Tourist Accomodations and Short-Term Rentals

Short-term rentals (tourist accomodations) have become commonplace in Quebec and, in recent years, on our municipal territory. Various digital platforms enable owners to make their residence or accommodation available for rent for a period of up to 31 days. For example, Airbnb.

This commercial lodging activity is governed by the Quebec Ministry of Tourism, in collaboration with Revenu Québec, through the Tourist Accomodation Act and the Tourist Accomodation Regulation. To operate a Tourist accomodation in Quebec, an owner must register with the Corporation de l’industrie touristique du Québec (CITQ).

The registration of a tourist accomodation establishment with the CITQ is conditional on the project’s conformity with, among other things, municipal urban planning regulations. In accordance with provincial legislation, the Municipality of the Township of Potton has included in its urban planning bylaws the municipal zones where the Tourist accomodation use is authorized, and under what conditions, all as highlighted in yellow on the map below (PDF file here).

The municipal zones authorizing Tourist accomodations are as follows: RV-4, RV-11, RT-1, RT-2, RT-3, Rec-1, Rec-2, OH-1, OH-2, OH-3, OH-4, OH-5, OH-6, OH-7, OH-9, OH-10, OH-11, OH-12, OH-13, OH-14, U-1, U-2, U-3, Res-1, Res-2, Res-3 and Res-4. Essentially, these municipal zones cover the village of Mansonville, the Vale Perkins road and the Owl’s Head sector.

It is important to note that establishments located outside of the above mentionned municipal zones may operate in accordance with municipal bylaws on the basis of acquired rights. This applies where a registration certificate from the CITQ was obtained prior to the municipality regulating the Tourist accomodation use in its urban planning bylaws.

Renting a home or apartment for a period of more than 31 days does not constitute short-term rental. This type of rental is regulated by the Tribunal administratif du logement. It should also be noted that, despite the authorization of a use in a given municipal zone, a syndicate of co-ownership may include in its building regulations a provision prohibiting short-term rental activities.