City of Vernon Updates Bylaw to Expand Land Use for Short-Term Rentals
On June 24, 2024, City Council for the City of Vernon adopted the new Zoning Bylaw 6000 which sought to address a number of items including aligning land uses and definitions with BC’s new Short-Term Rental Accommodation Act which came into effect within the City earlier in the year, as well as expanding land use for short-term rentals to residential properties which were not allowed to offer such accommodation previously. This update is a sharp contrast to the City of Kelowna’s recent zoning bylaw update where short-term rental was removed as a property use in all residential zones.
Which City of Vernon Zones Allow for Short-Term Rental Use?
Short-Term Rental is now an allowed Accessory Use in all of Vernon’s residential and commercial land use zones including:
AGRL: Agriculture & Rural: Large Block (Non-ALR)
AGRS: Agriculture & Rural: Small Block (Non-ALR)
MUS: Multi-Unit: Small Scale
MUA: Multi-Unit Acreage: Small Scale
MHS: Mobile Home Site
MUM: Multi-unit: Medium Scale
MSH: Medium Scale Housing
RTH: Resort Tourist Housing
RCC: Resort Commercial Centre
CMUN: Commercial Mixed Use: Neighbourhood
CMUB: Commercial Mixed Use: Business
CMUC: Commercial Mixed Use: Centre
There are only two zones which allow some form of Short-Term Rental as a Primary Use: Resort Tourist Housing and Resort Commercial Centre.
To find out what zoning applies to a particular property, use the official City of Vernon Zoning Map.
What New Land Uses Were Defined With Respect to Short-Term Vacation Rentals?
Resort Accommodation is a new land use which is defined in Vernon’s new zoning bylaw as: accommodations provided to members of the public at a property, in exchange for remuneration, in a resort area. Typical examples include: strata-titled hotels and motels in resort areas.
Note that this is a land use only within the Resort Tourist Housing and Resort Commercial Centre zones.
Short-term Rental Accommodation is a new land use which is defined in Vernon’s new zoning bylaw as: the commercial provision of overnight accommodation in a Dwelling Unit, to members of the public for a period of less than 90 consecutive days or such other period of time as may be prescribed under the Short-Term Rental Accommodations Act. Typical examples include: bed and breakfasts, Short-Term Rentals (STRs), or tourist accommodation. Uses permitted by this bylaw in housing or resort areas.
Want to learn more? Read the City of Vernon’s new Zoning Bylaw 6000 by following this link.
What Does This Mean For The Outback Lakeside Resort?
The Outback Lakeside Resort property has been zoned Resort Tourist Housing which allows Resort Accommodation as a Primary Use. Additionally, The Outback Lakeside Resort meets the Province’s requirements to operate as a strata hotel; therefore, owner’s may continue to rent their lakefront vacation homes and condo residences out through the on-site resort management company at any point throughout the year and can use the property personally for as little or as much time as they want.
What does this mean for The Strand Lakeside?
The Strand Lakeside property has been zoned Resort Commercial Centre which allows Short-term Rental Accommodation as a Primary Use. At the time of publishing, The Strand Lakeside it NOT operating as a strata hotel; therefore, only owner’s who can comply with the Provincial government’s Short-Term Rental Accommodation Act can legally operate a short-term rental in The Strand Lakeside from their primary residence; subject to strata bylaws.