Today the Government of Newfoundland and Labrador proclaimed the new Tourist Accommodations Act and regulations, which aim to strengthen operating rules for short-term accommodations in Newfoundland and Labrador.
In the past, short-term accommodations had to be licensed by the Department of Tourism, Culture, Arts and Recreation under the Tourist Establishment Act. However, the new Tourist Accommodations Act requires all short-term accommodations to be registered with the department. This process will provide the department with a full registry of short-term accommodations in the province, all of which will be required to comply with applicable municipal and provincial regulations, including the requirement for fire inspections and taxation.
The Department of Tourism, Culture, Arts and Recreation will work with other Provincial Government departments and municipalities to support the enforcement of the Act and regulations. Failure to comply with the new requirements could result in financial penalties, as offences will carry a minimum fine of $250 with a maximum fine of $2,000.
To ease the transition process, any accommodations currently licensed by the department will be automatically registered. All others will have to register by March 31, 2024.
The Tourist Accommodations Act received Royal Assent in the House of Assembly in November 2020, replacing the former Tourism Establishments Act. Prior to its introduction in the House of Assembly, an online questionnaire was administered that engaged tourism and hospitality stakeholders on short-term accommodations in the province. Since then, the department has been regularly engaged with key stakeholders, such as Hospitality NL and Municipalities NL.
Further details on the Tourist Accommodations Act, including the regulations can be found online.
Quotes
“For quite some time now, our tourism and hospitality stakeholders have been calling for a more level playing field between licensed and unlicensed accommodations. While the new Act and regulations alone will not address all issues, it is an important step forward. The Department of Tourism, Culture, Arts and Recreation will now be aware of all operators offering overnight accommodations, and will have the ability to provide regulation, improving our visitor experience. We will continue to work with stakeholders as we move forward in our implementation and evaluation.”
Honourable Steve Crocker
Minister of Tourism, Culture, Arts and Recreation
“This has been a long-standing advocacy issue for Hospitality NL and its members. The Newfoundland and Labrador tourism industry welcomes these new regulations and feels it’s certainly a positive step in leveling the playing field for all short-term rental accommodators.”
Deborah Bourden
Chair, Hospitality NL
“Destination St. John’s is pleased to see the proclamation of the new Tourism Accommodations Act today, which will support our marketing of the St. John’s region. Of greatest importance is the registration of unlicensed accommodations in the short-term rental market. This registration will require all accommodators to comply with regulatory requirements around health and safety, taxation, permits and licenses, thereby elevating the quality of the overall visitor experience in our destination.”
Heather McKinnon
Chair, Destination St. John’s
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Learn more
New Tourist Accommodations Bill Introduced
Minister Davis Announces Framework to Address Short Term Accommodations
Engaging Stakeholders on Modernizing the Tourist Establishments Act
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