Legislation to Improve Registration System for Short-term Rentals

Legislation introduced today, April 11, will help provide a more comprehensive picture of short-term rentals in the province by requiring all operators to register with the Tourist Accommodation Registry.

“Ensuring registration requirements apply to all tourism accommodations will help create a level playing field for operators and give municipalities a more accurate picture of short-term rentals in their communities,” said Pat Dunn, Minister of Communities, Culture, Tourism and Heritage. “Tourism is a vital part of our economy and having a variety of accommodations helps attract travellers, but we need to balance short-term rentals with meeting local housing needs.”

The Tourist Accommodation Registration Act, passed in 2019, requires short-term rentals to register with the Province annually, except if they are operated in or attached to the host’s primary residence. Removing the primary residence exemption will provide clearer data about short-term rentals and help municipalities identify short-term rentals in their communities to improve enforcement of bylaws.

This new reporting requirement also means municipalities do not need to establish their own reporting systems.

Once the amendments have passed, regulations will also be developed to support enforcement of the act and to make compliance with municipal zoning and bylaws a requirement of registration.

Quotes:

“The last two years have been devastating for the tourism industry, and accommodation operators have been hit particularly hard. We’re pleased to see these amendments to the Tourist Accommodation Registration Act, which will help create a level playing field for all accommodation types by ensuring short-term rentals are subject to the same rules as other operators. TIANS strongly commends the government’s action on enhancing the current legislation as we begin rebuilding Nova Scotia’s crucial tourism economy.”

– Darlene Grant Fiander, President, Tourism Industry Association of Nova Scotia

Quick Facts:

• the Tourist Accommodations Registration Act came into effect in April 2020
• roofed accommodations must register to operate in Nova Scotia if they provide accommodations for 28 days or less
• primary residence is defined as the home where someone lives as an owner or tenant; it’s also the address used for bills, identification, taxes and insurance

Additional Resources:

Bills tabled in the legislature this spring are available at: https://nslegislature.ca/legislative-business/bills-statutes/bills/assembly-64-session-1

Tourist Accommodation Registration Act: https://nslegislature.ca/sites/default/files/legc/PDFs/annual%20statutes/2019%20Spring/c009.pdf

Tourist Accommodations Registration Regulations: https://novascotia.ca/just/regulations/regs/touracc.htm