New short-term accommodations act implemented

The Provincial Government has updated regulations surrounding short-term accommodations.

The new Tourist Accommodations Act requires all short-term accommodations to be registered with the Department of Tourism, Culture, Arts and Recreation. Previously short-term accommodations had to be licensed by the department under the Tourist Establishment Act.

With the change, there will be a full registry of short-term accommodations in the province.

All short-term accommodations must comply with applicable municipal and provincial regulations, including the requirement for fire inspections and taxation.

Failure to comply with the new requirements could result in financial penalties, as offences will carry a minimum fine of $250 with a maximum fine of $2,000.

Any accommodations currently licensed by the department will be automatically registered. All others will have to register by March 31, 2024.