Short-Term Rentals

The Township of Bonfield allows property owners to operate short-term accommodation rentals (STR) through a licensing program established under Bylaw 2025-17, adopted on May 13, 2025. 

Conditions of the License:

  1. Annual applications are required and grant one STR license per property. The first-time licence is $1,000 with a subsequent renewal fee of $700.  Licence term shall be February 1st to January 31st of the following year. 
  2. Each licensed property owner must designate a Responsible Person who can easily be reached and is able to attend the property within 60 minutes should there be an issue of concern. The Designated Responsible Person’s name and contact information are posted on the municipal website.
  3. Occupancy of a STR is set at a maximum of two (2) persons per bedroom; with a total property maximum of 10 guests per one STR.
  4. The property owner shall hold a $2 million insurance policy for the STR.
  5. Parking shall be such to accommodate all possible guest vehicles on the property. Parking shall consist of a hard packed surface, at minimum of granular A. 
  6. The property owner shall ensure all required materials are posted on site. Any STRs proposed to be located on private roads, or waterfront access-only, must ensure additional information is posted in accordance with Sections 2.2.7 and 2.2.8 of the By-Law. 
  7. STRs may be rented to a maximum of 28 consecutive days and a total of 150 days a year.
  8. An authorized Officer of the Township will attend the property to conduct the required inspection(s) prior to the License receiving final approval.
  9. STRs shall not be used for large gatherings or special events involving multiple guests.
  10. The landfill card issued to the owner at the beginning of the year shall include the household waste bags required for the STR.
  11. The application, together with the required information listed in the By-Law, plus the corresponding fee, must be included as part of the submission for the application to be deemed complete for review purposes.

Important Information: 

For the history on the bylaw process including drafts, meeting agendas and minutes and links to meeting videos please visit All About Bylaws, or watch the recording of the March 18th, 2025 Townhall. 

Want to learn more about Short-Term Rentals? Explore the resources below for more information.

F.A.Qs

Find all the Frequently Asked Questions here: Short-Term Rentals, Trailers, Hunt Camps, Shipping Containers F.A.Qs

 

Short-Term Rentals

What will be the process for undertaking 'Home Inspections' where short-term rentals are concerned?   

 STR Inspections will focus on life safety components listed in regard to the ‘occupancy’ of a building in the code, including, but not limited to handrails, guards, stairs, egress windows, windows in bedrooms, smoke and C0 Detectors,  etc.

It will also serve to verify the classification or recognition of a building (i.e., was the building constructed under authority of a building permit? Is it recognized as a dwelling, having had approval to be occupied as such? Is it recognized by MPAC, etc.  

 Why is the Township limiting the number of Short-Term Rentals to 50? 

 The Township has received numerous complaints from local area residents in recent years regarding the unauthorized use of properties for the purpose of Short-Term Rentals.

 Such complaints include, but are not limited to, access, parking, waste / pollution, unsolicited behaviour, and noise considerations.

 The Township is currently only aware of ~25 properties being advertised for Short Term Rentals within the Township; so, the proposal to permit up to 50 in the first instance, on a priority basis, potentially represents a doubling of the existing capacity of the Township to accommodate such uses - in a responsible manner.

Have additional questions? Please call the Township at 705-776-2641 or contact any member of Council to provide feedback.

 

Additional Resources:

Please see pages 14 - 25 in the Town Hall presentations, for details on Short-Term Rentals.

Short-Term Rentals

Why is the Township proposing this Bylaw?

Renting one’s home or secondary home on a short-term basis has become a trend throughout Canada, and beyond. This practice is different from long-term rentals as each week or weekend there are new guests that arrive in the neighbourhood for a vacation. While the Township is taking a proactive approach to some regulations based on experiences in other communities, the Township has also heard from residents that the transient nature of the guest is affecting the enjoyment of their own property. Council has also heard from residents that these short-term rentals contribute to the tourism economy and helps the owner cover costs of their property. The proposed Bylaw finds a balance between both points of view.

How might the new Short-Term Rental Bylaw affect me?

  • Short-Term Rentals (STR) are permitted with a valid Licence issued by the Township
  • STRs may be where you live and rent a room(s), a secondary dwelling (cottage), or a corporation may own one (1) STR within the Township
  • STRs shall be for individuals/family/friends rentals to enjoy the community, there shall be no large gatherings or hosting of large assembly events.
  • STR Licenses will only be issued to built dwellings, no accessory buildings or trailers
  • The STR must designate a Dedicated Responsible Person for the rental. That contact information is posted on the municipal website and acts as the first point of contact for the guest and the neighbour should it be necessary. Owners are responsible to ensure their guests follow the rules of the STR.
  • There will initially only be 50 STR licences issued in the Township. As the trend grows, Council has committed to reviewing this number along with the housing demands.

What do I need to obtain a Licence?

  • The property owner fills out the annual application
  • There is one STR licence issued per property with a fee of $1,200 annually
  • The owner is required to have a $2 million insurance policy for the STR
  • Parking must be designated and contained within the STR property. Parking areas must be purposely meant for parking, not on the grass of the front yard.
  • There is a maximum occupancy of 2 persons per bedroom for the entire STR
  • A File Review letter from North Bay Mattawa Conservation Authority indicating that a valid and sufficient septic is in place
  • A Dedicated Responsible Person must be appointed and their contact information provided to the Township and posted on the municipal website. It can be the owner or another person they deem fit that can respond on site within 1 hour of a call.
  • If the potential STR is in the Residential Limited Service area and/or located on a private road there must be communication to guest that emergency services may be limited to set expectations and ensure all guest are prepared.
  • The owner is responsible to share information with the guest i.e., landfill site, fire rating, guest code of conduct, property information etc.

Why are there inspections to obtain a licence?

The Bylaw includes the items for inspection. They are generally safety measures to limit risk to the property owner, the guests and the Township. Items include, but are not limited to, handrails are in place and stairs are not broken, only bedrooms are being used for guests to sleep, equipment on premises is installed correctly and are working properly (stoves have ranges, lights have covers), and there are working smoke alarms and CO2 detectors.

The Inspector will work with the property owner to arrange a time for the inspection and any repairs that may need to be completed.