Skip to content

MPC recommends against renting B&B rooms when owners away

“If you’re not at the property, MPC took the position then it shouldn’t be operated as B&B. You can go holiday, just book it in advance and don’t rent the rooms out was more their thoughts around that.”
Banff Town Hall 2
Banff Town Hall

BANFF – Banff’s Municipal Planning Commission believes live-in owners are one of the cornerstones of operating a bed and breakfast home in the tourist town.

MPC has recommended council make amendments to B&B regulations to give clarity about what it means to be a live-in owner, reinforcing the existing land use bylaw that B&Bs be operated exclusively by a live-in owner.

The group recommended council consider the underlying principal that bed and breakfast homes are an accessory use and shall not be operated by a third party, or while the live-in owner is absent.

Town of Banff officials say MPC’s recommendations differ from that of the B&B working group’s pitch, which looked to allow some flexibility for owners when they are on vacation, or during extended emergency situations.

David Michaels, the Town of Banff’s manager of development services, said through previous B&B applications, as well as subsequent appeals, questions have been raised about what constitutes exclusive operation of a B&B, and if live-in requires that the owner resides at the property whenever a guest room is rented. 

“The bed and breakfast working group made recommendations around under what conditions it would be OK for B&B operators to not be there. Fundamentally, the MPC disagreed with that,” said Michaels.

“If you’re not at the property, MPC took the position then it shouldn’t be operated as B&B. You can go holiday, just book it in advance and don’t rent the rooms out was more their thoughts around that.”

The B&B working group, which shared its recommendations with council earlier this year, fully supports the requirement for live-in owners, but does want to see a maximum number of days where owners may be absent and still rent out rooms.

The group recommended to council that the definition of live-in owner include adult members of the immediate family, such as parents or children, of the owner on title that are resident in the home. 

In addition, the working group recommends a specific number of nights that an owner can be absent and the B&B can continue to operate. While the group suggested somewhere between five and 21 days, there was no consensus on the exact number.

Should such a provision be approved, members of the group suggested the owner send an email to the Town of Banff stating that they are absent and who is in charge, and that a live-in owner keep a log of who is in residence when rooms are rented out.

Corrie DiManno, a council representative on MPC, said the lengthy discussions by the commissioners on this issue kept coming back to the fact the B&B homes are an accessory use.

“We know that owners in the community have wanted clarity on the rules and definition of being a live-in owner,” she said.

“MPC understands that there’s some clarity that needs to happen in terms of emergency situations or vacation, so we are recommending that council dig deeper into that.”

Recommendations on B&B regulations from MPC, Banff Heritage Corporation and the B&B working group will be presented to council for consideration at some point in the future.

“Council will direct us on which, if any, of the recommendations they want us to start working on for bylaw amendments,” said Michaels.

push icon
Be the first to read breaking stories. Enable push notifications on your device. Disable anytime.
No thanks