Neighbour of a Short-Term Rental

As part of the Short-Term Rental Licensing Program, the Municipality offers a 24/7 complaints hotline. The purpose of the hotline is to provide a more direct method of contact to resolve issues or concerns at a short-term rental property. There are two ways to submit a short-term rental complaint: by telephone or online

Under By-Law 43-2022, Short-Term Rentals are required to be licenced to operate an STR in the Municipality of Lambton Shores.

• A “Short-Term Rental” or “STR” means all or part of a legally established Dwelling that operates or offers a place of temporary residence, lodging or occupancy by way of a rental agreement or similar commercial transaction for a period of less than thirty (30) consecutive nights throughout all or any part of a calendar year, but does not include an Owner-occupied Short-Term Rental, motel, hotel, hospital, campground, couch surfing or other short-term accommodations where there is no payment

Owner-Occupied Short-Term Rentals are not required to obtain a licence, which are specifically defined as:

• An “Owner-occupied Short-Term Rental” means a Short-Term Rental being offered in a primary Dwelling where the Owner or Tenant is permanently residing while the Premises is being used or operated as a Short-Term Rental, or a single legal accessory Dwelling on the same property as a primary Dwelling where the owner or Tenant is permanently residing while the Premises is being used or operated as a Short-Term Rental, and includes a Bed and Breakfast Establishment

In addition to the fines related to those in contravention of Municipal by-laws, a demerit point system has been established as part of the Short-Term Rental licensing program.

View the demerit point system

Demerit points are issued once a conviction is rendered, or fines are paid, and is not based on complaints to discourage frivolous or vexatious complaints against certain properties. Demerit points could also be applied where there is proof of other offenses occurring (e.g., advertising or operating without a licence, exceeding occupancy, or non-availability of Responsible Person).

Demerit points are assigned to the individual Licence, which will be unique to each individual Short-Term Rental. Demerit points remain in place for two (2) years after the date on which the demerit points were assessed.

A Short-Term Rental Licence may be Suspended for a period of not longer than six (6) months if the total of all demerit points against a short-term rental accommodation is at least seven (7).

A Short-Term Rental Licence may be Revoked if the total of all demerit points against a short-term rental accommodation is at least fifteen (15).

Short-Term Rental owners must designate a Responsible Person(s), which means an Agent or representative of an owner or tenant, or the owner themselves, who is responsible for managing or addressing issues in relation to the owner's Short-Term Rental.

The Responsible Person must be available to respond to concerns at the Short-Term Rental at all times, either in person or by telephone, within a period of no greater than thirty (30) minutes from the time of contact by the Municipality or Municipal Agent. Failure to do so may result in By-Law Enforcement responding and issuing tickets for by-law violations.

A Short-Term Rental's Responsible Person is notified when a complaint or issue is submitted through the 24/7 Short-Term Rental Hotline or Online Form.

The maximum occupancy permitted for all Short-Term Rentals is determined by reference to the number of Bedrooms in the Short-Term Rental.

The maximum occupancy shall not exceed two (2) Persons per Bedroom, plus a total of two (2) Persons, to a maximum of ten (10) Persons per Short-Term Rental. Children who are aged 12 and under at the time of the rental shall not be included in the occupancy calculation.

Example: a Short-Term Rental with three legal bedrooms can have a maximum occupancy of 8 Persons (not including children ages 12 and under)

All Short-Term Rentals must be kept in a clean and sanitary condition with adequate measures for the storage and disposal of garbage and waste. Adequate measures for the storage and disposal of waste can include a self-enclosed building, structure, or container that is located outside of the Short-Term Rental, which is of a sufficient size to store the garbage and waste generated by the Premises.

Garbage and recycling bins are to be placed at the road no earlier than 5:00 p.m. on the evening before collection.