April 2025 Update

To ensure that the licensing process is efficient, compliant, and user-friendly, and due to unexpected technical issues, Council approved a new Short Term Rental Accommodation Licensing By-law 2025-049 on April 16, 2025. This By-law reflects proposed changes endorsed by Planning Committee on March 13, 2025 as well as some minor housekeeping, technical and administrative items.

A copy of the new By-law can be found on the Township website. The key changes that were made are as follows:

• Those who are operating an STRA in 2025 will be permitted to continue to advertise and operate through the end of the year, however they must submit their application by December 31, 2025.
• Commencing May 1, 2026 rental restrictions that apply to Waterfront, R4 & Waterbody Open Space zones will come into effect. These restrictions are to cease all rentals for one week in each of June, July and August (the ‘Summer Monthly Break’) and to not provide the STRA to more than one Primary Renter (rental group) per every six (6) consecutive nights (the ‘Summer Rental Frequency’). All bookings must be in accordance with these restrictions commencing May 1, 2026.
• The occupancy limit for an STRA is two (2) persons per bedroom. However, an applicant may request an increase of this number if they can demonstrate to the satisfaction of the Township that the sewage disposal system serving the premises was designed and constructed in compliance with the Ontario Building Code to accommodate a higher occupancy number requested on the application.

The Township expects to launch the online application portal by this summer and encourages all operators to submit their applications once the portal is live, as an influx of submissions is projected.

Please subscribe to Engage Muskoka Lakes to receive the most up-to-date information from the Township on the launch of the application portal. Please also visit our Short Term Rentals page for information on application requirements and sample documents.

For questions or additional information, please contact Carly Bray, Licensing Officer, at 705-765-3156 ext. 357, cbray@muskokalakes.ca