The City of Kitchener is exploring its options for regulating short-term rentals.
Also known as vacation rentals, short-term rentals are properties listed on sites like Airbnb and VRBO for rental period of less than 28 days. According to the municipality, there are currently around 800 active short-term rental listings in Kitchener on those sites.
Those listings are mostly unregulated, but city staff could start requiring those who post short-term rentals to obtain a licence by drafting a new bylaw.
The city is hosting a pair of public information sessions in November to inform the public and let them have their say.
Public info sessions will be held on Nov. 18 and Nov. 27.