Councillors reject plan to review North Bay’s short-term rental bylaw

A plan to review North Bay's short-term rental bylaw was defeated by a 5-5 council vote. The motion sought to examine low registration, enforcement and fairness

A plan put forward by North Bay city councillor Sara Inch to review North Bay’s short-term rental bylaw was defeated in a 5-5 tie Tuesday night.

The motion, seconded by Coun. Mark King, called for a review of the current bylaw, including the registration uptake, enforcement capacity and overall bylaw fairness, along with some amendments.

“How can we incentivize people to participate? People are coming to our city and they’re using short-term rentals and using them for graduations, for funerals or visiting family in the hospital,” Inch said.

“It’s not always for parties.”

Inch said she heard that only eight short-term rental properties have registered with the city, despite evidence showing that additional unregistered short-term rentals remain in active use.

She read that short-term rental bylaws are being reviewed in nearby Sturgeon Falls and in Kelowna, B.C. So, she drafted the motion describing the situation as “unfair” for those who are paying fees and complying with the rules for several years, while others have not.

“Unfortunately, Airbnb has passed that buck on to municipalities, from what I’ve read. It is up to us to enforce this,” she added.

The motion also called for a temporary suspension of registration fees “so as not to disadvantage” those residents who are attempting to comply in while broader compliance and enforcement issues are reviewed.

“I understand it as more red tape,” Inch said.

“You have to provide the city with information in terms of you need a dedicated person available. You need a fire safety plan. You need to provide proof of insurance, etc.”

But Coun. Gary Gardiner said the existing bylaw is in place to protect short-term rental operators and renters by ensuring safety requirements are met and that inspections are completed.

Received complaints

“I, too, have received some complaints on the fact that there are Airbnbs out there that aren’t licensed by the city’s short-term rental procedures,” Gardiner said.

“The advice to those people who reached out to me I gave was that the short-term bylaw rental protects them.”

Meanwhile, Coun. Tanya Vrebosch said she sees “both sides to it.”

“Those who were doing the right thing were the ones who were paying,” Vrebosch said.

“Those were the ones that were having to pay for every small detail … Those that were the true perpetrators were getting away with it.”

But King said that in 2025, the city collected only $2,200 in short-term rental fees, despite the amount of time and resources spent to enforce the bylaw.

“I don’t feel that we have it right,” he said.

“So, I think it’s well worth the exercise. It’s certainly about fairness.”

The vote ended up tied 5-5, with Inch, King, Vrebosch, and councillors Mac Bain and Jamie Lowery voting in favour.

Mayor Peter Chirico, Deputy Mayor Maggie Horsfield, Gardiner, councillors Lana Mitchell and Chris Mayne were opposed, meaning it was defeated.

Coun. Justine Mallah was not present.

Despite her motion being defeated, Inch described the discussion on the topic as positive overall.

“Once other councillors and the mayor have a little more information, I think that they will understand that when we make these bylaws, it’s important to enforce them,” she said.

Council is expected to revisit the issue at a later meeting after Vrebosch requested a motion for reconsideration, which was approved.