Heather Wright/The Independent

No one seems completely happy, but Plympton-Wyoming finally has regulations for short-term rentals such as AirbNbs.

Residents of the municipality along the shores of Lake Huron have complained for some time about the parties and cars generated by some of the more than 50 lakeside rentals. In Sept. 2023, council decided to regulate the industry. But it has been a long and winding road to get to what Chief Administrative Officer Adam Sobanski calls a “stripped down” licensing bylaw and zoning amendments which were passed April 30.

Sobanski says the bylaw provides “minimal” regulation so the municipality knows where the short term rentals are operating. 

“The bylaw, as requested by council, will allow the existence of short term rentals that are owner occupied,” Sobanski said. They’ll be subject to a $200 yearly fee.

Any existing rental where the owners aren’t on site at all times will continue to operate until the property is sold. Those units will pay a $400 fee.

“Our lawyers felt at the time that we do not have the ability to limit the numbers,” he added. It was an item many councillors requested.

Almost every councillor expressed disappointment with the new regime. Some thought it wasn’t necessary. 

“I’m not really a fan of a license, because I’m just not convinced it’s going to be very enforceable, I’m not convinced that we can do it with in the expenses of what we think it’s going to cost,” said Councillor John Van Klaveren.

“I think it’s kind of a shame that we’ve got a very viable industry that were stifling or attempting to stifle or certainly not letting flourish.”

Councillor Bob Woolvett doesn’t think the new rules accomplish what most residents wanted.

“What I’ve been told is people wanted the short term rentals out of out of residential neighborhoods… We have not accomplished that whatsoever.”

Councillor Alex Boughen said for some people, the bylaw won’t go far enough. “At least it stops that fear of future investors turning homes into purely investments in short-term rentals for those that are concerned about that,” he said.

He added the new rules aren’t likely to push the industry “underground” because owners will have to advertise.

Both Boughen and Councillor Mike Vasey said they simply have to be satisfied with the short-term rental rules as they stand for now.

“This is the best we can do,” said Vasey. “It’s a step forward from what we had.”