Short-term Rentals

Short-term rentals are typically understood to be rentals where private individuals rent out their residence, or part of their residence, for short periods of time (generally less than 30 days) through online short-term rental companies/platforms such as Airbnb, VRBO and Homeaway in exchange for a fee. In Oshawa, properties may only used as short-term rentals for less than 28 consecutive days and cannot exceed a combined total of 180 days in a calendar year (Zoning By-law 60-94).

Short-term rental companies/platforms are generally online platforms that connect hosts/operators with guests. The online platform facilitates the booking for short-term rentals and receives a portion of the fee paid by the guest at the time of booking. These platforms may or may not have physical offices in Canada.

Operators (also referred to as "Hosts") are people who rent out all or part of their dwelling. Some hosts/operators have been identified as operating commercially, where their short-term rental unit(s) or properties are offered on a predominantly full-time basis and may not be their principal residence. 

• A short-term rental is a permitted use in all zones that permit dwelling units
• A short-term rental may only provide temporary accommodation for any rental period that is less than 28 consecutive days and not exceeding a combined total of 180 days in a calendar year
• The short-term rental unit must be the host/operator’s principal residence, as defined in the Income Tax Act
• No bed and breakfast, home occupation, other rental accommodation, group home or lodging house is permitted in any dwelling unit which contains a short-term rental
• A short-term rental cannot change the external residential appearance of the dwelling unit or contribute to the adverse effects such as, but not limited to, those from excessive traffic, parking, noise and hours of operation.

The licensing system is intended to compliment existing Zoning By-law standards.

In 2018, the City updated Zoning By-law 60-94 to address short-term rentals as a land-use in the City. Zoning by-laws are used to regulate land-use within a municipality. The City is currently investigating the creation of a business licensing system to enhance and support compliance with municipal standards (please see CORP-18-51 "Preliminary Research and Proposed Public Consultation Process for Short-Term Rentals Business Licensing"). The City has undertaken an industry stakeholder and public consultation process to discuss short-term rental business licensing regulations within the City of Oshawa. Feedback received was assessed as part of the development of the licensing system.

Consultation:

The City of Oshawa has completed an industry and public stakeholder consultation process to discuss licensing standards for short-term rentals (S.T.R.) and S.T.R. companies (e.g. Airbnb, VRBO, HomeAway, etc.) operating within the city.

Please note: The City's Zoning By-law 60-94 was updated in May 2018, to provide clarity by allowing short-term rentals in areas that permit dwelling units.

For the purpose of the consultation, S.T.R. referred to properties that are rented out as temporary accommodations for consecutive periods of twenty-eight (28) days or less. The total number of days rented cannot exceed a combined total of one hundred and eighty (180) days in a calendar year. This consultation excludes existing standards found in Zoning By-law 60-94.

The consultation window has now closed. Community members, S.T.R. hosts/operators, and S.T.R. companies/platforms were able to provide feedback by completing a stakeholder-specific survey online or on paper at Service Oshawa, or by discussing the topic in-person with City staff at one (1) of three (3) S.T.R. community engagement tables:

• Wednesday, February 20, 2019, 6:30 p.m. - 8:30 p.m., South Oshawa Community Centre
• Thursday, February 21, 2019, 9:30 a.m. - 11:30 a.m., City Hall
• Thursday, February 21, 2019, 6:30 p.m. - 8:30 p.m., Delpark Homes Centre

The feedback received was considered in the development of regulatory licensing standards.

A staff report containing the results of the consultation process and a proposed licensing system for S.T.R. Operators was considered at the Corporate Services Committee meeting on Monday, February 3, 2020 at 9:30 a.m. in the Council Chamber.

The agenda, minutes and report are available through the following links:

• Meeting Agenda
• Meeting Minutes
• Report CORP-20-03 "Short-Term Rental Licensing Consultation Results and Proposed Licensing System"