Short Term Rental Accommodations

Beginning January 1, 2025 the new Short-Term Rental Accommodations Licensing By-law No. 2024-086 will come into effect. All new and existing short-term rental operators will require a license to operate their STRA legally.

It is Council’s hope that the Short Term Rental Accommodation Licensing Program will help to maintain community character while also ensuring rental properties are safe for occupants.

The licensing program will also help to ensure properties that are operating as short term rental accommodation are compliant with all by-laws and applicable regulations and to assist municipal law enforcement officers in remediating concerns.

An update will be provided when the Township is accepting applications for Short Term Rental Accommodations.

Please subscribe to the Engage Muskoka Lakes Short Term Rentals page to receive updates.

The Township will be hosting a virtual Public Open House at 10:00 am on Tuesday December 10, registration for the open house can be found on Event Brite.

What is a Short Term Rental Accommodation?

A “Short Term Rental Accommodation (STRA)” means the use of a Premise or any part thereof, that is operating or offering a place of temporary accommodation, lodging or occupancy by way of concession, permit, lease, License, rental agreement or similar arrangement for a period of 28 consecutive calendar days or less, throughout all or any part of a calendar year. Short Term Rental Accommodation uses shall not include a motel, hotel, bed and breakfast establishment, private camp, tent and trailer park or rooming house as defined within the Zoning By-law.

I have a concern about a Short Term Rental Accommodation, who can I contact?

If you have a concern related to a STRA, you can report it to the Township through the Report a Concern form.

Application Process

Prepare to Submit an Application

Ensure all outstanding fees and fines are paid for the property and owner.
Review and complete the Pre-Application Checklist.
Review the Application Resources for assistance.
Prepare the application fee:

For properties in the Waterfront or R4 zones (Community Waterfront Residential), the application fee is $1,000.00 annually.
For all other zones, the application fee is $500.00 annually.
To confirm the zoning of a property is please visit the Muskoka Geohub.

Apply for a License

Once live, operators will apply and pay for the application through our online portal.

The Township is anticipating a large volume of applications during the initial implementation of the program given the number of known short term rental accommodations in the Township. As a result, review times may be delayed while the Township works diligently to circulate applications to all relevant departments and review applications as quickly and efficiently as possible. Existing operators are permitted to continue operating their STRA after they have applied. Any new operator cannot rent or advertise until a license has been obtained.

Obtaining a License

If you have successfully obtained a license, please ensure you:

Add the license number to all advertisements;
Ensure the Renter’s Information Package is in an accessible location for renters;
Ensure compliance with the terms and conditions of the license and all applicable laws;
Remember to renew your license annually.

Application Resources

Pre-Application Checklist

Floor Plan Example

Licensee Acknowledgement Form

Muskoka Lakes Fire Department

Site Map Example

Responsible Person Declaration Form

Renter's Code of Conduct (Owner)

Owner Authorization Form

Boater Safety Information

Common Offences and Penalties

Renter's Code of Conduct (Renter)

Renter Information Package Example

Other Applicable By-Laws

STRA Licensing

Administrative Monetary Penalty System

Appeals and Hearings

If a STRA owner’s license application has been refused, or their license has been suspended or revoked, they will no longer be able to operate the STRA. The owner will be notified with an explanation. If the owner does not agree with the decision, the owner has twenty days from the date of the notice to appeal the decision and request a Hearing with the Appeal Committee:

Complete the Appeal Request Form and pay the Appeal Fee of $320.00 to the Township.
The Township will schedule a Hearing with the Appeal Committee and will notify the owner of the date and time. If the owner would like to submit any documents for the committee to review, they must be sent to the Township in advance.
At the Hearing, the Appeal Committee will review all information and can make any of the following decisions: affirm, modify, or rescind the refusal, suspension, or revocation. The committee’s decision is final and binding. If the owner does not appear at the Hearing, they will be subject to a non-appearance fee of $200.00.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is a premise?

A Premise is the property in which a short term rental accommodation is operating on and includes all legal buildings, structures, and features on the property.

When is an STRA license not required?

If you rent your property for over 28 consecutive days or are a hotel, motel, bed & breakfast, private camp, tent and trailer park, or rooming house, you are not required to obtain a STRA license.

STRAs are not permitted to be operated out of non-habitable spaces, motor vehicles trailers, vessels (whether docked or not), and community housing.

Does the Township have a limit on the number of licenses that can be issued per Premise?

Yes, only one license is permitted per Premise.

Are there any limits on how often I can rent out my STRA?

Yes, these provisions only apply to Waterfront and R4 (Community Waterfront Residential) zoned properties that operate a short term rental accommodation and are only subject to dates between the Friday before Victoria Day weekend to the Tuesday after Labour Day weekend of each year:

All Waterfront and R4 (Community Waterfront Residential) STRA owners must take a one week break from renting (seven consecutive nights) during the summer months.

All Waterfront and R4 (Community Waterfront Residential) STRA owners are limited to accommodating only one rental group every six consecutive nights. There is no minimum or maximum number of nights per stay.

What is the application deadline?

From the time the Application Portal opens, owners will have a period of six months to submit their applications online if you are an existing rental. For new operators, applications can be sent in at anytime, however, will not be able to operate until a license has been obtained.

How long will it take for my application to be approved?

Given that there will be an influx of applications, we are unable to give an exact timeline for review at this time. The Township will be working diligently to circulate applications to all relevant departments and review applications as quickly and efficiently as possible. Owners are permitted to continue operating their STRA after they have applied, unless the Township has identified a concern.

If my property is not in compliance with the Ontario Building Code, Ontario Fire Code, and/or Township Zoning By-law, will my application be refused?

Any Premise being used for the operation of a STRA must be in compliance with the Ontario Building Code, Ontario Fire Code, as well as the Township’s Zoning By-law. The Township could deny an application for a STRA license until the Premise is brought into compliance with all of the above.

Will my property be inspected during the application process? Am I required to let the Township onto my property? Am I required to let the Township inside of my dwelling?

There is no mandatory inspection requirement within the by-law however, during the Township’s review of an application, if a concern is identified and an inspection is required, the Township will notify the owner. The owner will be required to pay an Inspection Fee depending on which division (Building, By-law or Fire Dept.) will be conducting the inspection.

There may be circumstances where staff will be required to enter the dwelling of a STRA property to confirm compliance with the requirements of the By-law and/or other legislation. If entry is refused and staff cannot confirm compliance it may result in the application being refused.

What happens if my application is refused, revoked or suspended?

If an application is refused, the owner will be notified and provided with an explanation. Owners will have the opportunity to bring the property into compliance with any regulations while their application is placed on hold. No rentals will be permitted until the license is issued.

If a STRA owner’s license is suspended or revoked, they will no longer be able to operate the STRA. The owner will be notified with an explanation and will be required to return the license.

Owners found advertising or operating a STRA without a required license could face a monetary penalty of $5,000 per day that the STRA is operated/advertised for.

What happens if a STRA owner or renter contravenes a by-law? Are STRA owners liable to any penalties if their renter(s) contravenes a by-law?

Yes, the Township can hold both the owner and renter responsible for any by-law contravention. Municipal Law Enforcement Officers have a variety of tools they can use to address by-law contraventions.

The Administrative Monetary Penalty System (AMPS) By-law provides officers with the ability to issue monetary penalties against property owners and renters if a by-law is contravened. To find out more information about AMPS, please refer to the Administrative Monetary Penalty System (AMPS) By-law.

What is a Demerit Point System?

The Short Term Rental Licensing By-law provides officers with the ability to apply demerit points against an owner if a by-law is contravened. Offences carry various demerit points which expire after three years from the issuance of the demerit points. Once a property accumulates fifteen points within a three-year period, the license will be suspended, and the owner can no longer operate the STRA for a period determined by the Township. To find out more information about the demerit point system please refer to the Short Term Rental Licensing By-law, and review Schedule “B”.