đź—ą noise
It’s Time to Treat Short-Term Rentals (STRs) Like Businesses – Because They Are
Without regulation, short-term rentals pose serious risks.
It’s time to ask if Edmonton and Calgary has a problem.
Luckily, there are steps the city can take to address this issue:
2. Limiting the Ability of STRs to Operate in Certain Residential Zones:
Edmonton and Calgary’s neighbourhoods are for neighbours, not commercial activity. Zoning limits around the STRs have already been introduced in other jurisdictions to reduce issues around congestion, parking and noise.
1. Commercial License Requirement for Short-Term Rental Operators:
Requiring a business license for STRs only begins to address the large inequalities in the current regulatory framework. We recommend creating a special category of business license for STRs that are not owner occupied. In order to get a license a few basic steps would need to be taken.
Criminal record check
Fire safety inspection of STR
Proof of adequate tenancy and fire insurance
License would be revoked if an STR operator fails to verify guests in person.
Unchecked Growth, Unwanted Impacts
Short-Term Rentals Bring Too Much:
Too Much Lost Revenue
If short-term rental operators paid appropriate commercial taxes – like hotels and bed and breakfasts do – the City of Edmonton and Calgary could add about $2.5 million to its revenue. Read more.
Too Much Risk for Guests
Without regulation, short-term rental guests have no guarantee that the property they’re renting is safe or sanitary. Read more.
Too Much for the Neighbours
For neighbours of short-term rentals, increased noise and disruption can be a nightmare - and the trend of crime occurring in these properties is even more alarming. Read more.
Too Much for the Community
In cities around the world, the rapid growth of short-term rentals has worsened housing shortages and lowered quality of life for residents. Read more.
““The societal costs [of short-term rentals] are staggering.” ”
Take Action
Use these tools to contact us and share your story, and we’ll get in touch with you. We want to support you in making your voice heard.
If you are concerned about the impact of short-term rentals on our city, let your city councillor know this is important to you.
If you’ve been negatively affected by short-term rentals – in your building, in your neighbourhood or in your experience as a short-term rental guest – we want to hear from you. The more people come forward about their experiences, the easier it will be for City Council to understand the problem and do something about it.
In the News
Short-Term Rentals Have Been Making Headlines
News Listings
About Us
Toomuch.ca is brought to you by the Edmonton Destination Marketing Hotels and the Calgary Hotel Association.
The Calgary Hotel Association (CHA) and Edmonton Destination Marketing Hotels (EDMH) are voluntary non-profit associations representing hotels in Alberta’s two largest cities. Our members work together to attract more visitors to Edmonton and Calgary. We are also committed to safe, ethical and community-building business practices. Being a hotelier in Alberta means following a number of regulations. It only seems fair that every other accommodation provider does the same. Read more.
