Short-Term Accommodations
On February 1, the Town launched Phase 1 of the Short-Term Accommodation (STA) Licensing Program. Phase 1 leverages existing provisions in the Official Plan and Zoning By-law No. 2010-040 and introduces a licensing requirement for existing and new bed and breakfasts in Town.
All bed and breakfasts are required to apply for a “Class A – Guest Room Short-Term Accommodation” Licence. If you are currently operating a bed and breakfast, please ensure that the Town receives your Class A Licence application by March 1, 2024, to avoid fines under STA Licensing By-law 2023-085 for operating without a licence.
For more information on the STA Licensing Program, or to access application materials and details, please visit www.collingwood.ca/sta.
Explore this page to learn more about the development of the STA Licensing Program and stay informed on the implementation of Phase 2!
About the Project
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).
However, like many other municipalities in Ontario, Collingwood has seen significant growth in the number of STAs. With the growing popularity of online rental platforms and the absence of provincial legislation, the challenges associated with enforcing a ban on STAs have increased. While the exact number and types of STAs within the Town are unknown, a review of over 60 popular online rental platforms (including Airbnb, VRBO, Booking.com, etc.) by a third party identified over 300 active STAs – the majority of which are located within the central and western parts of Collingwood.
Following research and analysis of municipal best practices and other considerations, Staff Report #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.
To better understand the community’s thoughts and opinions surrounding STA use in Collingwood, staff launched a survey that members of the public could complete between August 11 and September 30, 2022. A STA Open House was also held on September 14, 2022, where the public had an opportunity to ask questions and learn more about the STA Review.
Overall, an analysis of all feedback received through the public consultation indicates various perspectives on managing STAs in Collingwood. However, based on all feedback received, there is support for permitting STAs (beyond bed and breakfast establishments, which are already permitted) and a shared understanding respecting the need for a balanced and fair approach to regulation to facilitate improved management and enforcement of STA concerns.
Staff Report #C2023-05 summarized feedback received and presented options for managing STAs. This staff report was presented at the February 6, 2023, Strategic Initiatives Standing Committee meeting, and on February 21, 2023, Council directed staff to prepare a follow-up report that includes potential next steps, draft by-laws and a licensing framework governing STAs.
The draft STA Licensing Framework, detailed in Staff Report #C2023-15, was presented to Committee of the Whole on May 15, 2023. For a summary of the Draft Framework, please view this document.
On June 5, 2023, Council approved staff to prepare and initiate a consultation on the draft Licensing Framework. The STA Licensing Survey ran from June 19th till July 31st, 2023. An Open House also took place on July 12th, 2023, where members of the public could ask questions or leave feedback on the draft Framework.
Results of this public consultation were analyzed and are summarized in Staff Report #C2023-24. This Staff Report also outlined a phased implementation of the STA Licensing Program and presented an updated Licensing By-law, which received approval from Council on November 6, 2023.
On February 1, the Town launched Phase 1 of the STA Licensing Program. Under the STA Licensing By-law 2023-085, all bed and breakfasts must obtain a "Class A - Guest Room STA" Licence to operate. If you are currently operating a bed and breakfast, please ensure that the Town receives your Class A Licence application by March 1, 2024, to avoid fines under Licensing By-law 2023-085 for operating without a licence.
To learn more about the program and the application process, please visit www.collingwood.ca/sta.