- Target:
- City of West Kelowna Mayor & Council
- Region:
- Canada
- Website:
- www.westkelownacity.ca
The City of West Kelowna in its Zoning Bylaw 0154 Section 3.3.1a prohibits Short Term Rentals (vacation rentals). A vacation rental entails a 30 day or less of residence where the owner does not live at that particular residence. The residents in support of the bylaw enforcement claim that the City does not have enough workforce to monitor the Short Term Rental. Vote for your right to be able to rent homes for less than 30 days in West Kelowna, BC.
Whether you are visiting family or friends, taking a short vacation or exploring the province, it is in your advantage to support our petition.
WE NEED YOUR SUPPORT; HELP THE CITY OF WEST KELOWNA ECONOMY RECOVER FROM COVID-19. SUPPORT VACATION RENTALS!
STATEMENT OF PURPOSE:
● The tourism industry accounts for 11,890 jobs in the region
● Short Term Rentals are a source of employment for some West Kelowna Residents
● Tourism is the third-largest employer by industry, only behind health care and construction.
● Allowing Short Term Rentals will drive owners to pay taxes hence more Revenue for the City
● Over $1.25 BILLION is brought into the Okanagan region because of tourism
● Local wineries, farms and restaurants need the support of visitors
● Tourism creates opportunities for employment
As we are dealing with a pandemic, Canadians aren't able to travel. Being able to rent short term will keep our hard-earned Canadian dollars in our own economy.
In 2018, Canadian residents made 10.3 million trips to overseas countries while spending on overseas trips ran to $18.0 billion. (Statistics Canada)
SHORT TERM RENTALS = INCREASE IN HOME VALUE
Aside from boosting tourism, short term rentals have shown an increase in neighbourhood values. Investors are more likely to spend their funds in cities which allow Airbnb and VRBO.
Since room-sharing, short-term rentals, and vacation rental all provide additional, somewhat passive streams of income, having a home that has this potential is valuable.
Short Term Rental owners can obtain a license and operators will be required to register with the City and pay the Municipal Accommodation Tax (MAT) of four percent. The tax acquired from Short Term Rentals can then be put into good use by the City Council.
What about the employees who work in Short Term Rental Units? What happens to them if the units are disallowed? Eliminating Short term rental units will lead to an increase in the already existing 13% unemployment rate in BC. There are employees depending on the cleaning, maintenance and servicing jobs, abolishing short term rental will result in loss of earnings to them and their families.
WORRIED ABOUT THE OUTCOME OF SHORT TERM RENTALS?
Any change, even a positive one is accompanied by drawbacks. Through extensive research, we believe the good outweighs the bad. Once short term rentals become legal, they will be regulated and easier to supervise. Not to mention the extra money the city council makes from licensing fees. It is a great source of income and just like any business, it would be a positive aspect for the city of West Kelowna.
WHAT BETTER WAY THERE IS THAN TO IMPROVE THE QUALITY OF LIFE FOR EVERYONE BY ALLOWING SHORT TERM RENTALS!
We, the undersigned, call on the City Council of West Kelowna to allow Short Term Rentals.
You can further help this campaign by sponsoring it
The Allow Short Term Rentals in the city of West Kelowna petition to City of West Kelowna Mayor & Council was written by Sherv Jasanko and is in the category City & Town Planning at GoPetition.