Tay Valley Township Media Release - Blueberry Creek Forest School Update

Tay Valley Township wishes to provide the public with an update regarding a recent legal matter which concerned whether an AirBnB operated at 17638 Highway #7 violated the Township’s Zoning By-Law. 

This matter began in 2025, and a hearing was held before the Court in April 2026. On further review, the Township made the decision not to proceed with the litigation, and the court issued an Order dismissing the file with prejudice.  The court also ordered that the Township pay the owners legal costs in the amount of $25,000.

At the hearing, the property owner took the position that the AirBnB is, in fact, a “hotel” within the Zoning By-Law, because it has more than three bedrooms.  The Township continues to disagree with this interpretation of the By-Law. If the Court were to agree with the property owner’s interpretation of the By-Law, it would mean that the AirBnB is legal, based on the zoning in place on the property at the time the use began.

However, many short term rentals in the Township operate in zones where a hotel would not be permitted. The Township is concerned that if the property owner’s argument was accepted by the Court, this could put into question the legality of hundreds of other rental properties in Tay Valley.

In order to avoid such a situation, Council made the decision to ask the Court to dismiss its case.