FAQ’s About Establishing Short-term Accommodation

In response to the inquiries received from residents about short-term accommodations, we have created this FAQ page for your reference. We encourage you to reach out to the contacts provided below if you have questions or concerns. 

 

Advisory Regarding Short-term Accommodation Licensing

Council of The Municipality of Meaford is in the process of considering a short-term accommodation licensing by-law, which could significantly impact the permissibility and/or operation of short-term accommodation properties throughout the Municipality.

Municipal staff anticipate a draft by-law will be brought to Council in early 2024. Please follow this page for more information as it becomes available. Related documents on this project are available at the bottom of this page. See also the Short Term Accommodations page for further background on this project. 

1. What is a short-term accommodation?

A short-term accommodation provides living accommodation to the travelling or vacationing public and is occupied for a seasonal or temporary period.

2. Does the Municipality license short-term accommodations (rentals)?

The Municipality does not license short-term accommodations, however the use may be regulated under our Municipal Zoning By-law 60-2009. Examples of accommodation uses defined in the Zoning By-law are: Bed and Breakfast, Cottage Rental, Hotel/Motel, Tourist Establishment and Campground. Most short term accommodations (rentals) are considered Cottage Rentals in the By-law. For more information, please review the definitions in Part 3 of our Zoning Bylaw 60-2009 and the applicable provisions with those uses.  You can self-check the full Zoning By-law on the Municipal website at www.meaford.ca/zoning.

 

Some lands within the municipality are not under the jurisdiction of our Zoning By-law 60-2009, but are regulated under the Niagara Escarpment Commission Development Control. In those cases, you need to check with the Niagara Escarpment Commission or visit www.escarpment.org to determine if your lands are regulated within their jurisdiction and if the use is permitted.

3. Does the Municipality license an Airbnb?

Airbnb or any other online marketplace business for lodging, connects people who want to rent out their ‘home’ with people who are looking for seasonal or temporary accommodations in specific locations.

 

The Municipality does not license short-term accommodations, however the use may be regulated under our Municipal Zoning By-law 60-2009. Within the municipality, these types of short term accommodation uses in a person’s ‘home’ may be defined as: Bed and Breakfast or Cottage Rental. For more information, please read question 4 below or review the definitions in Part 3 of our Zoning By-law 60-2009 and the applicable provisions with those uses. You can self-check the full Zoning By-law on the Municipal website at www.meaford.ca/zoning.

 

If your land is within the jurisdiction of the Niagara Escarpment Commission and regulated under the Niagara Escarpment Commission Development Control, you will need to visit www.escarpment.org to determine if the use is permitted.

 

All property owners are required to ensure that their property when rented or in this use, is in compliance with all applicable statues and regulations which includes but not limited to the Building Code, the Fire Code, parking, noise, yard maintenance, etc.

4. What are the current short-term accommodation regulations in ‘residential homes’ that are within the Municipality’s jurisdiction under Zoning By-law 60-2009?

The two types of short-term accommodation uses in a person’s ‘home’ within our Zoning By-law 60-2009 are:

  1. Bed and Breakfast – A single detached dwelling unit in which not more than three bedrooms are used or maintained for the accommodation of the travelling or vacationing public, in which the owner of the dwelling unit resides and supplies lodgings with or without meals for hire or pay, but does not include a residential care facility or tourist establishment.

Review:

  • Bylaw 60-2009,  section 6.1, table 6.1 – to ensure the use is permitted in the residential zone; or

Bylaw 60-2009, section 8.0, table 8.1 – to ensure the use is permitted in agricultural, rural, recreational and other zones.

 

 2. Cottage Rental - The commercial use of all or part of a single detached dwelling to provide living accommodation to the travelling or vacationing public or occupied for a seasonal or temporary period. A Cottage Rental shall not mean or include a Motel, Hotel, Bed and Breakfast Establishment, Tourist Establishment, Hospital or similar commercial or institutional use.

Review:

  • Bylaw 60-2009, section 4.30 – which permits the use within a permitted single detached dwelling, subject to the following:

a)     a Cottage Rental may not be located within a detached Accessory Structure or within a temporary or permanent farm help accommodation or Dwelling;

b)     a Cottage Rental may occur within an Accessory Apartment Dwelling Unit within a single detached Dwelling, however not within both the main and the Accessory Apartment Dwelling Units; and

c)     where a Cottage Rental is established either on its own or together with a Bed and Breakfast Establishment, the total combined number of bedrooms providing accommodation for the vacationing or travelling public shall not exceed three.

For more information, please review the definitions in Part 3 of our Zoning By-law 60-2009 and the applicable provisions with those uses.

You can self-check the full Zoning By-law on the Municipal website at www.meaford.ca/zoning.

 

All property owners are required to ensure that their property when rented or in this use is in compliance with all applicable statues and regulations which includes but not limited to the Building code, the Fire Code, parking, noise, yard maintenance, etc.
5. Can I use my accessory building, Bunkie, temporary or permanent farm help accommodation or Dwelling as a short term accommodation that are within the Municipalities jurisdiction under Zoning Bylaw 60-2009?

No, the use must be within a single detached Dwelling Unit.
6. How many bedrooms are permitted in a Bed and Breakfast that is within the Municipality's jurisdiction under Zoning Bylaw 60-2009?

Not more than three bedrooms are permitted to be use in a single detached Dwelling Unit.

 

The Municipality applies the Ontario Building Code and our Property Standards By-law to regulate the occupancy standard for Bed and Breakfast establishments in residential homes:

 

  1. The Building Code Act standardizes two persons per bedroom and;
  2. Our Property Standards Bylaw 2019-70, section 50 – regulates occupancy standards:
  • 50.1 Shall not permit the use of a non-habitable room for the use as a habitable (sleeping) room.
  • 50.2 The minimum area of a room for sleeping purposes in a dwelling unit used by only one person shall have a floor area of at least 6 square metres (64.5 square feet).
  • 50.3 The minimum area of a room for sleeping purposes in a dwelling unit as a bedroom by two or more persons shall be four square metres (43 square feet) for each person.
  • 50.4 No basement shall be used as a habitable room unless it meets the following requirements:
    • floor and walls are constructed so as to be impervious to leakage of underground and surface runoff water and treated against dampness;
    • each habitable room shall meet all requirements for light, ventilation, area and ceiling height prescribed in this By-law or the Building Code; and
    • access to each habitable room shall be gained without passage through a furnace or boiler room.

Review:

All property owners are required to ensure that their property when rented or in this use is in compliance with all applicable statues and regulations which includes but not limited to the Building code, the Fire Code, parking, noise, yard maintenance, etc.
7. How many bedrooms or how many people are allowed to sleep in a Cottage Rental that are within the Municipality’s jurisdiction under Zoning Bylaw 60-2009?

A maximum of three bedrooms are permitted for the use in a single detached Dwelling Unit.

 

The Municipality applies the Ontario Building code and our Property Standards Bylaw to regulate the occupancy standard for Cottage Rentals in residential homes:

 

  1. The Building Code Act standardizes two persons per bedroom; and
  2. Our Property Standards Bylaw 2019-70, section 50 – regulates occupancy standards.

Section 50.1, shall not permit the use of a non-habitable room for the use as a habitable (sleeping) room. The following shall be met:

  • floor and walls are constructed so as to be impervious to leakage of underground and surface runoff water and treated against dampness;
  • each habitable room shall meet all requirements for light, ventilation, area and ceiling height prescribed in this By-law or the Building Code; and
  • access to each habitable room shall be gained without passage through a furnace or boiler room.

Review:

 

FAQs About an Existing Short-term Accommodation

1.  What do I do if I have concern with my neighbour’s short-term accommodation?

You have three options to lodge a formal complaint:

  1. Using our online web portal Report a Concern: www.meaford.ca/reportaconcern.
  2. Email bylaw@meaford.ca. In your email identify:
  • concern in subject line, for example, short term accommodation parking; and
  • in the body of the email provide your name, contact information, details about your concern and the address for the property you are reporting the concern on.
  1. Call 519-538-2121 and leave message with your name, contact information, concern and property address for the property you are reporting the concern on.

Once a complaint is received, an occurrence number is generated and assigned to an Officer to investigate.

 

All property owners are required to ensure that their property when rented or in this use is in compliance with all applicable statues and regulations which includes but not limited to the Building Code, the Fire Code, parking, noise, yard maintenance, etc.
2. What about property issues with short-term accommodations such as excessive garbage, vehicles parked on the street, expansion of driveways and general property conditions?

If you have any concerns with the state of a property you may lodge a formal complaint. You have three options to lodge a formal complaint:

  1. Using our online web portal Report a Concern: www.meaford.ca/reportaconcern.
  2. Email bylaw@meaford.ca. In your email identify:
  • concern in subject line, for example, short term accommodation parking; and
  • in the body of the email provide your name, contact information, details about your concern and the address for the property you are reporting the concern on.
  1. Call 519-538-2121 and leave message with your name, contact information, concern and property address for the property you are reporting the concern on.

Once a complaint is received an occurrence number is generated and assigned to an Officer to investigate.

 

All property owners are required to ensure that their property when rented or in this use is in compliance with all applicable statues and regulations which includes but not limited to the Building Code, the Fire Code, parking, noise, yard maintenance, etc.

Resources:

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