A Christchurch City Council committee is supporting moves to change the rules in the Christchurch District Plan relating to Airbnb-type accommodation.
The Urban Development and Transport Committee today agreed to publicly notify a Proposed Plan Change that is aimed at helping the Council to more effectively manage the impacts of visitor short-term accommodation on residential and rural areas.
The Proposed Plan Change introduces a new objective and several new policies that establish what types of visitor accommodation can occur in the different zones of the city and under what circumstances.
Under the Proposed Plan Change, in most residential zones visitor accommodation in a house or unit, when a host is not in residence, would be a ‘Controlled activity’ if it was only being used for up to 60 nights a year. This means a resource consent would still be required, but the Council could not decline the application. It could only put conditions on the consent.
If the unit or house is being used as visitor accommodation for 61 to 180 nights of the year, it would be a ‘Discretionary activity’. This means a resource consent is required and the Council can consider any environmental effects including impacts on neighbours such as noise, traffic movements, access etc.
If the unit is being used as visitor accommodation for more than 180 nights a year, it would be a ‘Non-complying activity’. This means a resource consent is required and Council can only grant the consent if environmental effects will be minor. Any impacts must also not be opposed to the District Plan’s objectives and policies.
In rural zones, visitor accommodation in a residential unit, when a host is not in residence, would be a permitted activity (no resource consent required) for up to 180 nights a year, subject to the operator keeping records and providing them to the Council. More than 180 nights a year would still require a resource consent.
The Proposed Plan Change will be publicly notified on 24 September. People will have until 22 October to make submissions.
