July 31 - Victoria Gets Tougher On Airbnbs

Good morning !

A lot of you were very excited for our coverage of little free libraries yesterday, but today we turn to some other common little boxes that are only slightly larger and far from free: rental homes.

Victoria is trying to protect them with increased measures against illegal short-term rentals (STRs). That story is first up today.

— Cam

🌤️ Today's weather: Mostly sunny. Some wind. High 23C (18 near water) / low 12.

🌫️ Air quality: Low risk today (2/10), and the Island is one of the few parts of Western Canada expected to not have smoke.

NEWS

Victoria strengthens short-term rental rules

Council has voted to update the bylaw regulating Airbnb and similar sub-30-day rentals, raising financial penalties while increasing reporting requirements and more clearly defining some terms.

The meeting included a staff report (see p. 691) on the effectiveness of the existing bylaw, which was introduced in 2018. That bylaw charges a $150/year business licence for short-term rentals in primary residences or a $1,500 version for non-primaries.

Proof of primary residence will now be required up front, and the fee for non-primaries is being increased. Unlicensed operating penalties will now cost twice as much ($1,000), as will unlicensed advertising ($500).

The staffing for this issue has increased from one to seven people over the years, but staff continue to struggle trying to track down, confirm, and tackle all the STRs that are operating without the required municipal licence.

Hundreds of unlicenced units operating

Per city staff’s report, the STR tracking website insideairbnb.com listed 1,327 rentals active in the city of Victoria [a number that now sits at 1,427] including 990 short-terms—the city licences just 730. In recent years, non-primary-residences (typically condos) have taken an increased share of those licences. In 2019, there were also around 700, but primaries and non-primaries were each about half; now, 627 are non-primary and just 103 are primary.

In addition to taking units directly off the market, the city says that STR-ing units that were previously long-term rentals also puts upward pressure on rents. Staff cited a recent McGill study concluding that taking one unit off the market for STR can lead to 100 others eventually rising in price by about $50 monthly.

The city is also concerned by the number of STRs run by owners who don’t live in town, never mind primarily in the STR itself, which is now at 42%. These owners often contract a local property management company, so the bylaw changes move to parse out who is considered an “operator” and what role these third parties have.

Capital Bulletin

 💄 Jimbo announces 58 tour dates for 2024, concluding June 12 in Victoria. The local drag clown just won RuPaul’s Drag Race All Stars in the US.

⚾ HarbourCats’ 2nd home loss this year came yesterday as Kelowna’s 11-0 blowout avenged Saturday’s 12-2 ‘Cats win.

NEWS

8 baby- and kid-friendly Greater Victoria restaurants

Finding a restaurant where you can bring your baby can be a tricky endeavour. There are a long list of factors to consider, from stroller accessibility and highchair availability to a calming atmosphere.

To make this process easier, and because being a new parent is already stressful enough, Tasting Victoria compiled a list of a few baby-friendly restaurants across the city. It also notes options for older kids that go beyond just chicken strips.

Read the roundup at Tasting Victoria.

NEWS

Westshore will get new mental health crisis teams

Both police and mental health professionals would be dispatched to certain incidents on the Westshore in a program announced earlier this month and debuting this fall. The team will be similar to Victoria’s PACT, itself based on initiatives in places such as Oregon and Vancouver’s North Shore.

West Shore RCMP says the team will be comprised of one corporal supervising the unit and two constables working with mental health clinicians from Island Health. The mental health clinicians have access to medical records and medical history of patients or people the police encounter, allowing police to make a call on how to work with the person they are attending to.

Read the full story at The Westshore.

Capital Picks

🥕 Esquimalt Farmers Market: Produce, artisans, music, food trucks, and more at Gorge Park every summer Monday. 4:30-7:30pm.

🐶 Dog Friendly Condominiums: Home is where the dog is, find your next home for you and your pet. Browse real estate listings that permit dogs.*

📸 Gorgeous kelp forests captured in photos during local’s East Sooke snorkelling. [Facebook]

💪 A new way to optimize your health. Vitalize and extend your years with Tall Tree’s longevity medicine program. Stop disease before it starts, when it’s easier to prevent.*

🏖️ Cadboro Bay Festival with family fun including face painting, crafts, three-legged races, cornhole, BBQ, and four local music acts. Sunday, 11am-3pm.

🤝 Now hiring: Lighting and Scenic Technician at Butchart Gardens

*Sponsored Listing

In Other News

 🦸 Passing drivers help save twin toddlers from car fire
The vehicle that burned on the Trans-Canada near Burnside on Friday contained two 18-month-olds. As their grandmother struggled to extricate them, two others stopped to help—and got them out before explosions began under the hood. [CHEK]

⚖️ Islander gets 18 months of probation for coughing on grocery worker
At trial, the woman showed little remorse for her aggression in a Campbell River grocery store during the early days of COVID-19, which the cougher insisted was fake. [CTV]

💐 Popular Deep Cove resident dies just short of age 98
Gerry Furstenau spent 70 years in the community, and his longtime support of the local school has culminated in a posthumous land donation intended for a park. [Peninsula News Review]

In Case You Missed It

 📚 700th local little free library unveiled yesterday in Vic West. We looked at the exchange boxes’ huge popularity. [Sunday newsletter]

👱‍♀️ Barbie pop-up restaurant coming to downtown Victoria. [Tasting Victoria]

🐴 Carriage driver thrown from seat, and hospitalized for minor injuries, after horse got spooked riding over a new James Bay bike lane [CHEK]

💜 Duo fights for overdose awareness after losing a son and 50+ counselling clients, respectively. [The Westshore]

🎭 Blue Bridge Theatre presents The Last 5 Years by Jason Robert Brown. A rich tapestry of the different stages in a romantic relationship. Running Aug 1-13 at The Roxy Theatre. Get tickets online or call 250-382-3370.*

🐖 Lochside Trail pig euthanized as owners opt not to do another round of vet tests following public complaint. [Times Colonist]

🛩️ Floatplane crash near Gold River; pilot airlifted to hospital in Nanaimo.[My Comox Valley Now]

🐶 Victoria brewery creates pet menu with dog-friendly chicken stew, meatballs, and beer. [Tasting Victoria]

🎶 Pioneer of Detroit electro and techno, DJ K1 (Optic Nerve, formerly of Aux88) performs at Capital Ballroom on Friday, August 4 as part of Wonderment!*

*Sponsored Listing