Landlord guide · Local rules
Ontario rental rules by city: licences, short-term rentals and added units
Short answer
Ontario's tenancy law is the same in every city, but cities and towns add their own rules on rental licences, added-unit registration, short-term rentals and how many homes a lot can hold. This page compares the local rules we found in 87 Ontario cities and towns in October 2026, each linked to its source.
What's the same everywhere in Ontario
Some rules don't change from one city to the next. Ontario's Residential Tenancies Act covers most residential tenancies across the province, and most new leases must use the province's standard lease. A landlord can take a rent deposit of up to one month's rent, used for the last month, plus a refundable key deposit, but no damage deposit; our deposit guide explains. Rent increases for most sitting tenants are capped by the yearly guideline: 2.1% for 2026 and 1.9% for 2027.
Ontario also sets a floor for added units. Since the province's 2022 Planning Act changes, up to three units are allowed as of right on residential lots with full municipal water and sewer, for example two in the house and one in a garage or garden suite. The rule applies automatically across the province, and a city can allow more; many now do.
Everything else on this page is local: rules a city or town has added to Ontario's. Each section below links the city's own pages, so you can check the rules for your address; our tenant placement service then finds, screens and signs the tenant.
Rental licences and unit registration
Two kinds of local rules apply to long-term rentals. A rental licence means the City licenses the rental itself, usually with an inspection, insurance and a fee. London, Waterloo and Thorold license most small rentals; Hamilton licenses rented units in Wards 1 and 8 and part of Ward 14; Oshawa licenses rentals near Durham College and Ontario Tech; and Brampton requires a free licence where its program applies. Caledon is adding long-term rentals to its new licensing program in 2027.
Unit registration is narrower: the City records each basement or other added unit, often after a fire inspection, before anyone lives in it. Mississauga, Milton, Halton Hills, Aurora, Newmarket, Markham, Pickering, Whitby, Clarington, Barrie and Kawartha Lakes are among the places that register added units, and Guelph registers every small multi-unit home. In Barrie, renting an unregistered unit can bring fines of up to $100,000.
Some cities have looked at licensing and decided against it for now: Windsor in July 2026, and Kingston in January 2024. Toronto, Kitchener and Stratford license rooming or lodging houses rather than ordinary rentals.
| City or town | Local rule |
|---|---|
| Aurora | Every additional unit must be registered, with an inspection (By-law 6660-24). Source: Aurora, rental licence or unit registration |
| Barrie | No renting until an additional unit is registered (By-law 2020-010); fines up to $100,000, and a public map of registered units. Source: Barrie, rental licence or unit registration |
| Bradford West Gwillimbury | Accessory units are registered after Fire, Electrical Safety Authority and property standards inspections. Source: Bradford West Gwillimbury, rental licence or unit registration |
| Brampton | A free Residential Rental Licence for one to four units where the program applies, with $2 million in insurance and any additional unit registered first. Source: Brampton, rental licence or unit registration |
| Caledon | Residential Rental Licensing started September 8, 2026: short-term rentals first, long-term rentals in 2027. Source: Caledon, rental licence or unit registration |
| Clarington | A new unit counts as registered when occupancy is granted; units from before July 14, 1994 need a Fire Code inspection. Source: Clarington, rental licence or unit registration |
| East Gwillimbury | Accessory apartments go on the Town's registry, with a Fire Department review charged at application. Source: East Gwillimbury, rental licence or unit registration |
| Essa | A second unit must be registered before it's occupied: $150, including one inspection (By-law 2022-29). Source: Essa, rental licence or unit registration |
| Guelph | Homes with an additional unit, and duplexes to fourplexes, must be registered before anyone lives there; fines reach $50,000. Source: Guelph, rental licence or unit registration |
| Halton Hills | Additional units must be registered with the Town before anyone moves in (By-law 2023-0060). Source: Halton Hills, rental licence or unit registration |
| Hamilton | A licence for each rented unit in Wards 1 and 8 and part of Ward 14, permanent since December 2025; expansion is due back at committee in December 2026. Source: Hamilton, rental licence or unit registration |
| Kawartha Lakes | Every additional unit must be registered, with a one-time fee and inspection (By-law 2020-162). Source: Kawartha Lakes, rental licence or unit registration |
| Kingston | No rental licensing: a pilot was voted down in January 2024. Source: Kingston, rental licence or unit registration |
| Kitchener | Lodging houses need a licence; other long-term rentals don't. Source: Kitchener, rental licence or unit registration |
| London | A Residential Rental Unit Licence for most rentals in buildings of four or fewer units: $175, a $171 fire inspection and $65 a year. Source: London, rental licence or unit registration |
| Markham | Secondary suites must be registered with Markham Fire and Emergency Services, which inspects the suite and the house, for a fee. Source: Markham, rental licence or unit registration |
| Milton | New and existing additional units must be registered since April 1, 2025: a one-time $340 per unit. Source: Milton, rental licence or unit registration |
| Mississauga | Second units must be registered (no fee to register); the public registry is updated every month. Source: Mississauga, rental licence or unit registration |
| Newmarket | Homes with an additional unit register it once with the Town (By-law 2013-13) and get an "N" plate. Source: Newmarket, rental licence or unit registration |
| North Bay | A licence for homes with three to five rental bedrooms, but no new licences since November 2023 while the program is reviewed. Source: North Bay, rental licence or unit registration |
| Oshawa | A rental licence in the area around Durham College and Ontario Tech: $275 plus $75 a bedroom, for two years, with inspections. Source: Oshawa, rental licence or unit registration |
| Peterborough | Yearly licences for rentals with four or more bedrooms for rent and for lodging houses (By-law 17-067). Source: Peterborough, rental licence or unit registration |
| Pickering | Every additional unit must be registered after Fire and Building inspections (By-law 8040/23). Source: Pickering, rental licence or unit registration |
| Scugog | Every additional unit must be registered before it's lived in. Source: Scugog, rental licence or unit registration |
| Stratford | Rooming and boarding houses need a City licence (By-law 130-2022). Source: Stratford, rental licence or unit registration |
| Thorold | Nearly every rental needs a two-year licence (By-law 109-2017); exceptions include buildings of five or more units and owners renting out up to two bedrooms. Source: Thorold, rental licence or unit registration |
| Toronto | A multi-tenant house licence where four or more rooms are rented to people who aren't one household: $27.04 a room plus a $162.24 inspection. Source: Toronto, rental licence or unit registration |
| Uxbridge | Secondary suites must be registered with the Township, after a building permit. Source: Uxbridge, rental licence or unit registration |
| Waterloo | A yearly licence for every rental unit outside apartment buildings (By-law 2025-044), with $2 million in insurance. Source: Waterloo, rental licence or unit registration |
| Whitby | Registration costs $268, or $534 if the unit comes to light through a complaint, with an electrical certificate (By-law 8156-25). Source: Whitby, rental licence or unit registration |
| Whitchurch-Stouffville | A second suite needs a building permit ($1,000 plus plumbing), then registration with the Town. Source: Whitchurch-Stouffville, rental licence or unit registration |
| Windsor | No citywide rental licence: the City decided against it in July 2026. Source: Windsor, rental licence or unit registration |
A city that isn't listed may still have rules: it means we didn't find a local licence or registration rule there when we checked. Building permits, the Fire Code and property standards by-laws apply everywhere.
Short-term rentals
Short-term rental rules vary more than anything else on this page. Most of the larger cities, including Toronto, Ottawa, Mississauga, Brampton, Hamilton, London, Vaughan, Windsor, Burlington and Waterloo, only allow short-term rentals in the host's own principal residence, with a licence or registration. Toronto and Brampton also limit them to 180 nights or days a year.
Elsewhere the rules follow the local market. Collingwood, Huntsville, Orillia and Belleville cap the number of licences; Niagara Falls allows vacation rentals only in tourist and commercial zones; and Lakeshore doesn't permit short-term rentals in any zone. Kitchener decided in 2025 not to license them, and Midland, LaSalle and Centre Wellington were still working on rules when we checked.
A long-term tenancy of a month or more needs no short-term rental licence in any of these places, and it's what we place.
| City or town | Local rule |
|---|---|
| Amherstburg | A licence ($550, then $500 to renew) with insurance, a fire safety plan and inspection; no principal residence rule. Source: Amherstburg, short-term rentals |
| Aurora | A licence: the whole home or up to three bedrooms, one parking space per rented bedroom, six guests at most. Source: Aurora, short-term rentals |
| Belleville | Licences capped at 130, with $5 million in insurance and a code of conduct (By-law 2025-176). Source: Belleville, short-term rentals |
| Brampton | A licence renewed every year, the operator's principal residence only, under 28 days a stay, 180 days a year at most. Source: Brampton, short-term rentals |
| Brantford | Registration with the City, and only in the operator's primary residence (since February 22, 2022). Source: Brantford, short-term rentals |
| Burlington | A licence, the owner's primary residence only, no more than 28 days in a row and six months a year (since May 1, 2025). Source: Burlington, short-term rentals |
| Caledon | A licence since September 2026, under the new Residential Rental Licensing program. Source: Caledon, short-term rentals |
| Centre Wellington | Licensing has been drafted (a cap of 265, eight guests); Council left the decision to the council elected in October 2026. Source: Centre Wellington, short-term rentals |
| Chatham-Kent | No licence for most short-term rentals; a home with five or more bedrooms needs a Rental Dwelling Unit, Large licence. Source: Chatham-Kent, short-term rentals |
| Cobourg | Operators and listings need a licence: Class A $500 or Class B $750 for 2026, plus fire and electrical checks. Source: Cobourg, short-term rentals |
| Collingwood | Principal residence (or an additional unit on the same lot) only, capped at 200 licences, eight guests at most (By-law 2024-078). Source: Collingwood, short-term rentals |
| Essex | A three-year licence ($700), $2 million in insurance and a local contact within an hour; no principal residence rule. Source: Essex, short-term rentals |
| Fort Erie | A licence per unit ($750 to $1,250 a year) with yearly inspections; dedicated short-term rentals only in listed zones since 2025. Source: Fort Erie, short-term rentals |
| Georgina | A licence ($550 new, $350 to renew), a fire inspection, $2 million in insurance, and 100 metres between short-term rentals. Source: Georgina, short-term rentals |
| Greater Sudbury | Occupancy limits were proposed in a September 2026 council motion. Source: Greater Sudbury, short-term rentals |
| Guelph | A licence, the operator's primary residence and one other property, and $2 million in insurance. Source: Guelph, short-term rentals |
| Haldimand County | No short-term rental licence for now; the County's general by-laws still apply. Source: Haldimand County, short-term rentals |
| Hamilton | A licence, and only in the operator's own principal residence (since December 1, 2023). Source: Hamilton, short-term rentals |
| Huntsville | Licences capped at 250, a full year of ownership before applying, and no new short-term rentals in the UR1 zone since September 2025. Source: Huntsville, short-term rentals |
| Innisfil | Allowed only where the operator lives on the property (zoning rules since August 2022). Source: Innisfil, short-term rentals |
| Kawartha Lakes | A licence for stays under 28 days, with a 24/7 complaint line for neighbours. Source: Kawartha Lakes, short-term rentals |
| Kingston | A licence ($203, renewed each year), two guests per bedroom up to 10, and up to two per operator. Source: Kingston, short-term rentals |
| Kingsville | A licence since 2025: two guests per bedroom plus two, up to 10, and 300 metres apart outside downtown. Source: Kingsville, short-term rentals |
| Kitchener | No City licence: Council decided on June 23, 2025 not to license short-term rentals. Source: Kitchener, short-term rentals |
| LaSalle | A February 2026 study recommended licensing, principal residence only and one per lot; not adopted yet. Source: LaSalle, short-term rentals |
| Lakeshore | Not permitted in any zone (since October 10, 2023). Source: Lakeshore, short-term rentals |
| Lincoln | A licence for short-term accommodations and bed and breakfasts, with registration online since November 1, 2024. Source: Lincoln, short-term rentals |
| London | Principal residence only, with a licence; brokers that list them need a licence too. Source: London, short-term rentals |
| Midland | A short-term rental by-law is being drafted; the Town consulted the public in September 2026. Source: Midland, short-term rentals |
| Milton | A licence ($375 a year), the operator's principal residence, and two guests per bedroom. Source: Milton, short-term rentals |
| Mississauga | A licence ($283 a year for 2026), your principal residence only, one rental at a time, stays of 30 days or less, $2 million in insurance. Source: Mississauga, short-term rentals |
| Niagara Falls | Vacation rentals only in tourist and commercial zones: a $500 licence, $250 yearly renewal, fines up to $50,000. Source: Niagara Falls, short-term rentals |
| Norfolk County | Registration from January 1, 2027 ($25, by July 1, 2027), and a 4% Municipal Accommodation Tax from 2028. Source: Norfolk County, short-term rentals |
| North Bay | A licence for stays of 28 days or less, with demerit points. Source: North Bay, short-term rentals |
| Oakville | A licence, the operator's principal residence only, three rooms at most and $2 million in insurance. Source: Oakville, short-term rentals |
| Orillia | A yearly licence after inspections, capped at 150, one per property, with a 4% Municipal Accommodation Tax. Source: Orillia, short-term rentals |
| Oro-Medonte | A licence, and only in resort zones and listed resort condos, not in residential zones (By-law 2026-078). Source: Oro-Medonte, short-term rentals |
| Oshawa | A licence ($100), the unit you live in only, under 28 days a stay and no more than 180 days a year. Source: Oshawa, short-term rentals |
| Ottawa | The host's principal residence, with a two-year host permit, on City-registered platforms only. Source: Ottawa, short-term rentals |
| Owen Sound | A licence ($500 a year), principal residence only, up to 180 days a year and eight guests. Source: Owen Sound, short-term rentals |
| Port Colborne | A licence since November 1, 2025: $1,000 to start and $600 a year outside the vacation zone; two guests per bedroom, up to 10. Source: Port Colborne, short-term rentals |
| Prince Edward County | No new licences for secondary residences since 2022; a primary residence hosts all year with the host on site, or 45 days away. Source: Prince Edward County, short-term rentals |
| Sarnia | A licence for stays under 30 days; in residential zones, the operator's principal residence, three guest rooms at most. Source: Sarnia, short-term rentals |
| Sault Ste. Marie | A three-year licence for stays under 28 days, after building and fire inspections, with $2 million in insurance. Source: Sault Ste. Marie, short-term rentals |
| Springwater | A yearly licence, inspections, 10 people at most, and demerit points that can suspend it (By-law 2024-068). Source: Springwater, short-term rentals |
| St. Catharines | Principal residence of the owner or a long-term tenant only, with a two-year licence and $2 million in insurance. Source: St. Catharines, short-term rentals |
| Stratford | A licence for stays of 28 days or less, with $2 million in insurance; additional units can't be short-term rentals. Source: Stratford, short-term rentals |
| Thunder Bay | Registration and the Municipal Accommodation Tax for stays under 30 days; fines from $500 to $10,000 a day. Source: Thunder Bay, short-term rentals |
| Timmins | A business licence since January 14, 2025, and a 4% accommodation tax. Source: Timmins, short-term rentals |
| Toronto | Principal residence only, registered with the City ($390 for 2026), and a whole home for no more than 180 nights a year. Source: Toronto, short-term rentals |
| Vaughan | A licence renewed every year, the owner's principal residence only, for stays of 29 days or less; booking platforms need a City licence too. Source: Vaughan, short-term rentals |
| Wasaga Beach | A licence since March 1, 2026 (By-law 2026-08), with demerit points: seven can suspend it, fourteen revoke it. Source: Wasaga Beach, short-term rentals |
| Waterloo | Owner-occupied principal residences only, since January 2025. Source: Waterloo, short-term rentals |
| Welland | A yearly licence, three guest bedrooms at most; in an accessory unit, the operator has to live on the property. Source: Welland, short-term rentals |
| Whitchurch-Stouffville | A licence renewed every year, $1,116 per application, with a set maximum occupancy (By-law 2026-069-LI). Source: Whitchurch-Stouffville, short-term rentals |
| Windsor | A licence ($336, then $254 to renew), principal residence of an applicant only. Source: Windsor, short-term rentals |
How many homes a lot can hold
Ontario's floor is three units on a serviced residential lot. A growing number of cities have gone further, often under their federal Housing Accelerator Fund agreements. Toronto allows multiplexes of up to four units in every neighbourhood, and up to six in Ward 23. Mississauga, Hamilton, London, Kitchener, Waterloo, Guelph, Kingston, Greater Sudbury, Belleville, St. Thomas, Burlington, Richmond Hill and Collingwood are among the places that allow four homes on many lots. Markham's council voted for four, but the mayor vetoed it in March 2026.
The limits that catch landlords out are usually the details: a parking space for each unit, how far a backyard unit can be from the house, its size compared with the main home, and whether the lot is on municipal water and sewer. In several places, rural lots and lots under the Greenbelt or Oak Ridges Moraine plans are limited to one added unit.
| City or town | Local rule |
|---|---|
| Aurora | Up to three units on a lot in all. Source: Aurora, additional units |
| Belleville | Up to four homes as of right on serviced lots (March 2025). Source: Belleville, additional units |
| Brantford | One additional unit in the house and one in a detached building: three homes in all. Source: Brantford, additional units |
| Brockville | Three units on a serviced lot: three in the house, or two plus a garden suite, with a parking space for each. Source: Brockville, additional units |
| Burlington | Up to three additional units beside the main home, only one in an accessory building, on city water and sewer. Source: Burlington, additional units |
| Caledon | Up to three additional units in most residential zones, one of them detached; fewer under the Greenbelt and Oak Ridges Moraine plans. Source: Caledon, additional units |
| Cambridge | Up to two additional units: two in the house and one detached, or three in the house. Source: Cambridge, additional units |
| Centre Wellington | Every additional unit needs a building permit, and the site plan needs a parking space for each home. Source: Centre Wellington, additional units |
| Clarence-Rockland | Up to three units with full services; on well and septic, a second unit only on rural lots of 4,000 m² or more. Source: Clarence-Rockland, additional units |
| Clarington | Up to two additional units in the towns and hamlets; one on Oak Ridges Moraine and Greenbelt lands. Source: Clarington, additional units |
| Collingwood | Up to three additional units, four homes in all, attached or detached. Source: Collingwood, additional units |
| County of Brant | Up to four homes as of right on fully serviced lots in Paris and St. George (since May 13, 2025). Source: County of Brant, additional units |
| Georgina | Up to two additional units on a rural or residential lot. Source: Georgina, additional units |
| Greater Sudbury | Four units as of right on fully serviced lots in settlement areas (December 2024), a parking space each. Source: Greater Sudbury, additional units |
| Grimsby | Additional units inside, attached to or detached from the house, under rules approved August 11, 2025. Source: Grimsby, additional units |
| Guelph | Up to four homes on a property in low-rise neighbourhoods (approved December 10, 2024). Source: Guelph, additional units |
| Halton Hills | Up to two additional units on a serviced lot: both in the house, or one inside and one in an accessory building. Source: Halton Hills, additional units |
| Hamilton | Houses can be converted to up to four units (2022), and triplexes and fourplexes are permitted in low-density zones (2024). Source: Hamilton, additional units |
| Innisfil | Up to two accessory units on many properties, registered at the final inspection; not in Cookstown. Source: Innisfil, additional units |
| Kawartha Lakes | Two additional units on serviced lots; one, inside a detached house, on the Oak Ridges Moraine. Source: Kawartha Lakes, additional units |
| King Township | Up to two additional units, only one in a separate building; one, inside the house, on Oak Ridges Moraine countryside lots. Source: King Township, additional units |
| Kingston | Four units per lot in low-rise residential areas (July 2024). Source: Kingston, additional units |
| Kitchener | Up to four units on many serviced lots (RES-1 to RES-5), with a building permit. Source: Kitchener, additional units |
| Lakeshore | Up to four homes on a lot with full municipal services, adopted by Council in November 2025 (OPA 22) and sent to Essex County for approval. Source: Lakeshore, additional units |
| London | Four homes on a lot as of right, including the main one; no more than two units in an accessory building (October 2024). Source: London, additional units |
| Markham | Council voted to allow up to four homes on many lots, but the mayor vetoed it under strong mayor powers in March 2026. Source: Markham, additional units |
| Midland | The Town's page lists one second unit per lot, with a building permit; Ontario allows up to three homes on serviced lots. Source: Midland, additional units |
| Mississauga | Fourplexes as of right on low-rise residential lots citywide, up to three storeys (approved December 2023). Source: Mississauga, additional units |
| Niagara Falls | Up to two additional units, one parking space each; added units in residential zones can't be vacation rentals. Source: Niagara Falls, additional units |
| North Bay | Two additional units on urban lots, half a parking space each; one on rural lots. Source: North Bay, additional units |
| Oakville | Up to three units on a lot with a detached house, semi or townhouse (confirmed May 2024). Source: Oakville, additional units |
| Orangeville | Up to two additional units, inside the house or detached, with two parking spaces for the house plus one per unit. Source: Orangeville, additional units |
| Orillia | The City's guide lists one secondary unit, in the house or an accessory building, not both; Ontario allows up to three homes on serviced lots. Source: Orillia, additional units |
| Ottawa | New Zoning By-law 2026-50 is mostly in force; parts under appeal follow the stricter of the old and new rules. Source: Ottawa, additional units |
| Owen Sound | Up to two additional units, three homes in all, one of them detached (since February 2023). Source: Owen Sound, additional units |
| Pickering | Up to two additional units, inside the house, in a backyard building or one of each; at most one parking space each. Source: Pickering, additional units |
| Quinte West | Three additional units as of right on serviced lots (2025). Source: Quinte West, additional units |
| Richmond Hill | Up to three additional units, four homes in all, with no more than two in one accessory building (By-law 143-24). Source: Richmond Hill, additional units |
| Sarnia | The City's page lists one secondary unit inside a house, at least 35 m², with a parking space for each unit; Ontario allows up to three homes on serviced lots. Source: Sarnia, additional units |
| Sault Ste. Marie | Four units as of right is planned under the City's Housing Accelerator Fund agreement. Source: Sault Ste. Marie, additional units |
| Scugog | Up to two additional units in Port Perry; one on rural, shoreline and Oak Ridges Moraine lots. Source: Scugog, additional units |
| South Frontenac | Two additional units since January 2024, not within 90 metres of a lake or river, with an adequate water supply shown first. Source: South Frontenac, additional units |
| St. Catharines | Up to two additional units on a lot with a detached house, semi or townhouse. Source: St. Catharines, additional units |
| St. Thomas | Four homes per lot as of right, citywide (October 2025). Source: St. Thomas, additional units |
| Stratford | Up to three units on a lot, each with a parking space and a building and electrical permit. Source: Stratford, additional units |
| Tecumseh | Up to two additional units; four units as of right has been proposed but not approved. Source: Tecumseh, additional units |
| Thunder Bay | An additional unit is allowed in most urban residential neighbourhoods, depending on lot size. Source: Thunder Bay, additional units |
| Toronto | Multiplexes of up to four units in every neighbourhood, and up to six in Ward 23 (Scarborough North). Source: Toronto, additional units |
| Waterloo | Four units and four storeys in low-rise residential neighbourhoods (approved December 9, 2024). Source: Waterloo, additional units |
| Windsor | Up to three homes on a lot; units created before November 20, 2018 need a permit too. Source: Windsor, additional units |
| Woodstock | Additional units inside, attached or detached, smaller than the main home, once servicing is confirmed. Source: Woodstock, additional units |
| Woolwich | Up to two additional units, one of them detached, with a zoning compliance certificate first. Source: Woolwich, additional units |
A few city pages still list fewer units than Ontario's three. Where that happens, we say so in the table; ask the city which limit applies to your lot before you build.
Grants, loans and fee waivers for new units
Several cities pay part of the cost of a new unit, usually with conditions on the rent or on who lives in the main home, and usually while the money lasts. Hamilton and St. Catharines cover 70% of eligible costs, up to $40,000 a unit in Hamilton and up to $80,000 for a detached unit in St. Catharines. Kingston offers forgivable loans for units rented below market, and Cambridge, Chatham-Kent and Quinte West offer grants. Tecumseh and Whitby waive or cover some permit fees.
These programs open and close often, so treat the table as a starting point and confirm with the city before you build.
| City or town | Local rule |
|---|---|
| Cambridge | A one-time grant of up to $10,000 for a completed additional unit. Source: Cambridge, grants and loans |
| Chatham-Kent | 50% of eligible costs, up to $27,000 for one new unit or $32,000 for two. Source: Chatham-Kent, grants and loans |
| Collingwood | Grants under the Town's Rapid ARU Initiative. Source: Collingwood, grants and loans |
| Cornwall | In the central core, loans for half the cost of interior renovations, up to $30,000, for commercial buildings and their apartments. Source: Cornwall, grants and loans |
| Georgina | An incentive program for new additional units, while federal funding lasts. Source: Georgina, grants and loans |
| Hamilton | 70% of eligible costs, up to $40,000 a unit, in the program area, while funding lasts. Source: Hamilton, grants and loans |
| Kingston | Forgivable loans up to $40,000 (detached) or $30,000 (interior) for units rented at up to 90% of average market rent; waitlisted. Source: Kingston, grants and loans |
| Quinte West | $3,000 to $5,000 per new unit for owner-occupiers, paid at occupancy. Source: Quinte West, grants and loans |
| St. Catharines | 70% of eligible costs, up to $40,000 for a unit inside the house or $80,000 for a detached one. Source: St. Catharines, grants and loans |
| St. Thomas | Community Improvement Plan grants for homeowners creating additional units. Source: St. Thomas, grants and loans |
| Strathroy-Caradoc | Grants for permit and planning fees, construction and professional fees, first come, first served, with approval before work starts. Source: Strathroy-Caradoc, grants and loans |
| Tecumseh | No building permit fees for additional units until December 31, 2027, or until Housing Accelerator funding runs out. Source: Tecumseh, grants and loans |
| Thunder Bay | Housing Accelerator Fund grants for building additional units, and pre-approved designs. Source: Thunder Bay, grants and loans |
| Whitby | Select Town fees covered for additional unit applications completed by December 31, 2026, plus pre-reviewed designs. Source: Whitby, grants and loans |
Other local rules
A few rules don't fit the tables above but matter to landlords. Toronto charges a Vacant Home Tax on homes left empty six months or more in a year, and every owner must declare each year whether the home was occupied. Toronto and Hamilton both require a City licence before a landlord ends a tenancy for renovations with an N13 notice. Ottawa's landlord by-law requires a tenant information document at signing and replies to urgent requests within 24 hours.
| City or town | Local rule |
|---|---|
| Hamilton | A renovation licence before renovations that need an N13 notice. Source: Hamilton, other local rules A Vacant Unit Tax of 1% on homes vacant more than 183 days in a year, with a yearly declaration (kept for 2025 by an 8-7 vote). Source: Hamilton, other local rules |
| Leamington | Planning rules for boarding houses and farm worker housing: OPA 8 is in force, and the zoning amendment is under appeal. Source: Leamington, other local rules |
| Ottawa | A tenant information document at signing, and replies to urgent requests within 24 hours (By-law 2020-255). Source: Ottawa, other local rules A Vacant Unit Tax on units unoccupied more than 184 days in a year: 1% the first year, rising one point a year to 5%. Source: Ottawa, other local rules |
| Toronto | A Vacant Home Tax of 3% of assessed value on homes left empty six months or more in a year, with a yearly declaration. Source: Toronto, other local rules A rental renovation licence, applied for within seven days of an N13 notice, with rent-gap payments to tenants (since July 31, 2025). Source: Toronto, other local rules |
How to check the rules for your address
- Start with the city's own pages. Search its website for "rental licensing", "additional residential units" or "short-term rentals", or call 311 where the city has it.
- Check the zoning for your lot. Unit limits, parking and setbacks depend on the zone, and some streets have their own exceptions.
- Register before you list. Where your city registers added units, the registration comes before the tenant, and skipping it can bring fines.
- Read your condo's rules. Condo declarations and rules can restrict short stays, and the owner must give the corporation notice of each lease.
- Re-check before each new tenancy. Rules change often: several on this page are less than a year old.
Each of our area pages lists its city's rules with links, and the full comparison is available as a CSV file, one row per rule with its source. You're welcome to quote it with a link to this page.
Sources
- Environmental Registry of Ontario, decision on the Bill 23 Planning Act changes (019-6163) (up to three units per lot as of right; decision posted December 19, 2022)
- Government of Ontario, Residential rent increases (2.1% for 2026, 1.9% for 2027)
- Government of Ontario, Guide to Ontario's standard lease
- Each city's rule in the tables above links to its own source (the CSV download lists every source)
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