Rental Premises Licences

In accordance with  By-law 17-067 , owners of Rental Dwelling Units and Lodging Houses are required to obtain a Rental Premises Business Licence.

Applications must be submitted through the City’s online application portal.

Apply through our online applications portal

For more information, please contact the Clerks Office 705-742-7777 Option 3.

Frequently Asked Questions - Licensed Rental Premises

• A Small Rental Dwelling Unit is type of dwelling unit that has 4 bedrooms rented individually by room or as a single house-keeping unit. 
• A Large Rental Dwelling Unit is a type of dwelling unit that has 5 or more bedroom that is rented as a single house-keeping unit. 
• A Small or Large Rental Dwelling Unit may operate in any of an R1, R2, R3 or an R4 zone. An owner of a Small or Large Rental Dwelling Unit will not need to provide a zoning compliance letter to obtain a business licence, but will need to complete the City’s Annual Self-Attestation Form. 
• A Small Lodging House (“SLH”) is a type of dwelling unit that contains between 5 and 10 bedrooms and does not function as a single house-keeping unit. An owner of an SLH will need to prove zoning compliance in order to obtain a business licence and the SLH must pass an inspection in accordance with the City’s Rental Dwelling Unit Licensing By-law.
• A Large Lodging House (“LLH”) is a type of dwelling unit that contains between 11 and 30 bedrooms and does not function as a single house-keeping unit. An owner of an LLH will need to prove zoning compliance in order to obtain a business licence and the LLH must pass an inspection in accordance with the City’s Rental Dwelling Unit Licensing By-law. 

What is the difference between a Rental Dwelling Unit and a Lodging House?

A Large Rental Dwelling Unit typically has multiple persons who know each other, and who are signed to one lease and it functions as a single housekeeping unit.  A Small Rental Dwelling Unit has 4 bedrooms and houses people under an individual lease or not. It is not necessary that these people know each other. 

 A Lodging House, whether it is an LLH or a SLH, is a type of dwelling unit in which the occupants are typically strangers to each other and they may or may not have individual leases or rental agreements. A Lodging House does not function as a single house-keeping unit. 

Can 5 or more people live together in a Rental Dwelling Unit on a property that is not zoned to permit a lodging house? 

Yes, provided that the Rental Dwelling Unit functions as a single house-keeping unit and provided the owner has obtained a business license. 

What if my house only contains 3 bedrooms and I rent out the whole house? 

If your house only contains 3 bedrooms and you rent out the whole house, whether under one lease or under separate leases, then this by-law does not apply to you.

What is a multi-suite residence?

A multi-suite residence is a type of building containing 4 or more residential rooms in which, occupants typically receive support in the form of common dining amenities and other related services: for example, a residence for senior citizens or a retirement home.