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Short-term Rental Accommodation Licences

A Short-Term Rental is defined 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, licence, rental agreement, or similar 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 By-law or any other By-law of the Town of Gravenhurst.”

The Town of Gravenhurst has developed a Short-Term Rental Accommodation program that will address regulating Short-Term Rentals (STR) across the municipality. Town Council passed the Short-Term Rental Licensing By-law that requires all STRs to have a license from the Town to operate. The Administrative Monetary Penalty System (AMPS) By-law was also passed to describe the enforcement and the penalties related to not following the By-law to Licence and Regulate Short-Term Rentals.

The Town of Gravenhurst Municipal Office will be closed from December 25, 2024, to January 2, 2025.

Due to the office closure, all Short-term rental licence applications will be accepted until 4:00 p.m. on December 19th, 2024. Applications received after this date will not be reviewed until we return to regular business hours, on January 2, 2025.

Licensing Information

Application Requirements:

  1. Complete Application (an application does not guarantee a licence)
  2. Site Plan (Drawing Example)
  3. Responsible Person Form (to be submitted with application)
  4. Renters Code of Conduct(only sign top half of form for application)
  5. Photo ID
  6. Proof of Ownership

if you are applying on behalf of someone, or having someone applying on your behalf, please include the Authorization to Act as an Agent Form. There is no save feature on the application form, it must be filled out entirely when you submit it.

Licence Information:

  • The Licence fee is $750.00.
  • The Licence fee can be paid within the online application, via credit card (Visa and Mastercard only). Alternatively, payments can be made within 72 hours from submitting your application, at the Town of Gravenhurst Municipal office. We accept credit (Visa or Mastercard only), debit, and cash.
  • The Licence is valid January 1 - December 31 of the year it was issued.

Municipal Accommodation Tax:

  • The Municipal Accommodation Tax, or MAT, is a 4% tax charged on the cost of fixed roof transient accommodations sold for a continuous period of less than 30 days within the boundaries of the Town of Gravenhurst and is applicable to all licensed STRs.
  • The tax applies to all accommodation sold for a continuous period of less than 30 days in a hotel, motel, lodge, inn, hostel, bed and breakfast or dwelling unit or any place an accommodation is provided. The tax would be applicable to roofed accommodations at campgrounds that have hydro AND water.

How do I get set up for reporting and remitting the MAT and when is it due?:

  •  Shortly after receiving approval for your Short Term Rental Accommodation Licence, owners will receive an email invitation to an online reporting and remittance tool. This email will come from the Ontario Restaurant Hotel & Motel Association (ORHMA). 
  • The Municipal Accommodation Tax collected for Short Term Rentals will be remitted quarterly. For example reporting and remitting will be due on the 15th day of April 15th for Q1 (January, February and March), July 15th for Q2 (April, May and June), October 15th for Q3 (July, August and September) and January 15th, 2024 for Q4 (October, November and December).

General Information:

It is expected that those who are renting your STR abide by the Town's by-laws during their stay. The 'Helpful Links' section includes quick links to by-laws and renting information you can provide your guests.

The Town has began sharing  informational Newsletters for the Short-Term Rentals Program. Please Sign up for the Newsletter to be kept up to date! 

Please check out our Frequently Asked Question Page for quick answers to common questions. Any further inquiries please contact:

By-law information:
Kristen Ford, Manager of By-law Services 
kristen.ford@gravenhurst.ca
705-687-3412 ext. 2266  

Licence Application information:
Hailey Lehman, Administrative Clerk II - Legislative Services
 hailey.lehman@gravenhurst.ca
705-687-3412 ext. 2231 

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