Short-Term Accommodations

We want to hear your feedback on short-term accommodations (STAs) within Collingwood!

The Town of Collingwood is in the process of reviewing its approach to addressing STAs within the municipality.

It is currently prohibited under subsection 4.22.2 of the Town’s Zoning By-law No. 2010-040 to use a dwelling unit, or any part thereof, as a STA for any period of 30 days or less, except for bed and breakfast establishments (i.e., where the property owner is also residing in the dwelling where the rental is being offered). For pertinent information related to bed and breakfasts and STAs in the Zoning By-law, please visit this link. For additional information on bed and breakfasts, please visit the "Bed and Breakfast and Short Term Accommodation" section on this page.

Collingwood, like many other municipalities in Ontario, has seen significant growth in the number of STAs. With the growing popularity of online rental platforms, and in the absence of provincial legislation, the challenges associated with enforcing a ban on STAs have increased. While the current number and types of STAs within the Town are unknown, a review in February 2022 of over 60 popular online rental platforms (including Airbnb, VRBO, Booking.com, etc.) by a third party identified approximately 300 active STAs – the majority of which were located within the central and western parts of Collingwood.

Following research and an analysis of municipal best practices and other considerations, Staff Report No. C2022-22 was received at the June 13, 2022 Development and Operations Services Standing Committee meeting. Recommendations from this report were further ratified by Council on June 27, 2022, including the approval for staff to prepare and administer a public consultation to obtain input regarding STAs in Collingwood. While other municipal approaches and best practices will be considered, the unique needs and circumstances of residents in the Town of Collingwood must be the focus.

As such, the Town is launching a public consultation to better understand existing needs, challenges, and opportunities relating to STAs in the municipality. A summary of the results will be provided to Standing Committee and Council for consideration and will be used to inform recommendations on the future of STAs in Collingwood.

As the Town undergoes this review, the current ban on STAs (except for bed and breakfasts) continues to apply. Please ensure you are adhering to the provisions of the Zoning By-law and other applicable by-laws to avoid facing penalties.

The survey will be open until September 30, 2022, at 4:30 p.m. and can be accessed using this link or on this page below. Results of this survey are not scientific, however by asking for registration by participants, we can ensure that only 1 survey is filled out per person.

Those who complete the survey will also have a chance to enter two draws to win a $100 gift card for a local Collingwood restaurant!

If you require any of this information in an accessible format, please contact Amanda Fone at afone@collingwood.ca. Hard copies are also available at Town Hall, 97 Hurontario Street.