Residential Rental Housing
View our current list of licensed R.R.H.L. properties.
Background
Residential rental properties located around Durham College and Ontario Tech University must have a licence under the Licensing By-law (see Schedule ‘K').
Licensed rental properties must comply with various standards and by-laws, including the Fire Code, Electrical Code, Building Code and the City's Zoning and Property Standards By-law(s). Refer to the links below for additional information, application forms and documents related to the Residential Rental Licensing Process.
Application resources
| Description | Fee |
|---|---|
|
Licence Fees- New or Renewal |
* a $75 application fee applies to all licences |
|
Class A- Individually-Owned Dwelling Units (Valid for two Years) |
$250 Licence Fee |
|
Class B- Multi-Unit Dwellings Under Single Ownership (Valid for two Years) |
$250 Licence Fee
|
|
Inspection fee |
The initial inspection by Licensing and Standards and Fire Services inspectors, is included in the licence fee, plus one additional inspection. Note: additional inspections are $75 |
Residential Rental Licensing Area Maps
Zoning terminology
The following terms are used when determining if a licence application is compliant with all applicable by-laws. Remember, the zoning within the rental area does not permit lodging houses.
Terms |
|
Dwelling Unit Lodger“Lodger” means any person who pays rent, fees or other valuable consideration to a proprietor for living accommodation in which cooking or washroom facilities are shared with other persons. Lodging House“Lodging House” means a building or a part of a building containing three to ten lodging units, which does not appear to function as a dwelling unit, although one may be included with the lodging units. It includes, without limitation, a rooming house and a boarding house, a fraternity or sorority house. It does not include a hotel, a crisis care residence, a hospital, a group home, a correctional group home, a bed and breakfast establishment, a nursing home, a flat, an apartment building or a block townhouse. A lodging house may involve shared cooking or washroom facilities. Meals may or may not be provided. Common areas, such as living rooms, may or may not be provided. Lodging Unit“Lodging Unit” means one or more rooms within a lodging house used or designed to be used for sleeping accommodations. Lodging units may contain cooking or washroom facilities, but not both. (62-200) Single Housekeeping Establishment"SINGLE HOUSEKEEPING ESTABLISHMENT" is not a defined term in the City's Zoning By-law or Licensing By-law, but it has been judicially considered. Following are excerpts from the Court's Analysis. "A single housekeeping establishment would generally approximate a typical family group of one or two adult persons, together with minor or adult children or a similar social unit either by relationship or some other common bond for living together as a housekeeping establishment, not simply the need by boarders for temporary sleeping quarters for which each pays rent to the landlord/landlady". "I find that a single housekeeping establishment, when read in context, means a use typical of a single family unit or other similar basic social unit. For example, it could include a group of unrelated persons, one or more of whom are dependent on the other due to physical or related challenges; or one person, or a couple cohabitating with children (not theirs biologically), to whom they stand in loco parentis. There are many examples of such basic social units in today's society which do not follow the traditional family model. However, they involve more between them as a unit than simply short-term temporary sleeping quarters and shared facilities on a rental basis." |
By-law and Legislation information
Licensing By-law 120-2005 (See Schedule K)
Related By-laws and Legislation
Additional resources
Exemption, denial and appeal information
To apply for an exemption to all or part of the Residential Rental Housing Licence by-law or appeal a licence denial, pick up the following forms at the Licensing and Standards counter at City Hall, download them here, or call 905-436-3311 ext. 2299 for more information
Forms must be submitted within the deadlines provided.
Residential Rental Housing Licensing (R.R.H.L.) program potential expansion
On January 24, 2022, Council passed CORP-22-02 Residential Rental Housing Licensing: Proposed Expansion Options and Consultation Process. Council has directed staff to undertake a public and industry consultation regarding a potential City wide expansion of the R.R.H.L. Program. Such an expansion would require all rental properties in Oshawa to become licensed. Feedback from property owners, landlords, tenants, and other interested c is critical to informing changes to the R.R.H.L. Program.
We are in Phase three of four of our process to study the expansion of the R.R.H.L.:
- Phase one was addressed in CORP-21-32 Program Evaluation of the Residential Rental Housing Licensing Program and Proposed Technical Amendments
- Phase two was addressed in CORP-22-02 Residential Rental Housing Licensing: Proposed Expansion Options and Consultation Process
- As part of phase three, SF-23-18 Proposed Policy Options for the Residential Rental Housing Licensing Program and Other Rental Housing Regulatory Considerations was presented at a Special Meeting of the Safety and Facilities Services Committee on May 18, 2023. The report was referred to staff to report back at the September 18, 2023 Safety and Facilities Committee Meeting.