Aug 29, 2019 - Galiano Local Trust Committee Takes Legal Action on Unlawful Short Term Vacation Rental

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August 29, 2019            2019-20-IT 
 
GALIANO LOCAL TRUST COMMITTEE TAKES LEGAL ACTION ON UNLAWFUL SHORT TERM VACTION RENTAL 
 
Coast Salish Territory, Galiano Island—The Galiano Island Local Trust Committee has authorized legal action be taken 
against the owners of a property located on Warbler Road. The Local Trust Committee is seeking a court order stopping 
the property from being used as a short-term vacation rental (STVR) and from being used as a commercial resort-type 
accommodation for yoga retreats. 
 
The use of an entire house for a STVR without the premises being used as a residence is prohibited on Galiano Island. 
The use of residential property for fully-catered resort-type accommodation is also prohibited.  The island’s Official 
Community Plan and Land Use Bylaw only permit short-term vacation rentals in lawful cottages and suites, and as a 
home occupation that is accessory to residential use, while the operator is living on the lot. The Official Community 
Plan and Land Use Bylaw were developed through extensive public engagement. The policies and regulations covering 
STVRs are designed to support a vision of tourism that is small-scale, low-impact, and encourages meaningful 
connections with the Galiano Island community. 
 
Since January 2019, Islands Trust Bylaw Compliance and Enforcement staff have notified the owners of the property on 
multiple occasions that this operation is unlawful. Despite repeated requests to the operator to cease operations, the 
STVR continues to be active and advertised online.  
 
“The property in question has been advertising eight bedrooms for short-term vacation rental use,” said Warren 
Dingman, Bylaw Compliance and Enforcement Manager. “It is the largest short-term vacation rental operation on the 
island and there is no full-time resident on the property. In addition, there is evidence that the property is operating 
unlawfully as a resort and a yoga retreat. Bed and breakfast and short-term vacation rental operations are permitted 
on Galiano Island, but with a limit of three bedrooms. An operation advertising and utilizing more than twice that 
number is beyond what was anticipated as a home occupation.”  
 
“Galiano Island residents have growing concerns about the availability of housing for island residents and the impact of 
short-term vacation rentals on the housing stock” said Dan Rogers, Chair of the Galiano Island Local Trust Committee. 
“We’ve been made aware of very serious water issues in the neighbourhood affected, including reports of groundwater 
shortages, with some residents drilling new wells. We are 

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