Short Term Rental Accommodations

Short-Term Rental Accommodation By-law 

Short-Term Rental Accommodation:
Means a dwelling or dwelling unit, or any portion of it, that is rented or available for rent and intended to be provided to the travelling or vacationing public or occupied for a seasonal or temporary period and includes a Bed and Breakfast Establishment, that rents not more than three (3) guest rooms, but does not include a motel, hotel, boarding or lodging house, emergency care establishment, hostel, tourist inn, or accommodations.

Short Term Rental Accommodation By-law
A By-Law To Licence, Regulate And Govern Short Term Rentals In The Town Of Cobourg

The above fees and charges are from bylaw 009-2025. 

Zoning By-law Amendment 

At the February 26 meeting, Council passed a by-law to amend the Comprehensive Zoning By-law to define and create provisions specific to short term rental accommodations. By-law No. 007-2025 was passed by Council to permit STRA use in select zones within the Town of Cobourg.

By-law No. 007-2025 outlines the approved uses of three classes of STRA’s which are permitted, in different zones across the Town. The By-law also includes parking requirements for STRA uses as well as home occupations and other accommodation uses. 

Notice of Passing - Zoning By-law Amendment

Any person, incorporated group of persons or agency may appeal to the Ontario Land Tribunal in respect of the Zoning By-law Amendment by filing with the Municipal Clerk of the Corporation of the Town of Cobourg no later than March 24, 2025 a Notice of Appeal setting out the reasons for the appeal, together with the prescribed fee of $400 or $1,100.00 for each appeal made payable to the ‘Minister of Finance’ depending on status.

By-law Number 007 - 2025

The complete Zoning By-law Amendment is available for inspection in the Planning Department, Victoria Hall, 55 King Street West, Town of Cobourg, (905) 372-1005 between the office hours of 8:30 am and 4:30 pm under File No. ZB-2023-004.

Notice of Appeals to Ontario Land Tribunal 

The Town of Cobourg would like to notify residents of appeals submitted to the Ontario Land Tribunal (OLT) regarding Zoning Amendment By-Law No. 007 – 2025 (“By-law No. 007-2025”).

Impacts to Short-Term Rental Accommodations Licencing

By-law No. 007-2025 was proposed as a tool to authorize the operation of STRA’s within the Town of Cobourg. Because the STRA Licensing By-law (By-Law No. 006-2025) relies on the Council-approved amendments to the Zoning By-law, the Licensing By-law cannot be operationalized until appeals to By-law No. 007-2025 have been dealt with through the OLT. 

Due to appeals of By-law No. 007-2025, STRA’s continue to be a prohibited use in the Town. 

The Town of Cobourg continues to work collaboratively with STRA operators to help navigate the STRA licensing program. 

The Town recommends STRA operators prepare and submit their licensing application, however, the Town will not be permitted to grant licences until the OLT decision is made. Should the OLT decision not be in favour of the Town, further delays to the legalization and licensing of STRA’s are expected. STRA operators who choose to operate STRA’s in the interim, could be subject to enforcement action should a complaint be submitted against their property.

Municipal Accommodations Tax

Council has requested that staff further review the implementation of a Municipal Accommodations Tax in Cobourg. Following consultation with local accommodation owners and operators, a report will go back to Council regarding next steps for implementation.

What You Need To Apply for A Licence 

The STRA Fact Sheet provides a listing of details and information required for your application. 

Apply for a License 

The Town of Cobourg uses the online community development platform Cloudpermit for licensing and inspections. With Cloudpermit, you can:

• Apply for, and renew, licenses online from your phone, laptop, or tablet
• Communicate with our team with time-stamped messages
• Schedule inspections with ease
• Pay for fees and fines online

Get started:

To start, create your Cloudpermit account by visiting https://ca.cloudpermit.com/login.

Once registered, you can apply for and renew licenses online with access to up-to-date information.

How-to videos and support materials:

Cloudpermit has a variety of resources to help you – check out Cloudpermit Support for instructions on the basics and watch the instructional videos below to learn how to use the software (watch more here):

• 'How to Send a Message on Cloudpermit' - video
• 'How to Request Inspections' - video

Application Resources 

Electrical Safety Assessments & Fire Code Inspections

The Electrical Safety Authority (ESA) decided to decommission the ElecCheck program in 2022. For your STRA application, an Electrical System Safety Assessment can be performed by a Licensed Electrical Contractor (LEC) using resources from the former ElecCheck program.

What is an Electrical System Safety Assessment?

An Electrical System Safety Assessment is a review of your home's electrical wiring and/or devices to identify potential electrical hazards that could lead to a fire and/or shock. A LEC may use an Electrical System Safety Assessment Checklist for Licensed Electrical Contractors when evaluating a home’s electrical system.   

When it comes to electrical work, ESA always recommends hiring a Licensed Electrical Contracting Business, as they have the equipment, training and expertise to do electrical work safely. 

To obtain your STRA Licence, you submit a signed Electrical Inspection form along with other documentation through Cloudpermit. Should your Electrician not have their own branded inspection forms, you may use the following. 

• Electrical Inspection Form

Exemption Request 

The Town of Cobourg may exempt any person from all or any part of the Short-Term Rental Accommodations By-law if it is satisfied that that the granting of the exemption would maintain the general intent and purpose of the By-law. The Town may impose such conditions as deemed appropriate in relation to an exemption. 

To request an exemption, please fill out and submit a Short-Term Rental Accommodations Exemption Request form:

• Online fillable Short-Term Rental Accommodations Exemption Request form
• Printable Short-Term Rental Accommodations Exemption Request PDF form

Application Denial

An applicant who has been denied a Licence may request to the Director of Legislative Services that their application be heard by the Hearings Officer to request that the Hearings Officer, in their discretion, issue the Licence in question. 

Please refer to the Request for Hearing form:

• Online fillable Request for Hearing form
• Printable Request for Hearing PDF form 

Resources for STRA Operators

As per the STRA licensing guidelines, all STRA operators must comply with applicable Municipal By-laws and provincial legislation. 

STRA Operators must make the following available to renters

• Municipal Nuisance By-Law 
• Renters Code of Conduct 

Please see the Short Term Rental Accommodation By-Law for a full list of Operator requirements.  

Contact

For questions regarding Short Term Rental Accommodations please contact Municipal Law Enforcement and Licensing staff at:

Municipal Law Enforcement and Licensing Department 
201 Second Street (Cobourg Market Building)
T: 905-372-8380
E: licensing@cobourg.ca