community.
Planning director Paul Simon presented two options to city council May 13: customize STR management for Revelstoke's unique housing needs, such as by amending bylaws, restricting these rentals for long-term residents, and merging STRs with bed and breakfasts; or consider a variety of policy scenarios if a "made-in-Revelstoke" approach wasn't appealing.
Currently, standard residential zones in Revelstoke can operate a bed and breakfast, as long as a principal resident resides somewhere on the property. Only one specific residential zone and comprehensive development zones permit STRs, in certain parts of the city. As per existing council policy, no further zoning changes can happen to expand STR eligibility to more properties.
With council siding with Simon's first option, Coun. Tim Palmer tabled a motion for the city to proceed with developing a made-in-Revelstoke solution to address local housing needs in the wider context of one of B.C.'s resort communities. The motion passed unanimously, with those at the table agreeing this option provided a healthy mix of general direction and flexibility to manage STRs.
"I'm happy to see this move forward in a general statement like this," Coun. Aaron Orlando said. "I feel that getting too much into the weeds at this point limits our options as staff explore this."
Palmer added that the option "captures the overall sense of where we need to go."
"I agree," Mayor Gary Sulz chimed in. "This is us basically saying to staff, 'Let's get this done,' and we can unpack this as we move forward."
As of last October, Revelstoke had issued 190 STR licences, with a total 624 units eligible for STR, including single-detached and multi-unit homes. According to licensing data, the city is already seeing more than two-thirds of total eligible zones operating STRs.
Density for eligible STRs varies dramatically. Just around Hay Road near Revelstoke Mountain Resort (RMR), for instance, 59 properties are eligible for STR, granted that a principal resident lives in the main home or a secondary unit.
In short, regulating the hundreds of STR operations in Revelstoke hasn't been a breeze. Simon commented by email that the city "routinely utilizes the provincial STR platform to perform takedown requests for those that are advertising without a valid business license." More than 200 noncompliance files have been opened since September 2024, of which about eight in 10 are already closed.
More widely in B.C., 14 communities fall under the provincial Resort Municipality Initiative: Revelstoke, Whistler, Tofino, Ucluelet, Harrison Hot Springs, Osoyoos, Fernie, Golden, Invermere, Kimberley, Radium Hot Springs, Rossland, Sun Peaks and Valemount.
At the city's advisory planning commission meeting the previous Tuesday, May 6, Simon explained that Revelstoke's consultation with all 13 other resort communities has concluded that there's no standardized approach or "silver bullet" for STR management.
Osoyoos, for example, is the only community currently opted into B.C.'s principal residence requirement, which limits STRs to a property's main building.
If Revelstoke opted in as well, the limit would apply to all residential properties in the city except for those in RMR's provincially designated resort accommodation zone. However, Coun. Matt Cherry reiterated to the commission that council won't support opting into the principal residence requirement, favouring more flexibility.
Elsewhere in the Interior, Invermere and Sun Peaks have a temporary-use permit system, where properties can become exempt from local zoning bylaw for up to six years, to permit STRs on a case-by-case basis.
Across the board, none of B.C.'s 14 resort communities have a full cap on STRs.
Going forward, Simon said the City of Revelstoke will consider not just residential properties but also mixed-use lots in its STR management plan, which he hopes can help clarify and simplify the local STR framework.
More information on STRs in Revelstoke is available at revelstoke.ca/1964/Short-Term-Rentals.
