This is the best summary I could come up with:

Halifax’s new rules for short-term rentals are now in full force, restricting how they can operate in residential neighbourhoods in the hopes of freeing up housing stock.

To owners concerned about losing money over the regulations, Smith said rules to limit Airbnbs and other vacation rentals have been steadily introduced in cities around the world.

Although AirDNA can give a general area where rentals are, it can’t pinpoint civic numbers so Cleary said it’s unclear exactly how many listings are now illegal.

But realtor Tanya Colbo of Royal LePage said this movement could at least lead to people being able to rent in vibrant areas that have seen a high number of Airbnbs, like her own North End neighbourhood.

They handle more than a 100 short-term rentals in the city, and Birch said there’s plenty of demand from people wanting units for a month or more when they’re moving to Halifax, or working on a contract.

Whether the city can adequately enforce the new rules is another question, but a municipal spokesperson said Halifax is working on filling vacancies for bylaw officers in the compliance division.

The original article contains 983 words, the summary contains 176 words. Saved 82%. I’m a bot and I’m open source!

Seems to me like this is a good change, and not just from the angle of having more rental units available; short term rentals are a nuisance and displace tenants who would become part of the community.

Allowing them in zoning areas that currently allow hotels seems reasonable, too. Commercial zoning isn’t “meant” for building communities.

It would be lovely to see these laws more broadly. Ideally also paired with (significant) additional taxes on all residential units that aren’t primary residences: rental income properties, vacation homes, and vacant units. I’d like to see something like doubling property taxes, and giving a 50% discount for primary residences.