Short-term Rental Accommodations

If you have an issue or complaint about a STRA, you can submit a complaint through the Bylaw complaint form or by contacting the Bylaw office.

You can report unlicensed STRAs to the Municipal Law Enforcement Division by calling 905-476-4301, ext. 3006. After hours and on weekends, call ext. 2281. If your call is not answered, leave a detailed message.

Your STRA licence can be revoked if you receive too many demerit points.

The Demerit Point System was established to keep track of all contraventions and allow enforcement of the bylaw. It provides reassurance to neighbours that if there is a problematic STRA in their neighbourhood, the STRA licence could be suspended or revoked based on the amount of demerit points.  

A STRA licence may be suspended for a period not longer than six months if the total demerit points is at least seven and a STRA licence may be revoked if the total demerit points is at least 15. 

Renters Code of Conduct
Demerit Point System
Fee Schedule
Short-term Rental Accommodation Bylaw 2019-0061(LI-3)  

Important: On August 2, 2023, amendments were made to Short-term Rental Accommodation Bylaw 2019-0061(LI-3). See Bylaw 2023-0062(LI-3) to amend Short-term Rental Accommodation Bylaw 2019-0061-(LI-3)

Important: On May 8, 2024, amendments were made to Short-term Rental Accommodation Bylaw 2019-0061(LI-3). See Bylaw 2024-0035(LI-3) to replace Appendix "B". 

Notice of passing of a zoning bylaw - Short-term Rental Accommodations 

OPA 138 
OPA 139 
OPA 140
OPA 141
STRA ZBA bylaw 

Oct. 9, 2019 - Regulation of short-term rental accommodation in the Town of Georgina 

April 24, 2019 - Proposed amendments to the Official Plan, the Keswick, Sutton/Jackson's Point and Pefferlaw Secondary Plans and to zoning bylaw 500

Feb. 27, 2019 - Regulation of short-term rental accommodation (STRA) in the Town of Georgina

Sept. 12, 2018 -Report 2018-0016 Regulation of short-term rental accommodation STRA summary of input.pdf

July 11, 2018 - STRA Public Information Centre Presentation

June 6, 2018 - Report 2018-0007-Regulation of Short-term Rental Accommodations

May 14, 2018 - Short-term Rental 2018 Summer Municipal Law Enforcement Initiative

Feb. 7, 2018    - Short-term Rental Accommodations – Report No. CAO-2018-0003

Feb. 14, 2018  - Correspondence from Town Solicitor Re: Short-term Rental Accommodations – Interim Control ByLaw

Feb. 28, 2018  - Short Term Rental Accommodations (STRAs) - Interim Management Options and Third-party Program Development - Report NO. CAO-2018-0004

Short-term Rental Accommodations (STRA) refer to people renting their residence, or part of it, for short periods of time primarily through internet-based platforms such as Airbnb, VRBO and Kijiji. These platforms have grown significantly in number and popularity over the past several years. Today, STRA platforms are present in more than 190 countries and many municipalities are acting to regulate this activity.

As of October 30, 2024, there are 71 licenced STRA's in Georgina.

STRA have been active in the Town of Georgina since the first vacation homes were built in the former Township of Georgina, Township of North Gwillimbury and Village of Sutton. Prior to the internet, visitors found vacation rentals through newspaper ads, real estate companies and by word of mouth.

There are a number of potential benefits to STRA. These include the potential to increase tourism and draw more visitors to the community, which in turn has a positive impact on the local economy. STRA also allows people to generate additional income by renting out their homes, making it more affordable to live in their residence or offset the cost of a vacation property.

There are a number of issues related to STRA. These include public safety concerns (including excessive noise, late-hour activities, illegal parking, and littering), fire and building safety issues, the impact on private sewage disposal systems, impacts on affordable housing and competition with other traditional rental accommodation markets.

There are three main requirements your property has to fall within in order to be permitted to operate a STRA:

• The property is a Single Family Dwelling
• The property has a minimum of three parking spaces, plus one additional parking space per guest room

If the property meets these two basic requirements, then your property is within the definition of a Short-term Rental Accommodation and you can make application for a Licence.   

Yes, you can own multiple properties, however, you are required to apply for a STRA licence for each property you wish to have as a Short-term Rental Accommodation. 

On August 2, 2023 the Short-term Rental Accommodation Bylaw 2019-0061(LI-3) was amended, eliminating the requirement for an on-site host.

Yes, but only with written consent from the homeowner.

You can apply for a licence, however, the STRA bylaw states that there shall be a minimum separation distance of 100 metres between STRAs. If you are within the 100 metres, you can submit a variance application where the Short-term Rental Accommodation Committee will review the request. 

Yes, the number of active STRA licences shall not exceed 150 at any given time.

The Demerit Point System was established to keep track of all contraventions and allow enforcement of the bylaw. It provides reassurance to neighbours that if there is a problematic STRA in their neighbourhood, the STRA licence could be suspended or revoked based on the amount of demerit points.  

A STRA licence may be suspended for a period not longer than six months, if the total demerit points is at least seven and a STRA licence may be revoked if the total demerit points is at least 15.    

• New Application - $250
• Renewal Application - $150
• Septic Inspection - $106
• Occupant Load (Zoning) Review - $158
• Fire Inspection - $137.86
• Committee Appeal - $500
• Variance Application - $1,400 

Your STRA licence is valid for one year from the licensing date and a renewal application is to be completed each year in order to renew your STRA license. The renewal application ($150) also requires an annual fire inspection ($137.86).

The following documents are required:

• STRA application (through our online portal)
• Proof of ownership
• Proof the applicant is at least 18 years of age
• Rental agreement between owner and host (if applicable)
• Rental agreement between the applicant (tenant) and owner (if applicable)
• Corporation, Articles of Incorporation, partnership documents (if applicable)
• Site plan
• Floor plan
• Proof of current $2-million liability insurance, identifying that a Short-term Rental Accommodation is being operated on the property. 
• Licence fees

There will be a waiting list. Each completed application received will be date stamped and when a licence is made available, staff will contact the next available application. Based on the area of existing STRAs, the applicant on the waiting list may have to apply for a variance in order to operate within the 100 metres of an existing STRA. If the applicant next in line does not want to continue with the application, staff will contact the next application on the waiting list.  

If the application is new (without a variance)? Notification is not required. 

If an application has a variance? Notification will be sent to neighbours within 100 metres of the STRA. 

If an application has an appeal? Notification is not required