Nova Scotia’s new Tourist Accommodations Registration Act
Brian Tabor, QC and Jennifer Murphy
On April 1, 2020, Nova Scotia’s new Tourist Accommodations Registration Act and its regulations come into force, repealing and replacing the Tourist Accommodations Act. With the exception of those who rent short-term roofed accommodation within their primary residence, short-term roofed accommodations hosts and platform operators are required to register through an online system, and can do so starting April 1, 2020.
In March 2019, the Nova Scotia government announced changes to the tourist accommodations legislation, aimed at growing and supporting the tourism industry in Nova Scotia by making it easier for short-term accommodations operators to do business in the province. Under the former Tourist Accommodations Act, short-term rental providers were required to be licensed, and to follow overly specific rules – as specific as ensuring each rental unit is equipped with a shaded lamp that can be turned on or off from the bed, a receptacle to be used as an ashtray even in a non-smoking rental unit, and a closet or wardrobe for hanging clothes with a minimum of 8 coat hangers, among many other requirements.
Now, under the Tourist Accommodations Registration Act, short-term roofed accommodations hosts and platforms that facilitate the rental of short-term roofed accommodations are simply required to register in the Tourist Accommodations Registry (rather than be licensed), and gone are the overly prescriptive rules.
In addition, the annual registration fees due under the Tourist Accommodations Registration Act are reduced and simplified compared to the licensing fees under the predecessor legislation:
- $50 for hosts with 1-4 bedrooms available for short-term rental;
- $150 for hosts with 5 or more bedrooms available for short-term rental; and
- $500 for platform operators.
Annual registration fees would normally be paid on application; however, in recognition of the COVID-19 pandemic, registration fees for hosts and operators are deferred for the 2020-2021 operating year. Hosts and operators are still encouraged to register as close to April 1, 2020, as possible to ensure compliance with the new legislation.
This update is intended for general information only. If you have questions about the above, please contact a member of our Commercial Transactions/Agreements group.
Click here to subscribe to Stewart McKelvey Thought Leadership articles and updates.
Archive
Included in Discovery: Atlantic Education & the Law – Issue 08 Nancy Rubin, QC and Jennifer Taylor More than ever, many of our meetings, classes, presentations and personal communications are happening virtually. With this…
Read MoreErin Best and Giles Ayers Earlier today the Supreme Court of Canada released a unanimous decision in Corner Brook (City) v. Bailey. The case was successfully argued by Erin Best and Giles Ayers of…
Read MoreJoe Thorne, with the assistance of Stuart Wallace (summer student) In a bankruptcy, there is inevitable conflict between all manner of creditors with competing claims. Our federal and provincial legislatures have identified certain claims as…
Read MoreIncluded in Discovery: Atlantic Education & the Law – Issue 08 Lara Greenough In the recent decision of Longueépée v University of Waterloo, 2020 ONCA 830, the Ontario Court of Appeal found the University of…
Read MoreIncluded in Discovery: Atlantic Education & the Law – Issue 08 Sheila Mecking and Evan MacKnight More than a year has passed since the Coronavirus disease (“COVID-19”) arrived in Atlantic Canada and caused all in-person…
Read MoreAnnie Gray and Dante Manna The federal government has announced that the Pay Equity Act (“Act”) will come into force on August 31, 2021. It has also published the final version of the Pay Equity Regulations (“Regulations”), to come into effect on the…
Read MoreSara Espinal Henao Nova Scotia is thriving. Having reached an all-time population high of 979,115 in 2020 and established itself as a start-up center and a top location for businesses, the province is poised for…
Read MoreWe are pleased to present the sixth installment of Beyond the border, a publication aimed at providing the latest information to clients about new programs and other immigration-related information that may be pertinent to employers…
Read MoreLara Greenough and Sheila Mecking Board members, directors, committee members, employees and anyone acting for a regulatory body or under its governing legislation, all have the obligation to act and make decisions in good faith.…
Read MoreWe are pleased to present the eighth issue of Discovery, our very own legal publication targeted to educational institutions in Atlantic Canada. With COVID-19 vaccines rolling out across the country, a renewed sense of hope is…
Read More