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At its meeting on Sept. 11, 2023, Orillia Council approved a new by-law to regulate short-term rental accommodations that will come into effect in Jan. 1, 2024.
Chapter 730 of the City of Orillia Municipal Code - Short-term Rental Accommodations establishes standards and requirements for short-term rental accommodations to ensure the safety and well-being of both guests and surrounding residents. This includes measures such as fire safety regulations, noise control, and adequate insurance coverage.
Under the new by-law, all short-term rental operators are required to obtain an annual licence from the City. This will enable the municipality to monitor and manage the short-term rental market in Orillia with a cap of 150 operating short-term rental accommodations at one time. The licensing will help ensure compliance with regulations and establish a clear process for addressing issues and complaints using a demerit point system to assist with enforcement. Residents will be able to report concerns to the City, which will investigate and take appropriate action in response to non-compliance with the regulations.
The annual licence fee will be $2,000 and is anticipated to fund the cost to administer and enforce the program. Under the new by-law, short-term rental accommodations will collect Municipal Accommodation Tax, which will bring in further funding to promote the local tourism industry.
As part of the approval on Sept. 11, 2023, Council adopted the new by-law effective Jan. 1, 2024, approved funding for compliance monitoring software and hiring a full-time staff member to begin in October 2023 to build and administer the program and to enforce the new by-law once in effect.
Until the new by-law comes into effect, the City’s Municipal Law Enforcement Officers as well as the Ontario Provincial Police, will continue to enforce the by-laws currently in place that regulate various issues related to short-term rental accommodations such as noise, dogs at large, parking, garbage accumulation and open-air burning. Please continue to check back on this webpage for updates regarding the program.
Frequently Asked Questions
| What is a short-term rental accommodation (STRA)? |
| A “short-term rental accommodation" means a building or any part thereof being offered, or used as a place of seasonal or temporary accommodation, temporary residence, or occupancy by way of concession, permit, lease, licence, rental agreement, or similar arrangement for fewer than twenty-eight (28) consecutive calendar days, throughout all or any part of a calendar year. Short-term rental accommodation uses shall not mean or include a motel, hotel, bed and breakfast establishment, hospital, or boarding lodging or rooming house as defined in the Zoning By-law, provided the use complies in all respects with the Zoning By-law, but may include other types of vacation homes or living accommodation intended to be used by the travelling public. |
| Is a licence required to operate a STRA in the City of Orillia? |
| Yes, a licence is required to operate a STRA in the City of Orillia starting on January 1, 2024. A licence will be required each year. |
| Will there be a fee for a licence to operate a STRA? |
| Yes. The licence fee for 2024 will be $2,000. |
| When can I apply for a licence to operate? |
| The licence application will be available online on November 1, 2023. It is recommended that you submit a completed application well in advance of January 1, 2024 to ensure that your application can be processed on time. An Officer will also need to conduct an inspection of your premises as part of the application process. |
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Does the Municipal Accommodation Tax apply to STRA operators? |
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Yes, the 4% Municipal Accommodation Tax applies to all STRA operators. For more information regarding the Municipal Accommodation Tax, please review the Accommodators FAQ page or contact OrilliaMAT@orillialakecountry.ca. |
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Do I need a licence to operate a bed and breakfast establishment (B & B)? |
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No, a licence is not required to operate a B & B, provided the B & B complies in all respects with the City’s Zoning By-law 2014-44, as amended. The Zoning By-law defines a B & B as follows: “means Premises where sleeping accommodation (including breakfast and other meals, services, facilities and amenities for the exclusive use of guests) are provided for the traveling or vacationing Public within a Single Detached Dwelling that is the principal residence of the proprietor of the establishment.” A B & B is permitted in the Residential 1, 2, 3 zones, Commercial zone 2, Downtown Shoulder zones 1 and 2, Health Care zone 2, and the Rural zone. There are also these additional requirements in section 5.4 of the Zoning By-law: Bed and Breakfast Establishments are subject to the following regulations:
a) The Bed and Breakfast Establishment shall have the operator residing on the Premises; and b) A Bed and Breakfast Establishment shall only be permitted in a Single Detached Dwelling and shall not contain more than three (3) rooms for hire; and c) The Bed and Breakfast Establishment shall be a secondary Use to the main Residential Use of a Single Detached d) No external display or advertising shall be permitted on the site, other than in accordance with the Home e) Bed and Breakfast Establishments must front on a Public Road and be fully serviced by a Municipal Sewer System |
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How can I find out if the accessory dwelling unit (i.e. apartment) I rent out is legal? |
| To determine if the units in a building are legal, or the process of legalizing existing units you will need to complete the Legalization of Existing Dwelling Units form. |
| Can I operate an STRA if my property is on a septic system? |
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Yes, however, proof of a septic system pump-out dated less than five years old (and proof of any required repairs to the system identified during the pump-out) will be required to be submitted at time of licence application. The maximum number of persons permitted on any premises that is serviced by a septic system will be determined at the time of application following a review of the septic system’s approved design capacity. |
Background Reports
April 17, 2023 - Report DSE-23-18 - Short-Term Rental Accommodations
July 17, 2023 - Report DSE-23-24 - Short-Term Rental Accommodations
For more information regarding the Short-Term Rental Accommodations By-law, please contact Shawn Crawford, Director of Legislative, Building, Parking, and Transit Services.
For more information regarding the Municipal Accommodation Tax, please review the Accommodators FAQ page or contact OrilliaMAT@orillialakecountry.ca.
