Short Term Rental Accommodations (STRAs) (distinct from Bed and Breakfast Establishments and Timeshares, which are other types of STRAs) can be broadly described as dwelling units offered for rent via electronic platforms, which are rented out for the purpose of commercial gain and profit, for periods as short as one (1) day, but more typically for three (3) days or a week, and not longer than a month.
Short Term Rental Accommodation and Bed & Breakfast Establishments Licensing
Most Recent Update - July 2026
Licensing By-law Update
At the July 22, 2026 Special Council meeting, Council unanimously passed the Township’s Short-Term Rental Accommodations and Bed and Breakfast Establishments Licensing By-law (By-law No. 2026-078). The By-law is effective immediately; however, Council directed staff to delay enforcement for a specified period to allow eligible STRA and B&B Establishments to obtain a license to operate. Please see details are below.
Explanation of Terms
- Legal STRA or B&B – zoning on the subject property permits a commercial Short-Term Rental Accommodation (STRA) or Bed and Breakfast Establishment (B&B).
- Illegal STRA or B&B – zoning on the subject property does not permit a commercial STRA or a B&B establishment.
- Commercial STRA – means an STRA that is advertised (i.e., including but not limited to advertising platforms, social media, newspapers, etc.)
- STRAs that do not advertise – are legal in all residential zones, agriculture and rural zones where dwelling units are permitted and do not require a license.
Zoning
Background Reports
Staff Report: DS2026-089 - July 22, 2026 Staff Report: DS2026-076 - June 24, 2026
Short-Term Rental Accommodations and Bed & Breakfast Establishment Licensing By-Law Enforcement
Council has delayed enforcement of the licensing by-law to give STRA and B&B operators the opportunity to obtain a license, as per the schedule below.
- Week of August 3rd – Education Letter/Notice to be sent out to all listed legal and illegal STRAs and B&B operators and posted on the Township website advising:
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- Legal Commercial STRA and B&B Operators – must apply for a License and be licensed by September 30, 2026 or cease advertising.
- Illegal Commercial STRA Operators – must apply for a re-zoning by September 30, 2026 or cease advertising. Property must be rezoned by January 30, 2027 to permit an STRA.
- Staff will process license and Re-zoning Applications as they are received.
- This website landing page will be updated with information on the application process to obtain an STRA and B&B Establishment License including:
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- an interactive map showing the location of licensed STRAs and B&Bs including the name and contact information for licensed properties; and
- a direct link to submit a complaint or concern about an STRA or B&B establishment.
- On August 30th, 2026, Granicus will send out reminder Education Letters/Notices to those legal operators not licensed, requesting that they apply for a license by September 30, 2026 or stop advertising.
Note: If property owners (legal) have applied for a license or (illegal) have applied for a Re-zoning Application and are proceeding through the review process, they will be permitted to continue to advertise while the application is being processed.
- On September 1, 2026, Granicus and Municipal Law will send out reminder Education Letters/Notices to those illegal operators that have not applied for a re-zoning advising that they need to apply for a re-zoning by September 30, 2026 or there will not be sufficient time for Council to consider their application by the January 30, 2027 deadline. They also must stop advertising by September 30, 2026 or be in violation of the By-law.
- On September 1, 2026, Municipal Law will start issuing warning notices to legal and Illegal STRA and B&B operators that are still advertising and not licensed.
- On October 1, 2026 (two (2) months after Licensing By-law adoption), Municipal Law will start issuing Administrative Monetary Penalty System (AMPS) Notices to legal and Illegal STRA and B&B operators that are still advertising and not licensed.
Note: All notices will be posted on the Township website and through social channels to provide notification of those that did not receive a direct notice and to the public.
Note: The Township contracts a third party to search between 60 and 100 websites for STRA and B&B listings in Oro-Medonte, and compares the ones advertising with the list of STRAs and B&Bs that are licensed. It then advises the Township of the ones not licensed and the Township takes appropriate action.
Administrative Monetary Penalty System (AMPS)
Monetary penalties are issued under the authority of the Municipal Act where the payment is due within a specified time, or the amount of the penalty is put on property taxes for payment. Some offences can be applied for each day there is a violation, and can be stacked with other violations. (Refer to the STRA and B&B Licensing By-law or AMPS By-law for details)
Application Process
The application process for a Short-Term Accommodation License is currently under development, please check back soon for updates.
Additional Information
What are Short Term Rental Accommodations?
Where are STRA’s Currently Permitted in Oro-Medonte?
Currently, STRAs are only permitted in certain zone categories. The Township’s Zoning By-law No. 97-95 permits STRAs in the Village Resort Commercial area within the Village (V1) and Residential Two, Exception 123 (R2-123) Zones.
The following areas in the Township are currently zoned under Zoning By-law 97-95 to permit a timeshare or commercial unit allowing for short term accommodation:
- Horseshoe Resort Condos
- The Carriage Hills Resort and Carriage Country Club
It is important to note that Commercial Accommodation is not listed as a permitted use in any of the Township's residential zones under the Township’s Zoning By-law 97-95, as amended. Therefore, STRAs are not permitted in residential zones throughout Oro-Medonte.
Bed and Breakfast uses are another form of STRA, and are only permitted as of right in the Agriculture/Rural Zone (A/RU), or Private Recreation (PR) Zone under the Township’s Zoning By-law 97-95, as amended. They are permitted elsewhere by exception when approved through a Zoning Amendment, which property owners are required to apply for.
What is the Purpose of the Licensing By-law?
The purpose of municipal licensing is to ensure that commercial operations are maintaining minimum standards to protect the health and safety of the public. Municipal licensing works in conjunction with the Township’s Zoning By-law, which defines the uses permitted in a zone and the requirements for the use (setbacks from property lines, parking, building height and area, location of accessory buildings, etc.)
If a commercial use is subject to a licensing By-law, the owner of the property must apply for a license and meet certain health and safety requirements before a license can be issued. Each use has to meet certain requirements specified in the Licensing By-law. The requirements are different for a restaurant compared to a kennel. Some activities are licensed by the Province through professional associations. For example, Doctors, Accountants and Plumbers and others are not licensed by municipalities.
The Township is considering introducing a licensing By-law for legal STRAs and Bed and Breakfast Establishments (B&Bs) to ensure that operators of these facilities are maintaining minimum standards for the safety of their guests, and to introduce rules regarding how operators advertise and operate for the purpose of protecting the safety and character of neighbourhoods where they operate.
The intent of the Licensing By-law is to license legal short term rental accommodations, and bed and breakfast accommodation establishments (B&Bs) within the Township. The By-law aims to protect tenant health and safety by enforcing housing and property standards on STRAs and B&B’s and minimize neighborhood nuisances.
How does the Township Currently Manage Complaints Pertaining to STRAs in Oro-Medonte?
The Township’s Municipal Law division follows a complaint based approach to monitor, manage, and enforce Zoning By-law 97-95 pertaining to STRs which are considered and identified as problematic.
Complaints can be made by calling the Municipal Law Enforcement office, submitting an online fillable complaint form, or sending an e-mail to the municipal law enforcement general e-mail address. The submission of a completed complaint form is preferred given that it will outline all the required information for a complaint.
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