Short Term Rentals

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Short-term rentals are when people rent out their residence, or part of their residence, for less than 28 consecutive days for a fee. Platforms, such as Airbnb and VRBO, offer a service where individuals can advertise and book their short-term rental.

In 2023, Burlington City Council asked staff to review the rules and requirements for zoning, business licences, and resources needed to create and run a city-wide Short-Term Rental Compliance and Licensing Program. Community input was collected to inform City Council and City staff in the development and implementation of a city-wide Short-Term Rental Compliance and Licensing Program. A report, including the findings from the City’s engagement was shared with Burlington City Council on Jan. 13, 2025

Short-term rentals are when people rent out their residence, or part of their residence, for less than 28 consecutive days for a fee. Platforms, such as Airbnb and VRBO, offer a service where individuals can advertise and book their short-term rental.

In 2023, Burlington City Council asked staff to review the rules and requirements for zoning, business licences, and resources needed to create and run a city-wide Short-Term Rental Compliance and Licensing Program. Community input was collected to inform City Council and City staff in the development and implementation of a city-wide Short-Term Rental Compliance and Licensing Program. A report, including the findings from the City’s engagement was shared with Burlington City Council on Jan. 13, 2025

  • Short-Term Accommodation Licence Applications are Open!

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    At a Special Council Meeting earlier this year, Burlington City Council approved the City’s new Short-Term Accommodation By-law which takes effect on May 1, 2025. The key change introduced by this by-law is that operators of short-term accommodations are now required to obtain a licence to operate. If you own a property and rent it out for up to 28 consecutive days (for a total of up to 183 days per year) for a fee - such as through Airbnb or VRBO - the new by-law applies to you, and you must get a licence to operate.

    The by-law is designed to address housing availability, safety and common nuisances such as noise, parking issues and garbage. Owners will be required to submit certificates showing that the HVAC and electrical systems meet requirements prior to a licence being issued. Owners will also have to sign a declaration to comply with the maintenance and parking plans, Building Code and Fire Code.

    For further details about licence requirements, and to submit an application, visit: www.burlington.ca/STA

  • Burlington City Council Approves Short-Term Accommodation By-law

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    At a Special Council Meeting on Jan 13, 2025, Burlington City Council approved the City’s new Short-Term Accommodation By-law. The by-law is designed to address key concerns raised through community feedback by reducing neighborhood disruptions and protecting long-term rental availability.  

    The City’s new by-law will take effect on May 1, 2025, and requires that all short-term accommodations be licensed in Burlington. Through a review of public input and municipal comparators, the proposed by-law is designed to address the following: 

    • Housing availability: the by-law requires that any property licensed as a short-term accommodation must be the primary residence of the applicant (or have approval from the primary applicant) and can only be rented for a maximum consecutive 28 days and a total of six months (183 days) per year. This aims to encourage property owners to prioritize long-term rental agreements over short-term stays.   

    • Common nuisances: The by-law aims to mitigate common neighbourhood nuisances such as noise, parking issues, and garbage. Short-term accommodation owners will need to provide a ‘renter’s code’ to anyone renting the unit which outlines relevant City by-laws and behavioural expectations. This includes submitting a plan for garbage and parking prior to approval. Additionally, occupancy of the rentals will depend on the size of the rental home to limit noise.   

    • Safety: Owners will be required to submit certificates showing that the HVAC and electrical systems meet requirements prior to a licence being issued. They will also have to sign a declaration to comply with the maintenance and parking plans, Building Code and Fire Code. 

    • The City is currently exploring the feasibility of implementing the Municipal Accommodation Tax for short-term accommodations and will report back to Council later this year

    These priorities were raised by community members through engagement touchpoints, including almost 500 survey responses in 2024.  

    Applications for short-term rental accommodation licenses will be available on the City’s website by April 2025 in advance of the Short-Term Accommodation By-law coming into effect later this year.  

  • Implementation of a Short-Term Accommodation By-law report going to Committee

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    Staff are bringing forward staff report DGM-04-25 Implementation of a Short-Term Accommodation By-law to the Jan 13/14 2025 Committee of the Whole meeting

    A link to watch the meeting be found in the Agenda Meeting Package for the January 13 Committee of the Whole (COW) Meeting at www.burlington.ca/calendar. If you would like to speak at the COW meeting, you can do so by pre-registering to speak by noon on Friday Jan 10 by:

    1. Filling out the form at www.burlington.ca/delegation
    2. submitting a written request by email to the Office of the City Clerk at clerks@burlington.ca(External link) or
    3. calling 905-335-7600, ext. 7481.
Page last updated: 22 Apr 2025, 09:26 AM