The Erieau Community Association (ECA) is sounding the alarm over short-term rentals in the small lakeside community in Chatham-Kent.
ECA Chair Sharon Pfaff told council Monday night more and more homes in the village are going up for sale and are being bought for short-term rentals.
Pfaff told CK News Today the short-term rentals mean permanent residents are leaving, which is a problem for Erieau's future well-being.
She said the partying and noise from the short-term rentals has been going on for years and it's affecting the community.
"There's a lot of concern from residents of Erieau that we have an increasing number of theses short-term rentals and are losing full-time residents. There is also a loss of quality of life because there are no regulations on these short-term rentals and there's a loss of sense of community," Pfaff said.
Pfaff said the community association is working with the municipality to develop a bylaw to regulate the short-term rentals in the village, adding she would like limits on how many people can occupy a short-term rental.
Concerns were relayed to municipal officials a few months ago, but there's not much movement so far, according to Pfaff.
In Lambton Shores, a new bylaw for short-term rental owners took effect on February 1, 2023. The new bylaw includes a $500 annual licence and limits rental spaces to 10 occupants. An “on-call” person must also be available at all times.
Those who operate “owner-occupied” short term rentals, such as bed and breakfasts, will not require a licence in Lambton Shores.
Individuals in Lambton Shores violating the new bylaw could face a fine of $25,000 upon first conviction or $50,000 for any subsequent convictions.