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Revelstoke vacation rental enforcement: “Don’t be a pain to your neighbourhood”

Revelstoke council opted to take a complaints-based approach to illegal vacation rentals.
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City of Revelstoke staff estimate there are 60–100 illegal vacation rentals advertising on sites like VRBO and AirBnB.com.

Revelstoke council opted to take a complaints-based approach to illegal vacation rentals.

The system will operate like most of the city’s bylaw enforcement policy — if a neighbour complains, the city will come investigate. If you’re good, they’ll leave you alone.

The decision came in response to a staff report that estimates there is anywhere from 60 to 100 vacation rentals operating in Revelstoke. They advertise on sites like VRBO and AirBnCn. Eight applications have come in for legal vacation rentals.

Councillor Connie Brothers said she was concerned a complaints-based policy would discourage people from legalizing their vacation rentals.

Other councillors noted that having staff track down illegal rentals would take a lot of time and cost the city money.

“People need to complain to city hall because we can’t pay our Commissionaires to drive down every road in Revelstoke,” said coun. Linda Nixon.

Mayor Mark McKee supported the complaints-based policy. “The number one key of a vacation rental is don’t be a pain to your neighbourhood,” he said.