Short-Term Rentals

1. Short-term rentals must be licensed in the City of Owen Sound as of March 1, 2024 under the City's Short-Term Rental Licensing By-law.
   
   
2. When booking a short-term rental in Owen Sound, check to make sure that the city-issued licence number is included in the listing or advertisement.  Do not rent short-term rentals that do not display this licence number.
   
   
3. Short-term rentals can only be located on the property of the operator's principal residence - this is the property where the operator lives and the address they use for bills, identification, taxes and insurance.
   
   
4. A short-term rental may operate for a maximum of 180 days per year.
   
   
5. Operators must keep a log with information on each rental they host.
   
   
6. Operators must provide each group of visitors with a visitor's guide and a visitor's code of conduct.
   
   
7. Each short-term rental must have a site plan, fire-safety plan and parking management plan.
   
   
8. Visitors are expected to be good neighbours and respect rules around noise, parking, garbage and recycling.
   
   
9. You can contact By-law Enforcement at enforcement@owensound.ca or 519-376-1440 ext. 1905 if you notice that a short-term rental is operating without a licence, not used as a principal residence, making a nuisance or for other non-emergencies.  You can also submit a by-law complaint at anytime through the online by-law complaint portal.
   
   
10. Call 9-1-1 only for emergencies, such as reporting a fire, reporting a crime or for emergency medical assistance.

A number of staff reports about STRs have been presented to Committee or Council including:

• On May 11, 2023, staff presented Report CR-23-045 to the Corporate Services Committee respecting STRs. 
• On July 13, 2023, staff presented Report CR-23-065 to the Corporate Services Committee respecting feedback and next steps. 
• On September 24, 2023, staff presented Report CR-23-070 to the Corporate Services Committee respecting the draft by-law and short form wording. 
• On November 20, 2023, staff presented Report CR-23-097 to City Council respecting the rental cap and principal residence requirements.
• On February 12, 2024, staff presented Report CR-24-012 to City Council respecting updates to insurance and electrical safety requirements.
• On April 9, 2025 staff presented Report CR-25-035 to the Service Review Committee respecting a one-year review of the short-term rental licensing program.

Please direct any questions to:

• Niels Jensen, Building Inspector and STR Licensing Coordinator
  str@owensound.ca 
  519-376-4440 ext. 1257
  
  
• Briana Bloomfield, City Clerk and STR Licensing Manager
  bbloomfield@owensound.ca
  519-376-4440 ext. 1247