The city wants to give Calgary residents a say in what the regulations for short-term rentals through Airbnb and VRBO should look like.

An online survey will be available from August 26 to September 30, allowing residents to provide feedback and help shape the rules for short-term rentals, which are the rental of apartments or parts of apartments for up to 30 consecutive days, often through online services.

“Feedback from Calgary residents improves our understanding of the challenges and opportunities in the Calgary short-term rental market,” said Antonio Faiola, manager of business experience, in a statement. “We will consider feedback from Calgary residents and present recommendations to council in December.”

The aim of the study is to examine market statistics, public perception, operational challenges and the impact of short-term rentals on the housing market, the city said.

This is being done as part of a multi-year study with the University of Calgary as part of the Urban Alliance partnership.

Phase 1 of the project, which started last October, included an online survey, focus groups and individual interviews with interested parties, operators and hosts.

“It is important that we engage Calgary residents as we evolve our regulations to align with the city’s priorities around housing, economic development, downtown revitalization, hospitality and tourism,” Faiola said.

Calgary’s short-term rental market has been growing steadily since 2017. As of September 2023, there were approximately 5,000 short-term rentals in Calgary, according to the city, representing less than one percent of the city’s 540,000 rental properties.

Most short-term rental listings are concentrated in downtown and development areas, the city explains, and listings skyrocket in July during the Stampede.

Although short-term rentals are often associated with tourism, information collected in the first round of the survey suggests that these properties are also often used by people travelling to Calgary for medical reasons, Calgary residents moving between two homes, newcomers to Calgary, and transient workers.

To participate in the survey, visit the city’s website.