Short Term Accommodation Licensing | Town of The Blue Mountains, ON

Prior to applying for a Short Term Accommodation (STA) Licence, please review all the information on this page. All completed documentation should be submitted by email to Short Term Accommodation Licences Staff.

On this page:
1. Short Term Accommodation Zoning
2. Application Guide
3. Licensing Fees
4. Short Term Accommodation Appeal Process
5. Administrative Monetary Penalties
6. Frequently Asked Questions

Short Term Accommodation Zoning

There are specific areas of the Town that are zoned to allow for licensed STA and Commercial Resort Unit (CRU) use.

Please review the STA Zone Map, which indicates those lands where an STA is listed as a permitted use on a property (any “RR” zone). Once you have confirmed that operating an STA is a permitted use:

Review Zoning By-law 2021-59 regarding special provisions for each specific RR zone.
Complete the Pre-Screening Application found in the Application Guide on this page and submit it to the STA Licensing Administrator for review.
Make payment of $80.00 for the Pre-Screening Application by contacting (519) 599-3131 ext. 326.

If your property is eligible to apply for a STA Licence, you will receive a Planning Clearance Letter.

Application Guide

^{Revised: January 15, 2024}

Complete the forms listed below and submit them to the Town's By-law Department through the Short Term Accommodation Licences Contact Form. A fee of $80 must be paid for the Pre-Screening Application. This fee can be paid by contacting (519) 599-3131 ext. 326
1. Pre-Screening Application Form (License Eligibility Inquiry)
2. Parking Management Plan (not for condos) - View Sample
Once you have completed the Pre-Screening Application and received the Planning Clearance Letter, the forms and documents listed below must be submitted. Each document must be filled out, completed and attached individually; staff will not accept required documentation saved as one file (PDF). Please save and attach each document individually.
Once the documents have been submitted, an Application Submission fee of $60.00 is required for reviewing the documents and providing a response. This fee can be made by cheque payable to the Town of the Blue Mountains, or by credit card by contacting (519) 599-3131 ext. 249
1. Application
2. Deed/Transfer
3. Article of Incorporation (if applicable)
4. Responsible Person Form
5. Authorization to Act on behalf of Owner (if applicable)
6. Renter's Code - View Sample
7. Floor Plans must include a legend showcasing the following items - View Sample
  Smoke/Carbon Monoxide Alarms
  Smoke Alarms
  Fire Extinguishers
  EXIT Signs and Emergency Lighting
  Secondary Means of Egress
  Main Electrical Shut Off
  Main Gas Shut Off
8. Fire Safety Plan - View Sample
9. Site Plan (include area with dimensions of fire pit for any structure) Must meet the Recreational Open Air Burning Guidelines (not for condos) - View Sample
10. Parking Management Plan (not for condos) - View Sample
11. Inspection Report for Fuel Burning Appliances - View Sample
  (Inspection form must include full name of the technician, inspector TSSA #, a checklist of the work performed and all other relevant details such as address, inspection date, etc.)
12. Insurance Certificate
Fire Services will review the fire safety plan and approve or deny it. If denied, they will contact you to advise of the deficiencies. You are required to resubmit a revised fire safety plan which is subject to a review fee of $85 per hour. Once the fire safety plan is approved, Fire Services will schedule a fire inspection of the property. Incomplete paperwork will delay scheduling of the fire safety inspection. Fees and charges will be applied if the fire safety plan and required documents are not complete and are sent back to the applicant for changes because of incomplete or missing information.
1. Fire Safety Plan Review (per hour) - $85.00
2. Fire Safety Inspection - $160.00
3. Fire Safety Re-inspection - $320.00
Please review the Fire Inspection Checklist and complete a self-audit of the premises. A Fire Department Inspection Video is available to assist you.
If you have a fire pit on your property, you are required to have it shown on the Site Plan and it will also be inspected by Fire Services.
Fire Services will attend the property to do the inspection.
If the property does not pass the inspection, the fire inspector will advise of the deficiencies which need to be rectified and a further re-inspection will be required for an additional fee of $320 and any subsequent inspections are $480.
If the property passes the fire inspection, the fire inspector will provide a fire inspection report to STA licences at which time, we will require the application fees and fire inspection fee to be paid.
Once paid, a licence will be issued by the Town of The Blue Mountains. The licence, the approved fire safety plan and the fire inspection report will be emailed to the owner and the responsible person, and the original licence placard will be available for pick-up at the Town Hall (32 Mill Street, Thornbury, ON). These documents are to be posted at the front entrance of the property.
If you wish to advertise your property on websites and social media, you are required to provide the issued licence number in accordance with By-law 2021-70. You must include the valid current Licence Number on all:
- advertisements and promotional materials;
- websites;
- contracts and agreements entered into with a Renter;
Failure to do so may result in a penalty in accordance with By-law 2021-71.

Licensing Fees

Please review the following table of fees relating to the STA Licensing Application process. These fees were updated on March 27, 2023, with the passing of the 2023 Town Budget.

View Fees

Description	Fee
Pre-Screen Inquiry Fee	$80.00
Application Submission Fee	$60.00
Initial STA Licensing Fee - Type A (inside the exception zone) (2-year term)	$2,440.00
Initial STA Licensing Fee - Type B (outside the exception zone) (2-year term) (Please note that a moratorium has been placed on new Type B licenses. Existing Type B licenses can be renewed for the listed fee)	$2,440.00
Initial STA Licensing Fee - Type C (legal non-conforming) (2-year term)	$2,495.00
Initial STA Licensing Fee - Type D (Bed & Breakfast) (2-year term) Plus Planning Fees	$565.00
Fire Safety Inspection	$160.00
Fire Re-Inspection Fee	$320.00
Fire Subsequent Re-Inspection Fee	$480.00
STA Re-inspection Fee for By-law Staff (paid prior to 2nd inspection)	$140.00
STA Re-inspection Fee for By-law Staff (paid prior to 3rd inspection & each additional inspection)	$195.00
Late Renewal Fee	$110.00
Replacement License Placard	$50.00
Appeal to Licensing Appeal Committee	$555.00
Late Payment Fee	$30.00
Screening No-Show Fee	$140.00
Hearing No Show Fee (with notice of less than 3 business days)	$385.00
Land Title Search Fee	$45.00

Short Term Accommodation Appeal Process

If an Applicant/Property Owner wishes to appeal any aspect of an issued Short-Term Accommodation License, including any license that has been revoked, refused or suspended, as well as any demerit points issued, the Applicant may appeal that decision, or appeal the imposition of any conditions, to the License Appeal Committee within fifteen (15) days of being notified of the applicable decision. You are required to submit a written request by e-mail, regular mail or hand delivery to the Town Clerk.

Upon receipt of a written request for a hearing from an Applicant or Licensee, a hearing will be scheduled. If you are acting as agent for a Licensee, you are required to provide their consent by email or letter together with the written request. The required Appeal Fee to Licensing Appeal Committee must also be provided at the time of the request.
Notice of the hearing will be given to the Applicant or Licensee at least twenty (20) days prior to the hearing, and a notice of the hearing will be posted on the Town’s website.
The hearing will be held in public at the Town Hall either virtually or in person, and the Licensing Appeal Committee will hear the Applicant or Licensee and every other person who desires to be heard.
No decision of the Licensing Appeal Committee is valid unless it is concurred in by the majority of the members of the Licensing Appeal Committee that heard the matter. The decision will be in writing and will set out the reasons for the decision.

For further information refer to section 10 of By-law 2021-70. You may also contact the STA Licensing Administrator at (519) 599-3131 ext. 326.

Administrative Monetary Penalties

The Town is now issuing Administrative Monetary Penalties (AMP) for violations related to Short Term Accommodations/Rentals, and Bed & Breakfasts. Operating without a licence will result in an AMP of $2,500. Advertising without a licence will result in an AMP of $500.

View Penalties

Violation	Penalty
Exceeding Maximum Permitted Occupancy	$500
Non-availability of Responsible Person	$500
Non-availability of Rental or Lease Management Program Representative	$500
Fail to Post Licence	$500
Operate Without a Licence	$2,500
Advertise without a Licence – Short Term Rental Property Unit	$500
Advertise Without a Licence – Bed and Breakfast Establishment	$500
Failure of the Licensee of B&B’s to be on Site at the Premises Between the Hours of 2300 and 0700.	$500
Permit an Activity that Causes a Nuisance	$250
Use Premises Contrary to Parking Management Plan	$500
Operating Without Functioning Noise Notification System Where Required	$500
Use or Permit the Use of an Outdoor Hot Tub or Pool Between 2300 and 0700 Hours	$500
Failure to Properly Secure or Cover a Pool or Hot Tub	$500
Use or Permit the Use or Ignition of an Outdoor Fire or Fire Pit Without a Permit	$500
Failure to comply with an order	$500

Frequently Asked Questions

The Town owns the short-term accommodation licences and must confirm that all requirements of the by-law have been fulfilled prior to issuing a licence. Commercial General Liability insurance reduces the Town’s risk of being added as a defendant or by being found liable if a lawsuit is brought forward against the property owner. Commercial General Liability insurance also covers any employees or contractors of the licence holder.