Update:

Thank you to those who participated in Phase 1 engagement of the Short-term Rental Study! Click here to read the What We Heard Report.

Watch for a second phase of engagement, led by The City, this summer! We will be asking for feedback on a proposed short-term rental policy framework. City Administration with present recommendations to City Council in December 2024.

The City of Calgary and the University of Calgary are collaborating on a multi-year study of Calgary's short-term rental (STR) market through the Urban Alliance partnership. Our goals are to gain an in-depth understanding of Calgary’s STR market and the challenges and opportunities it presents, and to use this knowledge to recommend an updated regulatory approach for STRs that:

• is flexible, effective and transparent.

• addresses current and emerging challenges.

• aligns with City priorities related to housing, land use, economic development, downtown revitalization, equity, hospitality and tourism.

Public engagement is a key component of this research. Calgarians and interested parties have the opportunity to share experiences and provide feedback during two phases of engagement. Phase 1 (Fall 2023) was focused on understanding public attitudes about the STR market and its various impacts, pressures, and benefits. Phase 2 will take place this summer.

To learn more about the Short-Term Rental Study, including what else the study team has been working on, click here. You can also access research that we’ve already completed in the Document Library on this page.

Calgary first introduced STR regulations in February 2020. Since then, the STR market has evolved and grown, and broader social and economic shifts have created new pressures and priorities for our city. We need to understand these changes and their implications. We also need to be able to adjust to and keep pace with them.

At the same time, our understanding of how to adapt and fine-tune policy approaches has improved: as Canadian cities have gained more experience with the STR market and implemented regulations, we’ve learned what works, what doesn’t, and where policy innovation is still needed.

All of this means that it is an ideal time to undertake a comprehensive study of Calgary’s STR market and the current regulatory framework.

Your knowledge and ideas make our research better. To ensure the Short-Term Rental Study incorporates the insights and concerns of Calgarians and interested parties, we are conducting two phases of engagement.

Phase 1 is now closed. It ran from October 19 to December 31, 2023 and asked questions about:

• How you participate in the short-term rental market;

• How short-term rentals impact you; and

• What you see as current and future concerns.

We also heard from interested parties through interviews and focus groups.

Check back in early August for your opportunity to provide feedback in Phase 2 of the engagement!

The information and insights you provided through Phase 1 will:

• Improve our understanding of Calgary’s unique context for STR reform;

• Help us to identify key policy challenges and opportunities; and

• Inform future phases of research, including the development of recommendations and guidance on policy and regulations.

Click here to read the Phase 1 What We Heard Report or access it under Document Library.

To learn more about how engagement fits alongside other aspects of our research, click here.