Short-Term Rentals

Be prepared to answer the questions in the application. Review the document checklist found under the application checklist tab. Prepare and collect the documents listed. You may need to collect signatures from the property owner. Plan how you will pay the fee.

Generally, you will need to know contact information and details about the property and dwelling.

This is a checklist of information required for an application:

• Application form
• Proof of property ownership
• Names and addresses of parties in a legal partnership
• Owner's authorization where applicable
• Owner's attestation
• Government-issued identification
• Proof of liability insurance which includes a liability limit of no less than $2 million dollars ($2,000,000.00) per occurrence for property damage and bodily injury, and identifies that a short-term rental is being operated on the premises
• Proof that rental existed between April 30th, 2022, and May 1st, 2023
• Responsible person's information
• Site plan
• Parking management plan
• Fire safety plan
• Proof of septic maintenance, inspection and pump-out services within the last five years
• Current photo of the exterior front of the short-term rental building (must not be hidden by large trees, shrubs, etc.)
• Fee

Templates are available in the helpful resources section to assist with drawing the plans. Please contact development services if you need a template.

Fill out the online form and submit all the required information and fee. Submit one application form per short-term rental property.

These shall be received by the Municipality no later than the applicable implementation date for existing short-term rentals and immediately following an application for a new short-term rental.

Printed forms are available upon request from the Development Services department.

Yes. As the property owner, you must give written and signed authorization to another person to apply for a licence on your behalf.

A non-refundable fee of $750.00 shall be paid with each registration. Payment options are cash, cheque, debit or online banking using customer ID. At this time, online banking is not available to customers of CIBC, TD or RBC. We are working to resolve this issue. Customer IDs are assigned when filling out the application form and requesting an invoice. Once you receive the invoice, you will find it includes your customer ID.

Send mail to: Municipality of Bluewater, 14 Mill Ave., Zurich ON  N0M 2T0

Fees shall be received by the Municipality no later than the applicable implementation date for existing short-term rentals and immediately following an application for a new short-term rental.

Yes. The Manager of Development Services shall receive applications and fees no later than the applicable implementation date for existing short-term rentals and immediately following an application for a new short-term rental. Late or incomplete submissions will not be accepted. Failure to submit the application and fee by the due date means the short-term rental will not receive a licence.

All existing short-term rentals shall apply for licences prior to September 30th, 2023. All applications made after September 30th, 2023, will be reviewed as new applications and subject to the location restrictions.

Complete applications will be reviewed on a ward-by-ward basis. A licence is issued by the Municipality.

A licence is valid for one year from the date of issuance. Licences cannot be assigned or transferred.

Several people may be involved with rentals on your property; however, the property owner is ultimately responsible.

The owner shall assign and identify a responsible person for managing and addressing issues in the absence of the owner. The responsible person must be located within 30 minutes of the rental property and be available for emergency calls.

The owner may also authorize another person to apply for a licence on their behalf. Permission must be written using the form provided by the Municipality.

Renters shall adhere to a written code of conduct. A form is provided by the Municipality.

The number of renters is based on the number of bedrooms plus two. A bedroom means a room or area used, designed, equipped, or intended for sleeping and as defined by the Ontario Building Code. The maximum permitted occupancy shall not exceed two (2) persons per bedroom per short-term rental at any given time. A maximum of two additional occupants or renters are permitted above the bedroom occupant load set in accordance with the by-law, unless the septic design or parking management plan limits the number of occupants/bedrooms then maximum occupancy will be based on respective design.

For example, a three-bedroom dwelling has a permitted occupant load of eight (8) persons.

Visitors are permitted provided the maximum occupant load is not exceeded on the property.

Owners are required to do a visual inspection of their septic system to ensure the system is in good working order and submit a record of the pump out. This includes a receipt or letter.

The Ontario Building Code includes the size requirements for onsite sewage (septic) systems. The Code states that for residential dwellings, the size of a sewage system is based on the number of bedrooms, finished area of the dwelling and the number of plumbing fixtures. Anyone concerned that a sewage system is not working properly can contact the municipal office and the complaint will be investigated. Every sewage system requires regular maintenance to ensure it is operating safely and efficiently.

No, they do not. A hand-drawn map or diagram is acceptable. Note that the site plan and parking plan can be shown on the same drawing. Templates are available. Drawings must be legible, detailed and show all structures, parking area, septic system, street, etc.

The property owner must hold liability insurance of not less than $2 million dollars per occurrence for property damage and bodily injury and identifies that a short-term rental is being operated on the premises.

The Municipality issues a licence. The licence is valid for one year from the date of issuance. The property owner is responsible for adhering to the rules set out by the by-law. Demerits are handed out for failure to comply. Total demerits may mean that the licence will be suspended or revoked.

Without prejudice, demerit points may be assessed against a short-term rental under specific conditions. Demerit points shall remain in place for two years from the date they were assessed. A short-term rental licence may be suspended for not longer than six months if the total demerit points is at least seven (7). A licence may be revoked if the total demerit points is at least fifteen (15). The Municipality will notify the owner of a suspension or revocation of a short-term rental licence. A full explanation of the demerit point system can be viewed in the by-law.

Licences cannot be transferred with the sale of a property. The licensee shall notify the Manager of Development Services within ten (10) days of any changes. Changes to provide to the Manager of Development Services include:

• Ownership changes (property or business)
• Address changes
• Liability insurance policy changes
• Changes to a plan (site, parking, fire)

The purchaser cannot assume that notification will be provided by another department within the Municipality of Bluewater.

Information can be updated using the Update My Information button found near the top of this page.

The Municipality encourages continued participation and feedback from all stakeholders. Complaints can be submitted about a perceived infraction of a local municipal by-law using the Report A Concern feature found at the top of our webpages. The Development Services department in charge of short-term rental licensing works closely with by-law enforcement officers.

You may also submit a written request for information.

Municipal law enforcement officers enforce municipal by-laws. When a complaint is received, it is investigated to determine if there has been a by-law violation. The appropriate action will then be taken to resolve the matter. At any time, an officer may enter onto land for the purpose of carrying out an inspection to determine whether by-laws are being obeyed.

Council discussed additional regulations and weighed the benefits and drawbacks of licensing short-term rentals. Council determined that a strict enforcement policy is the best solution at this time for enforceable by-laws (e.g. noise, fire, parking).

The zoning by-law does not prohibit the use of a dwelling unit to be rented (e.g. entire cottage or home) for any length of time (e.g. short term or long term). However, if a room rental is provided, providing or selling meals and/or drink is strictly prohibited as this would be considered a bed and breakfast establishment. Bed and breakfasts are only permitted on properties with zoning permitting that use.

The zoning by-law can be found on our by-laws page.

Council started to discuss short-term rentals in the municipality in 2020. The issues discussed locally were being experienced by municipalities across Ontario.

In 2021, Bluewater began educating short-term rental operators and visitors about important by-laws that visitors and residents must follow.

In 2022 and 2023, staff and Council worked together to consult with residents, operators, and visitors for the purpose of licensing short-term rentals. Public consultation occurred in the form of an online survey, public meetings, and personal conversations.

A 90-day public survey in the summer of 2022 received over 800 responses. Dozens more emails and personal conversations were received from stakeholders since the end of the survey.

Three special Council meetings were held to receive additional public and Council feedback. A presentation can be viewed in the in the October 12th, 2022, Council agenda package.

Council reports include:

• June 5th, 2023
• February 23rd, 2023
• January 26th, 2023
• November 21st, 2022
• September 19th, 2022
• May 16th, 2022
• May 2nd, 2022
• May 17th, 2021
• November 2nd, 2020
• August 17th, 2020