What's New

Update on Short Term Rentals - 2024

Here is an update on STRs for Selwyn and Douro. Essentially neither township is doing licensing but at least Selwyn has progressive fines. Neither has much teeth.

Douro:

According to their last meeting they have tightened up there noise and nuisance by-laws below:

Noise from Human By-Law 6.1. No Person shall cause or emit noise created by yelling, shouting, hooting or similar noises made by a human, that is clearly audible at a Point of Reception; 6.1.1. between the hours of 11:00 p.m. of one day to 7:00 a.m. of the next day

Unreasonable Noise 2.1. No Person shall make, cause or permit the creation of Unreasonable Noise, resulting from an act listed in Schedule "A" of this By-law that is clearly audible at a point of reception anywhere within the Municipality at any time

11. Administration and Enforcement 11.1. This By-law shall be enforced by an Officer or such Person or Persons as Council may appoint under Municipal By-law. 11.2. Nothing herein shall be deemed to limit the ability of the Ontario Provincial Police to enforce this By-law at any time. 

12. Powers of Entry 12.1. An Officer may enter any Premises, other than a dwelling at any reasonable time for the purpose of carrying out an inspection to determine compliance with this By- law or any Order issued under this By-law. 12.2. No Person shall hinder or obstruct, or attempt to hinder or obstruct, an Officer or other duly appointed Person, in the execution of their duties under this By-law. 

13. Offence and Penalty Provision 13.1. Every person who contravenes any provision of this by-law is guilty of an offence and on conviction is liable to a fine as provided for in the Provincial Offences Act R.S.O. 1990, c. P. 33, as amended. 13.2. Set fines for contravention of this By-law are set out in Schedule “C” of this By-law. Fines are $200 and are not progressive

Complaints

If you would like to make a by-law complaint, please complete the By-law Complaint Form and submit it to our By-law Enforcement Officer. All by-law complaints need to be made in writing. 

Please include the following details:

·         Address or location where the by-law infraction took place

·         Your contact information (name, address, phone number)

For more information regarding complaints, please see our Complaint Handling Policy. To learn more about the difference between an official by-law complaint and reporting a concern please email the Clerk's Department.

Noise complaints

To make a noise complaint during business hours please contact the By-law Enforcement Officer. For noise complaints outside of business hours, please contact the Ontario Provincial Police.

Selwyn:

 Short-Term Rental Information - Township of Selwyn (selwyntownship.ca)

What is a Short-Term Rental?

Short Term Rentals include renting a private room in a home, an entire home, a seasonal property like a cottage, or any other space when rented for 30 days or less. Short Term Rentals do not include established accommodations such as bed and breakfasts, hotels, trailer parks, or campgrounds.

By-law Inspection Fees

Short Term Rental property owners are encouraged to be active hosts in ensuring that their guests enjoy an excellent stay in the Township of Selwyn and that their neighbours maintain an excellent quality of life.

Please remember that Short Term Rental operators can be held accountable for the actions of their guests. If a Municipal By-law is broken, By-law fines can be charged to the individuals who violated the regulation, and inspection fees can be charged to the property owner when enforcement personnel attend the site to respond to ongoing matters.

Who do I call to make a complaint about a Short-Term Rental property:

·         Selwyn Township By-Law Enforcement: 705-292-9507 (Monday to Friday; 8:30AM to 4:30PM)

·         Selwyn Fire Department: 705-292-7282 (Monday to Friday; 8:30AM to 4:30PM)

·         O.P.P. (Smith & Ennismore Wards): 1-888-310-1122 (non-emergency 24/7)

·         Peterborough Police Service (Lakefield Ward): 705-876-1122 (non-emergency 24/7)

·         Peterborough Humane Society: 705-745-4722 ext. 202

o After hours emergencies: 705-745-7676 ext. 656

In addition to By-Law Enforcement, Police, and Security Services, the Township has implemented inspection fees. Fees are intended to be charged against a property owner when enforcement personnel attend the site to respond to ongoing matters.

If you are experiencing several By-Law violations, reporting to the appropriate authority is especially important. After the police attend, submit a complaint form to the township online or in person. An enforcement working group has been set up that consists of Public Health, Police Services, Fire Services, and Peterborough Humane Society staff where complaints received from our ratepayers are shared amongst the group, and if By-Law infractions can be confirmed we start the enforcement protocol. The first confirmed violation results in a letter of infraction being issued to the property owner outlining the enforcement protocol. Subsequently, verified infractions are accompanied by an inspection fee starting at $500.00 for the second confirmed violation within a year; and increasing by $500.00 for each confirmed violation thereafter.

 --

2023 Annual General Meeting & BBQ August 12, 2023

To our BPOA Membership.

You are hereby invited to our annual general meeting on Saturday August 12 at Camp Kawartha. The meeting will start at 9:30am. Following the AGM, you are all invited to a BBQ social event at the Camp complete with hot dogs, hamburgers, ice cream and refreshments as well as raffles for door prizes.

Learn about how high phosphorous levels are promoting blue green algae blooms and hurting fishing in Stony and Clear. Also, Deputy Mayor Harold Nelson will speak and answer questions at BPOA Annual Meeting at Camp Kawartha on Saturday at 9:30. 

We look forward to seeing you all on August 12.

On behalf of your Board of Directors.

Murray Miskin, President

------

BPOA Annual General Meeting - BBQ August 13, 2022

To our BPOA Membership.

You are hereby invited to our annual general meeting on Saturday August 13 at Camp Kawartha. The meeting will start at 9:30am and attached to this email you will find an agenda for the meeting. Following the AGM, you are all invited to a BBQ social event at the Camp complete with hot dogs, hamburgers, ice cream and refreshments as well as raffles for door prizes.

This is a municipal election year (October 24, 2022) and you can meet the candidates and learn about voting methods at our AGM. We would like to encourage someone from Birchview Road area to put their name forward for election to Council. I am not sure when the last time we had representation on Council from Birchview Road. The road is scheduled for resurfacing in 2023 and that would be a good time to look at shoulder improvements and solutions to the problematic blind hills and corners along the road. We plan to have an open discussion on this subject at our AGM and we will have an opportunity to share our thoughts with Douro-Dummer Council and candidates for election.

We look forward to seeing you all on August 13 for an "in person" meeting and social gathering.

On behalf of your Board of Directors.

Jim Coyle, President