Update on Short Term Rental Licences
NEW: Effective October 28, 2025, the Town is accepting new and renewal applications for all licence types.
Town staff are available to assist applicants with the renewal process and to answer any questions. For assistance, please call 905-468-3266 or email str@notl.com
Reminder for Existing Licences
Licences expiring December 31, 2025, must have their renewal application, $600 fee and all required documents submitted prior to the expiry date. Licences not renewed by December 31, 2025, will be considered invalid, and a new application and applicable fee will be required.
Short Term Rental Licensing
In the Town of Niagara-on-the-Lake, a licence is required to operate a short term rental. Please be aware that websites like Airbnb and VRBO are merely platforms for advertising. To legally operate a short-term rental in Niagara-on-the-Lake, you must possess a valid short term rental licence. No licence issued in accordance with this By-law may be transferred to another person.
Types of short term rental establishments:
- Bed and Breakfast
- Cottage Rental
- Country Inn
- Vacation Apartment
- Villa
Short Term Rental Application Process
2026 Short Term Rental Application
Keep in Mind
- A complete application, along with the additional documents, must be submitted.
- The entire process from submitting a complete application with payment to receiving a valid licence may take up to ten weeks.
- Any new licence applications submitted between November 1 and December 31 will be issued the following year.
New Applications – Before You Apply
Please ensure that your site plan resembles the sample provided and includes all zoning requirements.
Short Term Rental - Sample Site Plan
If the site plan submitted is incomplete or does not meet the zoning requirements, we cannot accept or process the application until it complies with the standards outlined in Short Term Rental By-Law 2025-032, Section 27 – License Application Process.
Application Fees
The following application fees are also required for your application to be processed:
New application fee: $800
Renewal application fee: $600
Property Inspections and Checklists
The Town's Fire and By-law department will inspect the property for all new and renewal applications. To ensure your property is ready for inspection, please complete and sign a Fire checklist and send it to str@notl.com. Please choose the appropriate checklist based on the type of rental you are licensing.
Fire Inspection Checklist - Bed & Breakfasts, Cottages and Vacation Apartments
Fire Inspection Checklist - Country Inns and Villas
Fire Department Information Package
Fire Extinguisher Instructions
Smoke and CO Alarm Information
Required Documents
Short Term Rental owner/applicants should ensure they have the following documents printed and ready for inspections:
- Noise By-Law (By-law 4588-12)
- Public Nuisances By-law (By-Law 4397-10)
- Public Nuisances By-law (By-Law 4397-11)
- Renter's Code of Conduct
In addition to the above, applicants will be required to provide proof of inspections/services to any fuel-burning appliances from within the last year in the form of an invoice or a copy of inspection paperwork.
If you have any questions regarding the short term rental licensing process, please contact the Short Term Rental Coordinator, Tayler Rodrigue, by phone at 905-468-3266 Ext. 278 or by email at tayler.rodrigue@notl.com.