The District has opened business licence applications for locals who wish to rent a portion of their principal residence, or their entire principal residence, in Squamish.
Principal Residence is defined as the home in which a person lives and conducts daily affairs.
Shor term rental operators who get a business licence must include it in all online listings and advertising. A failure to do so can result in a $500 fine per offence.
The district has also launched a call for a limited number of Temporary Use Permit (TUP) applications that will allow STR use of non-principal residences.
These applications will be for secondary suites or accessory dwellings such as coach homes. Up to 30 such permits will be issued for a two-year term to successful applications who apply before February 14.
Application information is now live at squamish.ca/short-term-rentals.
This approach is intended to support tourism while protecting rental housing stock in the community.
If more than 30 applications are received, applications will be ranked based on the applicant’s ability to meet the evaluation criteria and deadline.
STR enforcement of unlicensed STR units will begin on April 1, 2021 following a four-month grace period. Complaint-driven enforcement will remain ongoing until then.
