Hornby trustees advance short-term rental bylaw to public hearing
The Local Trust Committee raised the proposed permit cap to 87 and requested a community information meeting and public hearing.
The Denman Firestarter · Governance · 2026-09-17 · Hornby Island
The Hornby Island Local Trust Committee raised the proposed cap on short-term-rental Temporary Use Permits from 65 to 87, removed a proposed section concerning the principal-residency requirement and approved the amended bylaw for second reading. [1] The committee also requested staff schedule a community information meeting and public hearing for the proposed official community plan and land-use bylaw changes. [1]
The minutes record that staff had incorporated amendments directed at the March 3 meeting, including a cap of 65 Temporary Use Permits, a principal-residency requirement and draft guideline language. [1] Staff said that if additional information were requested, the bylaw was unlikely to be approved before the end of the term. [1]
During discussion, a trustee said the rationale for a cap of 65 was based on most municipalities not allowing more than 10% of homes to operate a short-term rental, and that there were 635 homes on Hornby. [1] Staff clarified that the Local Trust Committee did not have authority through land-use regulations to give priority to residents. [1]
Public comments included requests to remove the permanent-residency requirement, set a cap based on the current number of legal operators and leave the decision for the next council. [1] The recording also includes comments from speakers who opposed the proposed requirement and cap, including a request to reconsider the permanent-residence requirement and a statement that the cap of 65 was a random number. [2]
The committee received a staff report saying it would be provided with information on how the Temporary Use Permit process would be administered. [1] The next regular meeting is scheduled for May 1, 2026, at 11:30 a.m. at Hornby Island Community Hall. [1]
Sources
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Hornby Island Local Trust Committee minutes, March 20, 2026
that the Hornby Island Local Trust Committee Bylaw No. 177, cited as “Hornby Island Land Use Bylaw No. 150, 2014, Amendment No. 1, 2024” be amended by changing the number in section 1.11 (b) from 65 to 87.
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Transcript of the meeting recording (260320C)
I would like you to reconsider the permanent residence requirement.
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