Online application forms are now available at www.Gravenhurst.ca/STR for owners to begin the process of getting their license.
Following direction from Council staff undertook extensive community consultation efforts in 2021 to determine what the best course of action was to regulate Short Term Rental properties in Gravenhurst. With input and analysis from various departments, the Short-Term Rental Licensing By-law 2022-058 was presented and adopted by Council at the May 31st Planning Council with implementation beginning in January 2023; meaning at that time all Short-Terms Rentals must have a Town-issued license to operate in Gravenhurst.
The By-law defines a Short-Term Rental (STR) as “the use of a dwelling unit that operates or offers a place of temporary residence, lodging or occupancy by way of concession, permit, lease, license, rental agreement or similar commercial arrangement for any period equal to or less than twenty-eight (28) consecutive calendar days, throughout all or any part of the calendar year, unless otherwise prohibited by this Bylaw or any other By-law of the Town of Gravenhurst.”
To obtain a license, all Short-Term Rental owners must complete and submit the application form, including all relevant documents outlined in the by-law, with an annual fee of $750.00. Licenses will be valid from January 1, 2023 to December 31, 2023.
In addition to the new y-law, a corresponding Administrative Monetary Penalty System (AMPS) By-law was adopted in September and will also be coming into effect January 2023. This system will allow the Town to enforce compliance with regulatory requirements, instead of processing through the Provincial Offences Court. Manager of By-law Services, Kristen Ford, explained the system as “a reliable and comprehensive way for regulators to respond to infractions”.
“Along with the new by-laws being implemented, those who operate an STR within Gravenhurst are still expected to follow other municipal by-laws that address many of the behaviours that have been described as problematic,” Ford added. These by-laws include those related to open burning, noise, parking, property standards, dark sky lighting, site alteration and site plan control. The Town’s By-law Department will continue enforcement of these by-laws.