Short Term Rentals

Would you like to see rules and guidelines put in place for short-term rentals operating in the City of Kenora? The Planning Division is gathering information about the general impression of short-term rentals (STRs) and their impact on our community. This input will provide insight into whether the City should develop by-laws and policies to manage short-term rentals in the City of Kenora.

Get involved

You can provide your input on the operation of short-term rentals in the City of Kenora and learn about the research we are conducting.

• Take the Short Term Rentals Survey
• Join us at a community conversation
• July 12, Matiowski Farmers' Market
• Attend an open house
• Listen to Waves Episode 15 What's A Short Term Rental

What are short-term rental accommodations

Short-term rentals (STRs) are the rental of a private dwellings or any part thereof, that includes but is not limited to houses, apartments, condos, and cottages. 

STRs operate or offer short-term accommodations from private dwellings by way of concession, permit, lease, licence, rental agreement, or similar commercial arrangement, for any period of 30 consecutive days or less throughout all or any part of a calendar year.

STRs include, but are not limited to, rentals provided by AirBNB, VRBO, Expedia, HomeAway, Kijiji, and word-of-mouth.

STRs are different from hotels, motels, and bed and breakfasts. They operate from residential properties where owners and/or staff may not be present, and currently do not require any safety inspections or licenses for approval or operation.

For reference, a Bed and Breakfast is an owner-occupied private home where accommodations and meals are provided to the travelling public but does not include a boarding house, hostel, hotel, motel, or resort. Bed and Breakfasts are permitted in the following City of Kenora Zones: R1 – Residential First Density Zone, R2 – Residential Second Density Zone, R3 – Residential Third Density Zone, RR – Rural Residential Zone, TR – Tourist Recreational Zone, RU – Rural Zone. 

Why we are exploring regulations

With the number of short-term rentals growing and operating in the City of Kenora, we want to make sure that public safety and the quality of our community remain the top priority. Short-term rentals should consider community housing needs, support economic development, and fill the demand for overnight stays here. All accommodation businesses should be able to operate with fairness and equity. There should be administrative tools to address problems with the operation of a short-term rental.

Regulatory options for short-term rentals

There are four options to consider for regulating short term rentals in the City of Kenora for consideration:

Background

Short-term rentals have become increasingly popular and controversial for Ontario municipalities over the past decade. In Kenora, there were at least 84 active short-term rentals in 2022. Most offered the rental of an entire home. The average occupancy rate was 71%, with an average monthly revenue of $2,382 per month, with a peak of 93% occupancy and $4,000 per month revenue in July, 2022. 

Whether to regulate or not, has been a grey area for municipalities. Short-term rentals have gained mainstream status because of websites like AirBNB and VRBO. They are increasingly popular as homeowners can make extra money for offering their home as short-term accommodation, which is often referred to as a “sharing economy.” The drawbacks include disruptive behaviour, excessive noise, and other nuisances. There is also impact on local housing availability and affordability. As a result, many municipalities in Ontario have begun to develop regulations and guidelines for short-term rentals.