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Memo: short-term rentals and essential services during COVID-19.

The Short-Term Rental Accommodation program was initiated by the Town to ensure all rentals operate safely, in accordance with the Fire Protection Standards and the Ontario Building Code. Residents and property owners who wish to rent out rooms or entire units for a period of 28 days or less, are asked to obtain a licence. 

Creating a unit

Check out our building and planning page for building requirements.

Questions, requests and concerns

Questions
  • Common Q&A list on myhuntsville.ca
  • Tips on neighbourly living and communicating with neighbours
  • Contact the Short Term Accommodation Licensing Officer or the Chief Building Official for more information
Requests

Request a short-term municipal accommodation tax return form, and we will send to the email address provided.

request a MAT return form
Community concerns

This program aims to encourage positive neighbourly and community communications. Please refer to the neighbourly living section of our website for handy tips on making these connections.

  • Information is provided to assist with direct communication between neighbors and to the Operators of the Short-Term Rental
  • When a Short-Term Rental property has three valid non-concurrent complaints lodged, the license can be revoked. Before it can be re-licensed, a review from the Administrative Penalty Committee is required.
  • The Town of Huntsville By-law Department can help deal with community concerns such as excessive noise, improper burning, dogs running at large etc. They can be reached during business hours at bylaw@huntsville.ca or phone at 705-789-1751.
  • If there are concerns outside of Town By-law hours, please contact the Ontario Provincial Police (OPP) at 1-888- 310-1122

Safety

Please read these safety guidelines and tips before submitting an application:

Safety guidelines
Tourism and hospitality sector section of the Ontario safety guidelines.
Fire safety tips for owners and renters

Rentals are not regulated like hotels and motels. Practice home safety in rentals just like you do at home. Make sure:

  • Everyone knows the address of the rental
  • There are working smoke and carbon monoxide alarms outside each sleeping area and on every storey of the rental
  • Everyone knows two ways out of every room, and out of the rental 
  • All doors and windows that lead outside can be easily opened
  • To choose an outside meeting place a safe distance from the rental where everyone can meet and be accounted for

For more on fire safety and emergency planning, visit the fire and emergency services page or contact the Fire department.

Application process

Licence application form
  • Consider if Town zoning requirements impact your property’s eligibility for a license
  • Open the application to licence short term rental accommodation
  • Applicant will be asked to provide drawings to help the Town identify how many rooms and overnight guests are allowed on the property. This will include:
    • site plan (parking locations, building locations, accessory structures)
    • floor plans
    • fire plans
    • how waste is to be managed on site
  • A site inspection is arranged with the property owner to ensure that items such as the septic system, number of bedrooms and waste disposal are used responsibly to help mitigate environmental concerns
Requirements met
If requirements are met, a license will be issued and property details will be listed below.
Requirements not met

If property is not in compliance, staff will not issue the license until noted items have been addressed.

Issued short term rental licences

Supporting documents