Hearing on Toronto’s short-term rentals rules set to wrap Tuesday

TORONTO — A hearing on the future of Toronto’s rules covering short-term rentals like Airbnb is set to wrap up Tuesday.

The hearing at the Local Planning Appeal Tribunal has squared city lawyers against several property owners who appealed the city’s recently amended short-term rental bylaw.

The city approved short-term regulations around the start of 2018 but they were appealed and suspended before they could be in place.

The rules include restricting short-term rentals to an owner’s principal residence and requiring short-term renters to register with the city and pay a four-per-cent municipal accommodation tax.

The city has argued the rules are necessary in part to protect rental stock amid a housing crisis, while homeowners who appealed the regulations say the rules are too restrictive.

The tribunal is required to make a decision within 10 months of a notice of commencement, unless it decides more time is necessary. The decision could be appealed.

The Canadian Press