City looking at imposing permits for lodging houses built in infill

What are lodging houses and why have they spurred debate at city hall? Jeremy Thompson explains.

Edmonton city council is considering changing the rules for so-called “lodging houses” that rent bedrooms, rather than whole apartments.

Residents in some central neighbourhoods say they’re disruptive and pose a fire risk while one councillor worries that interfering with the bylaw too much could hurt student housing.

“You might not know anyone else, you might not have two friends that you can reach out to and sign a lease together,” said Ward O’day-min Coun. Anne Stevenson. “But you could sign a lease for an individual bedroom.”

By the city’s definition, room rentals mean it’s a “lodging house.”

Residents told councillors Thursday that some irresponsible developers are pushing the limits of Edmonton’s zoning bylaw.

“In a row house, you have four separate buildings essentially, and so it just extrapolates, you can end up with 32 bedrooms, and many of those could be lodging units,” said Jan Hardstaff of the Residential Infill Working Group.

Stephen Raitz of BILD Edmonton Metro, said properties that aren’t intended to be lodging houses are being used as such.

“There’s a worry about these kinds of developments going under the radar, being approved as multi-unit developments, and then becoming lodging houses after the fact and operating illegally,” Raitz told CTV News Edmonton.

City staff have proposed changes to the zoning bylaw that would limit the number of private rentable bedrooms in a building to eight and outlawing lodging houses in multi-plexes or row housing in most residential areas.

“It tells community council is listening,” said Hardstaff. “It sends a clear and credible signal council is taking their concerns about neighbourhood livability seriously. It builds trust.”

Stevenson is not convinced the zoning bylaw is the best tool for the job as it regulates land use, while neighbours seem to have complaints around behaviour.

“My worry is that any new regulations end up decreasing this really important housing form,” said the councillor. “It is meeting a very significant need in the community.

If council approves changes to lodging houses next week, room rentals in multi-plexes will no longer be allowed.

The changes would go to a public hearing before taking effect.