RELEASE — The City is reminding residents who plan to operate a short-term rental in Kingston to apply for their licence first. Under the Short-term Rental Licensing Bylaw, which took effect on June 1, all operators must obtain a licence for their short-term rental.
“This policy is intended to provide a safe and healthy variety of accommodations that support our local tourism industry, while also allowing residents to use their properties to earn additional income,” says Dan Hazell, Supervisor of Licensing & Enforcement. “We want to ensure that all operators are aware of the need for a license so they avoid potential fines down the road.”
Licences are valid for 365 days from the date they are issued and the fee is $180. A short-term rental is defined as any dwelling used to provide accommodations for a period equal to or fewer than 30 consecutive days.
The short-term rental licensing process is designed to be straightforward:
* Obtain and complete an application at CityofKingston.ca/shorttermrentals or in person at 1211 John Counter Blvd.
* Gather the supporting documents, listed at CityofKingston.ca/shorttermrentals.
* Pay the licensing fee after the application has been reviewed and approved by City staff.
Staff have created an application guide to help with the licensing process and can be contacted at licensingapplications@cityofkingston.ca or 613-546-4291 ext. 3150 to answer questions.
Operators may receive reminder notices
Residents who have recently operated or who are now operating a short-term rental may be mailed a notice to ensure that they are aware of current licensing requirements.
As part of a Council-approved agreement, the City is working with Harmari STR to ensure compliance with short-term rental licencing programs. Harmari STR is a Canadian company which collects publicly available information on rentals through listing sites to provide an up-to-date list of short-term rentals currently operating in the City.
Those who have received a notice are encouraged to begin the licensing process as soon as possible, although no fines will be immediately issued.
Release: City of Kingston
Photo: Pixabay (cc)
