A St. Catharines bylaw aimed at curbing problems with student housing in residential neighbourhoods is now in draft version and ready for public input.

Residents, landlords and tenants are being asked to share their opinions of the proposed bylaw to regulate and licence rental housing.

The bylaw would require property owners with rental dwellings of four units or less to obtain a licence.

In September, city council unanimously passed a motion by Mayor Walter Sendzik directing city staff to prepare the draft bylaw after increasing complaints of large and frequent student parties causing disruption and damage to neighbourhoods.

The move is aimed at targeting student problems in residential neighbourhoods, including cracking down on noise and nuisance parties as well as ensuring safe housing for students.

Rental property owners would have to submit detailed plans for parking, fire safety, waste removal and property management.

The city is modelling the draft bylaw on the City of Oshawa's residential rental licence and student accommodation strategy. That bylaw is being adopted by other cities with student populations because it was tested all the way to the Supreme Court, where the city won against landlords.

The St. Catharines rental licensing would apply to the entire city, if adopted.

A public drop-in open house about the proposed bylaw will be held on Tuesday, April 17, at 6 p.m. at FirstOntario Performing Arts Centre in Robertson Theatre.

There's also an online survey at www.stcatharines.ca/RentalSurvey . The link contains the draft rental housing licensing bylaw for people to view.

City staff will gather feedback from the community and hold public consultations until the middle of May and bring a final bylaw to city council on June 25.