Still time for residents to share their views

District of Invermere council recently approved first and second readings to Business Licencing Bylaw No. 1647, 2023.

If adopted, the bylaw will replace the district’s current business licensing bylaw and include provisions to help regulate the operation of Short-Term Rental Accommodation Units (STRs) in Invermere.

Council also directed staff to prepare to regulate STR operations in Invermere’s single-family residential and low-density residential areas with Temporary Use Permits (TUPs) combined with business licences.

Otherwise STR operations are not permitted in Invermere’s single-family residential and low-density residential areas.

At council’s direction amendments to the district’s Official Community Plan (OCP) and Zoning Bylaw will be prepared to support the following restrictions to help regulate the operation of STRs in Invermere:

• Not more than eight guests will be allowed to stay in an STR at any time.
• Not more than four bedrooms, and not more than two persons per bedroom, will be allowed in an STR.
• Not more than one business licence or TUP will be issued per STR owner.
• Noise monitoring system will be a licencing requirement for each STR unit.
• One dedicated off-street parking stall must be provided on-site for one to four guests in a STR, and two dedicated off-street parking stalls must be provided for five to eight guests in the STR.
• Off-site parking (i.e., parking of guests’ vehicles on the street) will not be permitted.

No outdoor pool/s will be allowed in any STR operation unless permitted by TUP.

Council intends to establish a set of escalating fines to help regulate STR operations that will address bylaw and TUP violations through pending amendments to Invermere’s Municipal Ticketing Information Bylaw No. 1130.

The District of Invermere is currently developing a set of application guidelines for Short-Term Rental Temporary Use Permit (STR TUP) applications to help streamline application processing using delegated and non-delegated approval criteria.

If Bylaw No. 1647 is adopted by council, then the provisions to regulate STRs would come into effect on May 1.

The District of Invermere will accept written comments on Business Licencing Bylaw No. 1647, 2023, and the proposed regulation of STRs in Invermere’s single family residential and low-density residential areas through Temporary Use Permits (and business licences) from now until noon Friday, January 19.

Those written comments will be distributed to Invermere council members for their consideration at the regular council on Tuesday, January 23 at 7 p.m. in the District of Invermere Council Chambers at 914 – 8th Avenue.

Members of the public in attendance at the regular council meeting on January 23, 2024, will be allowed to make presentations to council or present written submissions respecting Business Licencing Bylaw No. 1647, 2023, as well as the proposed regulation of STRs in Invermere’s single family residential and low-density residential areas through Temporary Use Permits.

Council may consider giving further readings to the bylaw at the January 23 meeting or at a subsequent meeting.

Learn more.

e-KNOW file photo

District of Invermere

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