Whereas short-term rentals STRs are taking away from long-term rental housing stock and in turn contributing to the housing crisis in Burnaby; And whereas the Province intends to increase the maximum fine a local government may issue to any bylaw non-compliant operator from 1,000 to 3,000 per day utilizing the Municipal Ticket Information MTI system; And whereas under the Local Government Bylaw Notice Enforcement Act LGBNEA, the current mechanism to enforce bylaws in Burnaby, a maximum fine of 500 per day is permitted, with no increase proposed by the Province: Therefore be it resolved that UBCM call upon the Province of British Columbia to permit the Local Government Bylaw Notice Enforcement Act maximum bylaw violation penalty per day to be increased to 3,000; And be it further resolved that local governments have the ability to add unpaid bylaw violation penalties to property taxes, to better allow local governments to regulate short-term rentals.
Ministry of Attorney General The ministry is committed to supporting local governments to ensure the availability of affordable housing in their communities by providing tools to enforce against short-term rental bylaw infractions. Local governments have called for an increase in the maximum fine allowed under the Local Government Bylaw Notice Enforcement Act LGBNEA to act as a stronger deterrent to unlawful short-term rentals, and steps are currently being taken to address this request. In 2024, ministry staff conducted research and engagement with local governments and other interested parties to obtain input about the LGBNEA, including the maximum fine amount for bylaw offence notices. This work continues into 2025 with further consultation and review to assess the impacts of increasing the maximum fine amount and to determine an appropriate maximum fine. Local governments requests with respect to collection mechanisms such as recovering fines through property taxes will be duly considered.