Fort Erie to look at lodging house licensing bylaw

Fort Erie may follow in the footsteps of its neighbours to the west in enacting a licensing bylaw for lodging houses.

Councillor Darren Flagg pulled an item from the consent agenda at the July 21 meeting, and got support from fellow councillors in requesting a staff report on the matter.

He asked town staff to “assess the applicability of such a bylaw in Fort Erie in consultation with bylaw and other relevant departments and prepare a report for recommendation of the development of a lodging bylaw that meets the town’s unique needs.”

The idea stemmed from the July 2 meeting of the affordable housing advisory committee, which recommended council adopt a lodging house bylaw.

Port Colborne approved enacting a new licensing structure for lodging houses earlier this year, which the city’s comprehensive zoning bylaw defines as “a dwelling in which the proprietor supplies, for gain lodging, with or without meals, to more than four persons,” but does not include group homes, hotels, hospitals and other establishments that have their own classifications.

A report to Port Colborne council said these types of housing often provide supportive living that can be used by low-income seniors or people with disabilities.

The approval created a licensing framework for that type of housing, several of which were already known to municipal staff.

The fee structure in Port Colborne ranges from $1,100 to $1,400, depending on square footage.

Flagg’s request asked staff to look at lodging house regulations in comparable municipalities, including Port Colborne.

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