Business Licence Hearing
September 9, 2026 · 10:20 am
Summary
- The panel considered whether to grant a 2026 short-term rental business licence to Vanessa Louie for 768 East 11th Avenue, a single-family home without an authorized secondary suite.
- Chief Licence Inspector Sarah Hicks outlined the basis for non-support: provincial portal data from May 2024 onward showed repeated months where total booked nights exceeded the days in the month, confirming simultaneous rentals of the upper and lower units; several months logged over 45 booked nights, and August 2025 showed more than 50 bookings in a 31-day month.
- Staff also flagged concerns about principal residency: limited personal effects observed during inspections, a long-term rental licence issued this summer for the same address, a long-term rental licence on a separate East 10th Avenue property co-owned by business partner Christine Fung, and a dog licence in both parties' names at a third West 61st Avenue address.
- The applicant acknowledged the concurrent-booking violation, said she misunderstood the bylaw based on her experience as a traveller using other Airbnbs, and proposed syncing her two listing calendars going forward to prevent overlapping reservations.
- The applicant maintained that 768 East 11th is her principal residence and submitted supporting documents including a neighbour's statutory declaration, ICBC address history, notices of assessment, home insurance, and utility records.
- Panel members noted the non-compliance was clearly established and that the applicant's own description of the property as a commercial venture with a business partner weighed against the principal-residency finding; all three members supported refusing the licence while confirming the applicant may reapply for a 2027 licence.
Motions
Refuse Business Licence AL0253922
768 East 11th Avenue Carried Details
- Refuses the 2026 business licence application (AL0253922) for short-term rental accommodation at 768 East 11th Avenue, upholding the Chief Licence Inspector's recommendation of non-support.
- Grounds: booking data showed sustained concurrent rentals of the upper and lower units across multiple months, directly violating a condition communicated to the licence holders as early as June 2022; the pattern of noncompliance dating at least to May 2024 undermined confidence that the property functions as the applicant's principal residence.
- Additional factors cited: the property was listed for short-term rental almost immediately after purchase in April 2022; the licence holders hold or are associated with rental licences and a dog licence at multiple other addresses; upper unit was booked more than 50 percent of the time.
- Panel noted the refusal applies only to the 2026 licence year and does not prevent a 2027 application if the applicant demonstrates compliance, including syncing booking calendars to prevent concurrent rentals and resolving concerns about the unused stove stored in the garage.