* An earlier version of this story included an incorrect comment from Kingston Police deputy chief Chris Scott regarding short-term rental units. The story has been corrected.

KINGSTON — City council put off a vote on new rules for short-term rental units.

Council voted 10-2 to defer consideration of the new rules and send the policy back to the administrative policies committee for more consideration.

The regulations are to return to council in early March.

The new regulations were opposed by local short-term rental owners, who said there had been little input from them.

“Deferral was a good idea. I was happy to hear it,” Airbnb host Ron Hartling said. “The bylaw proposal that they were supposed to consider (Tuesday night) was not ready for prime time.”

The regulations, outlined in a 230-page report from newly appointed permanent chief administrative officer Lanie Hurdle, would have required rental operators to pay $180 a year to get a licence from the city, restricted rental units to primary residences, limited the number of people who can stay at them to four, required rental owners to pay a four per cent municipal accommodation tax, limited rental stays to 30 days, and capped the number of days a unit can be rented to 180 a year.

Councillors expressed concern about all of these key features, and a couple more.

The city was proposing to hire an American company, Host Compliance, to oversee the regulatory system, something that some councillors expressed concern about.

City planner Paige Agnew said there were no Canadian companies providing similar services and that Host Compliance was being used by 23 municipalities in this country to help regulate their short-term rental sectors.

“I think we really need to hit pause on this and take a serious look at it,” Williamsville District Coun. Jim Neill said.

While the regulations are to return to committee for more consideration, some were concerned about the ability of the committee to complete its work in time to report back to council in early March.

Committee chair Peter Stroud said the short turnaround time would be contrary to the idea of having the committee take another look at it.

“What’s the rush? Let’s get it right. The community deserves that,” Countryside District Coun. Gary Oosterhof added.