The Village of Pemberton is pressing pause on a proposed bylaw to restrict short-term vacation rental (STVR) business licences to two years of operation following opposition from the public.
The proposed bylaw prompted eight letters to council—seven of them opposed to the change—as well as feedback from in-person and Zoom attendees who also spoke out against the plan.
“I have been operating my business in full compliance with local bylaws, Good Neighbour Agreements, and provincial short-term rental regulations,” wrote resident Britt Walker, who also joined the meeting via Zoom. “I am deeply concerned about the recent proposal to limit STVR licences to a maximum of two years.”
The Village currently allows a maximum of five STVRs per neighbourhood. The proposed bylaw would require STVRs to return to a waitlist—already in place for neighbourhoods that exceed the five-STVR cap—after two years, rather than allowing businesses to renew their licences consecutively, as they can now.
The bylaw had two key objectives: to increase turnover on STVR waitlists—giving more residents a chance to operate these businesses—and to increase the availability of long-term rentals, as part of efforts to ease the Village’s housing crisis.
“I think council totally sees the value of having some [STVRs]. That’s why we’ve left space in our bylaw to have some,” said Mayor Mike Richman. “But we’re trying to balance that with the fact that we have a real shortage of long-term rentals—[we need housing] for employees at the RCMP and daycare and other [places]. So, we’re trying to find a balance with this bylaw between those two opposing forces.”
Negative impact on local business
Other residents echoed Walker’s concerns. Getting established in the STVR market requires sitting on Pemberton’s waitlist—which, as of the May 27 meeting, included 30 applicants—paying fees, passing inspections and adapting to new village and provincial regulations. For Walker, the proposed two-year limit was the final straw.
“A two-year limit on [licences] significantly undermines our ability to operate with any degree of certainty,” she wrote. “Many of us host guests [who] book six to 12 months in advance, and without a guarantee of renewal, we risk losing our ‘Superhost’ or equivalent status, future bookings, and our long-term reputation—all of which we’ve worked extremely hard to build.”
“In short, this policy could dismantle our businesses and jeopardize the income we rely on to support our families.”
Some residents urged the Village to expand the number of licences allowed per neighbourhood. Councillor Ted Craddock noted neighbourhood caps are also intended to encourage resident continuity, reducing turnover and ensuring familiarity in residential areas.
Part of the rationale for the two-year cap, reiterated Richman, was to ensure fairness for residents who had been waiting for a chance to operate an Airbnb. But resident Tanys Hopkins pushed back on that framing.
“This notion seems wild to me,” wrote Hopkins. “To be told that after spending years of hard work and energy and money building a business and reputation … ‘it’s no longer your turn.’ This is not a [playground] swing—it is people’s livelihoods.”
Residents also emphasized the role STVRs play in supporting Pemberton’s tourism economy and local businesses. Airbnbs can offer more affordable options for visitors, they argued, helping drive spending in the region.
“Short-term vacation rentals have long contributed positively to the local economy by supporting tourism, providing flexible accommodations for visitors, and creating income opportunities for residents,” wrote Claire Hayes. “In a town with limited short-term accommodation that thrives on tourism and outdoor recreation, maintaining a balanced and well-regulated STVR system is crucial.”
Third reading
Mayor and council thanked residents for sharing their perspectives and opted not to proceed with the bylaw in its current form.
“The original intent on going down this path was, as a council, to reach for that low-hanging fruit in terms of housing,” said Coun. Katrina Nightingale. “This was never an attempt to be punitive to people who were running excellent businesses in town.”
Nightingale also acknowledged the importance of Airbnbs in promoting tourism and local commerce, and suggested business owners connect with the Pemberton & District Chamber of Commerce to share their experiences.
Council voted to give first and second readings to the bylaw, but asked staff to prepare options for amendments before the third reading.
Mayor and council requested the amendments explore removing the two-year cap, better management of unused licences, possible changes to the neighbourhood cap, ensuring fair access to STVR opportunities, and improving business certainty.
