The Town of Plympton-Wyoming's Short Term Rental (STR) Licensing program failed to turn a profit in its first year and may never.
At a recent meeting, councillors received a staff report on the program, which was implemented on April 29, 2025.
Councillor John van Klaveren questioned the program's merit.
"Obviously, there's not any money to be made and we would be lucky to get out on the fees," van Klaveren said. "It says here that we collected about $11,000 in fees, but the cost for the software is $7,000, and we're not sure what the cost of the staff [time in association with the program] is. So, it's a break even at very best."
Operators were required to be licensed and in compliance by October 1, 2025.
According to the report, there are about 30 licensed STRs in the town, 24 of which were pre-existing while seven are owner occupied. By-law enforcement was planning to lay fines in the coming weeks on approximately eight actively listed STRs that do not have a licence.
"It is interesting, I think when we started discussing it I seem to recall we had 60 short term rentals that they found on various sites online, that there's some shrinkage there, or as usually is the case, some have gone underground potentially," van Klaveren said.
He suggested the program continue to be closely monitored.
"I still really believe that we're leaving a lot of money on the table for these dynamite little enterprises and we're not just shortchanging those risk takers and hard workers and entrepreneurs, we're shortchanging our whole municipality," van Klaveren said.
When asked by council how often the software will need to be renewed, Chief Administrative Officer Adam Sobanski said annually, and the price will increase by inflation each year.
"I would suggest, and the clerk can agree or disagree, given how much time and effort was put in over the last year... I would suggest, if you include staff time, we're certainly in a deficit above and beyond the revenue," Sobanski said. "As things get in line better -- everyone who's going to get one licence gets a licence -- I would suggest that it would probably be a break even, at extreme best."
