Business Related Licences and Forms

Short-Term Rentals (STR)

A "Short-Term Rental" (STR) is defined as a structure or part thereof which is used for temporary lodging for a rental period not greater than twenty-eight (28) consecutive days or less in exchange for payment and includes a bed and breakfast, hotel, motel, and inn, but does not include short-term accommodations where there is no payment.

By-law 82-2024 was passed by Council on November 4, 2024. Every Short-Term Rental in the Town of Kingsville is required to be licensed to advertise or operate and comply with the prescribed regulations.

Apply for an STR Licence

Questions?

Check out the Frequently Asked Questions below. You can also give us a call at 519-733-2305 during our regular office hours (Monday to Friday, 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.) or send us an email any time at licensing@kingsville.ca.

Licensed Short-Term Rentals

Please Note: Applications that were received before the March 31, 2025, deadline for existing STRs are still being processed. This list is updated regularly to reflect current licensed properties.

Licensed Properties List

Complaint Process

The Town is in the process of setting-up a 24/7 hotline to receive complaints regarding Short-Term Rentals. Until the 24/7 hotline is available, please direct complaints to requests@kingsville.ca or 519-733-2305.

If your complaint relates to noise during evenings and weekends, please contact the Ontario Provincial Police (OPP) non-emergency line at 1-888-310-1122.

In the case of an emergency, please contact 9-1-1.

Frequently Asked Questions

Why does the Town licence STRs?

The creation of Kingsville's STR Licensing Program was a thorough process that included multiple stages of policy review and development, and public consultation from residents and stakeholders.

The Short-Term Rental Licensing Program was initiated by the Town of Kingsville to address community concerns and to ensure all rentals operate in accordance with the Short-Term Rental By-law, the Ontario Fire Code, and Town By-laws.

When will Short-Term Rental Licences be required?

The Short-Term Rental By-law was passed by Council on November 4, 2024, at a Regular Meeting of Council. Effective this date, all persons who own, operate or advertise a STR within the Town of Kingsville must obtain a Short-Term Rental Licence from the Town.

I only rent my property occasionally, do I still need a STR Licence?

Yes, all Short-Term Rental operators require a STR Licence. The time frame your property is available for rentals does not impact your need for a licence.

I rent out my property for 29 days or longer at a time, do I still need a STR Licence?

No, the definition of a Short-Term Rental is specific to rentals of 28 days or less. However, the Town does licence Boarding, Lodging and Rooming Houses (BLRH) which are rented or provided to occupants on a long-term basis of twenty-eight (28) days or more. This does not apply to long-term rentals under the Residential Tenancies Act. For more information, check out the details below.

What is required to obtain a STR Licence?

Address of the STR Property
Applicant's Contact Information
Property Owner's Contact Information, if not the applicant
Authorization Letter from Property Owner, if not the applicant
Copy of Government-Issued Photo Identification with Address, if STR is owner/occupied
Agent's Contact Information, if not the applicant
Property Tax Rate of the STR Property
Number of Bedrooms Available
Number of On-Site Parking Spaces Available
Certificate of Insurance
Satisfactory Fire Inspection
Satisfactory Criminal Record Check of the Applicant

How much does a STR Licence cost?

The following licensing fees are set in the Town's Fees and Charges By-law and will apply at the time of submitting your Application for an STR Licence:

Residential STR Licence (Up to 4 Occupants) - $400.00
Residential STR Licence (Up to 6 Occupants) - $750.00
Residential STR Licence (Up to 8 Occupants) - $1,400.00
Residential STR Licence (Up to 10 Occupants) - $1,750.00
Owner-Occupied STR Licence - $250.00*
Commercial STR Licence - $250.00

*Where the owner/operator resides full-time on the same property as the STR.

Will my property be inspected before a STR Licence is issued?

Yes, Kingsville Fire & Rescue will contact you to schedule an inspection once an Application for an STR Licence is submitted. Please note that the following fees are set in the Town's Fees and Charges By-law and will apply at the time of the inspection:

Residential STR Fire Inspection (Up to 4 Occupants) - $150.00
Residential STR Fire Inspection (Up to 6 Occupants) - $200.00
Residential STR Fire Inspection (Up to 8 Occupants) - $250.00
Residential STR Fire Inspection (Up to 10 Occupants) - $300.00
Commercial STR Fire Inspection - $500.00*

*If 10 Occupants or less, the corresponding "residential" fire inspection rate will apply.

Do I need to have insurance for my STR?

Yes, you will be required to provide a Certificate of Insurance that includes the following:

A liability limit of no less than two million dollars ($2,000,000) per occurrence for property damage and bodily injury;
Specifically note the operation of the property as a Short-Term Rental; and
Endorsed to the effect that The Corporation of the Town of Kingsville be given at least 30 days notice in writing of any cancellation or material variation to the policy.

How are maximum occupancy rates determined?

Maximum occupancy for operators that pay a Residential Property Tax Rate is calculated at 2 people per bedroom, plus 2 additional people, not to exceed a maximum of 10 people.

Operators that pay a Commercial Property Tax Rate are exempt from the occupancy limits.

What happens if my property is within 300 metres of another STR?

Short-Term Rentals must be three hundred (300) metres away from each other to receive a STR Licence from the Town. Your application will not be approved if your property is within 300 metres of another Short-Term Rental. If you are unsure if you meet this requirement, please contact the Town at 519-733-2305 or licensing@kingsville.ca before making your application.

The following are exempt from the distance separation requirement:

Properties located within the Downtown STR Area (Main Street Corridor); and
Existing STRs operating before November 4, 2024, if an application is made before March 31, 2025.

How many parking spaces are required?

On-site parking spaces are required based on the number of occupants permitted:

1 on-site parking space for 1 to 4 occupants
2 on-site parking spaces for 5 to 8 occupants
3 on-site parking spaces for 9 to 10 occupants

The following are exempt from the parking requirements:

Properties located within the Downtown STR Area (Main Street Corridor); and
Existing STRs operating before November 4, 2024, if an application is made before March 31, 2025.

If my STR is licensed, what rules do I have to abide by?

Every licensee shall:

Display the STR Licence in the main entranceway of the STR;
Include the STR Licence Number on any online advertisements;
Ensure the Applicant or Agent is available to attend the STR property within sixty (60) minutes of a complaint, concern or emergency to resolve the issue;
Maintain the STR in a clean and sanitary condition;
Ensure the STR does not cause a disturbance or nuisance; and
Not permit any person to occupy any cellar, garage, lobby, hallway, closet, bathroom, laundry room, stairway or kitchen for sleeping purposes.

Can I transfer my STR Licence if I sell the property?

No, STR Licences issued by the Town are not transferrable. In the event of a change of ownership, the new owner is required to submit a new application. In order to continue to qualify for an exemption from the distance separation requirement, the new owner is required to complete a new application within 90 days of taking ownership of the STR property.

Do I have to renew my STR Licence?

Yes, STR Licences are valid for one year from the date of issuance. You will be required to renew your licence annually. More information on the renewal process will be provided at that time.

What happens if I don't apply for an STR Licence?

By-law 82-2024 states that no person shall operate, permit a person to operate, or hold themselves out as being licensed to operate a Short-Term Rental without a licence issued by the Town. Operating a Short-Term Rental without a licence from the Town may result in enforcement action, including fines.

Boarding, Lodging and Rooming Houses (BLRH)

According to By-law 3-2024 every Boarding, Lodging, and Rooming House (BLRH) in the Town of Kingsville must be licensed. This is to ensure existing and future BLRHs comply with the Town's Zoning By-law and to help mitigate any potential health and safety risks to occupants.

What is a BLRH?

A BLRH is defined as a dwelling unit where bedrooms are rented or provided to occupants, rather than the entire unit. Occupants of a BLRH share bathrooms and/or kitchen facilities, and may be unrelated. A BLRH is rented or provided to occupants on a long-term basis of twenty-eight (28) days or more. For clarity, a BLRH includes housing that is controlled and provided by an employer of the residents living in the unit.

Per By-law 3-2024, there are 2 classes of BLRH:

a Residential BLRH which houses ten (10) or fewer occupants on lands designated as residential in the Town of Kingsville's Zoning By-law; and,
an Agricultural BLRH houses any number of occupants on land designated as agricultural in the Town of Kingsville's Zoning By-law.

Application Requirements

Please have the following information and supplementary documents ready before you submit your application:

Legal Business Name and Address
Owner information
A Criminal Record Check for the Owner dated within thirty (30) days of the date of application;
Address of each BLRH, subject to the application;
On-site contact information for the person responsible for the BLRH;
Maximum number of occupants available for each BLRH;
Valid Health Unit Inspection Report for each BLRH Unit within the preceding twelve (12) months

If your BLRH has not been inspected in the preceding twelve (12) months, you can request an inspection by filling out WECHU's online form or by calling 519-258-2146.

The licensing fee as set in the Town's Fees and Charges By-law (payable online by credit card)

Apply for a BLRH Licence now

What can I expect once I apply?

Upon receipt of your Application, staff will review for completion and circulate to the following departments for review:

Planning and Development Services to confirm land-use compliance with the Town’s Zoning By-law;
Building and By-law Enforcement to ensure that the building/property intended to be used as a BLRH is not subject to an open building permit and is not the subject of a Town By-law Order within the preceding twelve (12) months; and,
Fire and Rescue Services to confirm that the building intended to be used as a BLRH has been inspected within the preceding twelve (12) months and is not subject to an order under the Fire Protection and Prevention Act.
- If the BLRH has not had a fire inspection in the last twelve (12) months, please contact Kingsville Fire at 519-733-2314 to schedule an inspection.

What happens if my Application for a Licence is not approved?

If your application is not approved you will receive a letter outlining any deficiencies, corrective actions, and next steps.

How long does the licensing process take?

As the Town works to streamline its BLRH application process, it is hard to predict how long the licensing process will take. Submitting a complete application and all supporting documents will help to prevent processing delays.

Questions?

Do you have questions or require assistance? Give us a call at 519-733-2305 during our regular office hours (Monday to Friday, 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.) or send us an email any time at licensing@kingsville.ca.

Entrance / Encroachment Permit

If you're putting an awning on your building, setting up planters, or adding any other object that will encroach on public space, you must apply for an Entrance /Encroachment Permit.

Patio Extensions

If you're applying for a temporary outdoor patio, please fill out our Temporary Patio Extension Application.

Refreshment Vehicle

All mobile refreshment businesses in the Town of Kingsville are required to complete this Mobile Refreshment Licence Application.

Taxis

For the protection of the public, the Town of Kingsville licenses and sets rules for taxicabs and taxicab drivers.

Taxi drivers must fill out a Taxicab Driver Permit application form and submit the following documents:

2 current passport pictures
Ontario Driver's Licence
MTO Abstract
Police Clearance and Request for Vulnerable Sector Check
Application fee of $50

Taxi brokers must fill out a Taxicab Owner Licence application form and submit the following documents:

Vehicle ownership
Car insurance policy
Ministry of Transportation Safety Standards Certificate for each vehicle
Application fee $300

If you need more information, please contact the Clerk's Department.

Business Related Licences and Forms

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