Short Term Rental Applications

• Required Documents

  A complete application must be accompanied by the following documents:

  • Signed Application Form
  • Good Neighbour Agreement
  • Acknowledgement Form
  • Electrical Safety Authority (ESA) Inspection Certificate 
  • Valid Certificate of Insurance (Town must be named as an "Additional Insured")
  • A drawn to scale Site Plan (showing parking spaces and an amenity area)
  • Floor Plans (all floors in dwelling)
  • Payment of the Applicable Licensing Fee.
• Electrical Safety Authority (ESA) Inspection Certificate

  Electrical Safety Authority (ESA) Inspection Certificate
  The ESA Inspection Certificate must include one of the following:
  1.  The Applicant must contact the Electrical Safety Authority directly at www.esasafe.com or 1-877-372-7233 to make arrangements for the required Electrical Safety Authority “general” inspection. All costs incurred will be the sole responsibility of the Applicant; or
  2. A letter from an insured, licensed electrical contractor stating that the property conforms to the Electrical Safety Code.

• Licensing & Fees

  All Short Term Rentals within the Town of Niagara-on-the-Lake must be licensed to operate.  
  Please note that websites, such as Airbnb, VRBO etc., are only a means to advertise.  In the Town of Niagara-on-the-Lake, you must hold a valid Short Term Rental license to operate.

  Applications can be submitted at the Town Administration Building located at 1593 Four Mile Creek Road, Virgil during regular office hours from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.  Should you have any questions concerning this process, please contact the Town Municipal Offices at 905-468-3266 and Staff would be pleased to assist you.

  Licensing fees can be paid via debit, cash, or cheque payable to "The Corporation of the Town of Niagara-on-the-Lake". 

  To operate in the current licensing period, a current license will need to be issued and posted within each Short Term Rental establishment.  

Updates

Short Term Rental FAQs

• What third party program did the Town hire to implement this compliance program?

  The new Short Term Rental Compliance Program uses Granicus’ govService Host Compliance, a service that specializes in helping local governments manage Short Term Rental compliance and enforcement.

• What is this new program and why does the Town need it?

  The new Short Term Rental Compliance Program provides a service that specializes in helping local governments manage Short Term Rental compliance and enforcement. With an increasing number of complaints filed against Short Term Rentals in Niagara-on-the-Lake, this pilot program will support local By-law Enforcement Officers and provide increased service to the community through the provision of 24/7 support for complaint resolution.

• How does this program benefit the Town?

  The new program provides a reliable way for residents to help ensure compliance of the Short Term Rental properties in their neighborhood by providing a 24/7 hotline and online system whereby members of the public can easily report Short Term Rentals that may not be compliant with the Town’s Short Term Rental By-law. Complaints regarding problematic activities and conditions, such as excessive noise, illegal parking, or overflowing trash, can all be made through this new program.

  Additionally, Granicus’ govService Host Compliance provides assistance and oversight in monitoring Short Term Rentals within Niagara-on-the-Lake.

• What role do local By-law Enforcement Officers play with respect to this new program?

  The new program is not intended to replace existing By-law Enforcement efforts, but rather enhance them. By-law Enforcement Officers will have the ability to use the additional reporting tools provided through the Host Compliance system to better monitor and enforce Town By-laws. The new program will look to provide the evidence and materials needed to lay charges successfully against non-compliant operators.

• If a complaint is made against my Short Term Rental, how will I be notified, and how am I required to respond?

  When Host Compliance operators receive a complaint, the operator will notify the owner or property manager of the property using the contact information provided to the Town through the licensing process. The owner and/or property manager will be required to respond within 45 minutes of being contacted by Host Compliance operators (as per Section 9 (c) of the Short Term Rental By-law 4634-13, as amended). Host Compliance operators will follow up with the complainant to confirm that the issue has been rectified.

• Will Short Term Rental guests be advised of a complaint filed against them?

  No. Short Term Rental guests will not be contacted directly by Host Compliance operators. Depending on the nature of the complaint, guests may be contacted by the owner or property manager to address the complaint.

• Are there fees associated with the complaint process?

  There are no fees associated with filing a complaint through Host Compliance. Operators may be subject to fines depending on the nature of the complaint and the response required to address the concern.

• Is there a limit to how many times a complaint can be filed against a property?

  There is nothing in place that limits the number of complaints that can be filed against a property. However, a license to operate a Short Term Rental may be revoked, suspended, or made subject to special conditions by the Town Clerk for any breach of the provisions of the Short Term Rental Licensing By-law and/or any breach of the provisions of any other Town By-laws or regulations.