Home records, explained › The home and the lot
What are the city's rules for renting the home out or running a business from it?
Four records are read: the city's short-term rental by-law, its rental licensing by-law (where it has one), its zoning rules for a home-based business, and Ontario's Residential Tenancies Act, whose rent-increase guideline doesn't apply to units first occupied after 15 November 2018. The city rules come from our hand-kept tables.
Report check: Rental and home business rules. Entry reviewed 20 Oct 2026; each source below shows its own data date.
How a report shows itsample, made-up home
Rental and home business rulesNote
Short-term rentals are allowed only in a host's principal residence, with a City permit. A rental housing licence is required for each rented unit. The zoning by-law permits a business run from the home by a resident, with one employee who lives elsewhere (sample).
Where we read it
- 63 municipalities' rules
- Elsewhere: where to look
the town's own records– not in our reports there yet
Free checkreads it
Full reportevery report
DealbreakerRental and short-term rental rules
Published byGovernment of OntarioEach municipality's by-law
Short-term rentals, town by town
Each town's short-term rental line, sorted by what it says: a licence, permit or registration; only a home someone lives in (the operator's principal residence, owner-occupied, or a resident on the property); a yearly cap. Hover a town for its own words; its page has the full line, the by-law and the date we checked it.
A licence, permit or registration is needed33 towns
Only a home someone lives in18 towns
No short-term rental licence on the town's pages5 towns
Not permitted in any zone1 town
A yearly capthe filled part of each year is the cap
275 a year
Other rules (the line sets conditions this picture doesn't sort): Ajax, Chatham-Kent, Cornwall, Quinte West, Tecumseh. Every town's full line, its by-law and the date we checked it are on its page.
Rental licences and registered units, town by town
Each town's rental licensing line, sorted by what it says: a licence for rented homes across the city, a licence for some rented homes only, and extra units that must be registered. Hover a town for its own words; its page has the full line and the date we checked it.
A licence for rented homes across the city3 towns
A licence for some rented homes (by area, size or type)6 towns
Extra units must be registered13 towns
Other rules (the line sets conditions this picture doesn't sort): North Bay. Every town's full line, its by-law and the date we checked it are on its page.
A business run from home, town by town
Each town's home business line, sorted by the share of the home's floor area it allows (filled squares, out of 100) and by how many people from outside the household may work there. Many lines also cap the area in square metres or limit clients and types of business; the town's page has the full line, the by-law and the date we checked it. Hover a town for its own words.
Share of the home's floor areathe filled squares are the share
People from outside the householddark: the household; blue: from outside
None: only the household13 towns
1 from outside31 towns
- Ajax
- Aurora
- Barrie
- Belleville
- Bradford West Gwillimbury
- Brampton
- Brantford
- Caledon
- Cambridge
- Clarington
- Cornwall
- East Gwillimbury
- Fort Erie
- Greater Sudbury
- Guelph
- Halton Hills
- Hamilton
- King
- Kingston
- Kitchener
- London
- Markham
- New Tecumseth
- North Bay
- Orangeville
- Sarnia
- St. Catharines
- Stratford
- Thunder Bay
- Whitchurch-Stouffville
- Woodstock
2 from outside5 towns
Other rules (the line sets the limits by zone or area): Ottawa.
What the record is
Short-term rental by-laws typically limit rentals to the operator's principal residence, require a City registration and cap the nights a whole home may be rented; many cities also charge a municipal accommodation tax. Rental licensing applies in some cities or wards to low-rise rentals. Home-business rules in the zoning by-law set who may run it, how much floor area it may use, employees, clients and storage.
The report line gives each rule from our tables with its by-law number and the date we read it, and states the provincial rent rule. The by-laws are the authoritative text.
Where it runs
At every Ontario address, from provincial and federal records:
- Residential Tenancies Act, 2006, s.6.1; Ontario rent increase guideline (data date Act consolidated 21 Sep 2026; guideline page 23 Jun 2026)
The municipal rule comes from our hand-kept tables, read from each municipality's own by-law or published page, for the 63 municipalities listed below. For a home anywhere else: We don't have the municipality's rental licensing, short-term rental and home business rules summarised yet. Its by-laws are on the municipal website. List of Ontario municipalities
Rental licensing, city by city
The cities we know of that license low-rise rentals.
| Municipality | Rule | Record |
|---|---|---|
| Aurora | every additional residential unit must be registered with the Town, each one separately, for the fee in the Fees and Charges By-law | By-law 6660-24 Read by us 29 Oct 2026 |
| Brampton | a residential rental licence is required for rental properties with one to four units in every ward from 1 Jan 2026 (applications are free); additional units must also be registered with the City | Residential Rental Licensing program Read by us 5 Oct 2026 |
| Caledon | a Residential Rental Licensing program licenses short-term rentals from 8 Sep 2026, with long-term rentals to follow in 2027; the Town says every additional residential unit is to be registered with it | Residential Rental Licensing program Read by us 29 Oct 2026 |
| Chatham-Kent | a dwelling unit with five or more bedrooms rented as one unit or by the room needs a Rental Dwelling Unit, Large licence (By-law 65-2026); a Rental Renovation Licence (By-law 68-2026) is needed before an eviction for renovations when an N13 notice is served on or after 1 October 2026 | By-law 65-2026 and By-law 68-2026 Read by us 29 Oct 2026 |
| Clarington | additional dwelling units must be registered with the Municipality; a unit is considered registered once the building inspector grants occupancy | Zoning By-law 84-63 s.3.2(g) Read by us 29 Oct 2026 |
| Guelph | additional dwelling units must be registered with the City ($170 to $680) | Small Multi-Unit Residential Registration By-law Read by us 5 Oct 2026 |
| Halton Hills | additional residential units must be registered with the Town before they are occupied, after the building permit and the Town's inspections | By-law 2023-0060 Read by us 29 Oct 2026 |
| Hamilton | a rental housing licence is required for each rental unit in buildings of up to five units in Wards 1, 8 and part of Ward 14 (made permanent in December 2025) | Licensing By-law 07-170 Read by us 5 Oct 2026 |
| Innisfil | accessory dwelling units must be registered with the Town; registration is automatic once the unit's building permit passes its completion inspection | By-law 044-21 Read by us 29 Oct 2026 |
| Kawartha Lakes | every additional residential unit must be registered with the City, with a one-time fee and an inspection; unregistered units are considered illegal | by-law 2020-162 Read by us 29 Oct 2026 |
| London | a residential rental unit licence is required for rented units, including every additional residential unit (new licence $175, renewal $65 in 2026) | By-law CP-19 Read by us 5 Oct 2026 |
| Milton | additional residential units, new or existing, must be registered with the Town since 1 April 2025, with an inspection and a compliance certificate renewed each year ($340 per unit; no renewal fee during the pilot) | By-law 032-2025 Read by us 29 Oct 2026 |
| Newmarket | additional residential units must be registered with the Town (one-time fee $268.93) | By-law 2013-13 Read by us 5 Oct 2026 |
| North Bay | a City licence is required for a property with 3 to 5 rental bedrooms and rental bedrooms are limited to 5, except owner-occupied homes with two or fewer renters; the City says the licensing program is under review and on hold | By-law 2012-55 Read by us 29 Oct 2026 |
| Oshawa | a residential rental housing licence is required around Durham College and Ontario Tech University (Class A: $275 plus $75 a bedroom, and a $50 application fee); two-unit houses must be registered citywide | Business Licensing By-law 122-2024, Schedule P Read by us 5 Oct 2026 |
| Ottawa | rooming houses need a City licence (Licensing By-law 2002-189, Schedule 26); other rental homes fall under the Rental Housing Property Management By-law 2020-255, which sets landlord duties such as giving tenants contact and service-request information; a Rental Renovation Licence By-law approved on 15 July 2026 takes effect on 1 January 2027 | Rental Housing Property Management By-law 2020-255 Read by us 5 Oct 2026 |
| Peterborough | a rental premises business licence, renewed every year, is needed for a rented dwelling unit with four bedrooms or more and for lodging houses of 5 to 30 bedrooms, which are inspected; a whole house of three bedrooms or fewer is not covered | by-law 17-067 Read by us 29 Oct 2026 |
| Pickering | homes with an additional dwelling unit must be registered with the City, for a one-time fee, after Building and Fire inspections | By-law 8040/23 Read by us 29 Oct 2026 |
| Toronto | multi-tenant (rooming) houses need a City licence and are permitted citywide since 31 Mar 2024; RentSafeTO covers apartment buildings of three or more storeys and 10 or more units | Municipal Code Chapters 575 and 354 Read by us 5 Oct 2026 |
| Waterloo | the Rental Housing Licensing By-law requires a licence for low-rise rental housing citywide (revised rules in effect 1 Jul 2026) | By-law 2011-047 Read by us 5 Oct 2026 |
| Whitby | additional dwelling units must be registered with the Town ($268.00; $534.00 for a unit found through a complaint; $107.00 to transfer) | By-law 8156-25 Read by us 29 Oct 2026 |
Summarised by OfferDue from each municipality's own by-law or published page on the date shown. The by-law or rate schedule is the authoritative text.
Short-term rental rules, city by city
The by-law in each city we have summarised.
| Municipality | Rule | Record |
|---|---|---|
| Ajax | short-term rentals are limited to two guests per bedroom plus two, to a maximum of twelve at any one time (By-law 85-2026); a 5% Municipal Accommodation Tax applies to stays of 28 consecutive days or less | by-law 85-2026 Read by us 29 Oct 2026 |
| Aurora | a Town licence is needed to rent a home for 28 days or less; licences last one year after an inspection, cover the whole home or up to three bedrooms, need an off-street parking space for each rented bedroom, and carry demerit points | by-law 6426-22 Read by us 29 Oct 2026 |
| Barrie | a 6% Municipal Accommodation Tax applies to stays under 30 nights (By-law 2019-022); the City's pages set out no short-term rental licence | the municipality's by-law Read by us 28 Oct 2026 |
| Belleville | every short-term accommodation (stays under 28 nights) needs a yearly City licence, owner-occupied or whole-home; none within 100 m of another registered one; at most four guests at a time except a whole single-detached house; a 4% Municipal Accommodation Tax applies to stays under 30 days | by-law 2025-176 Read by us 29 Oct 2026 |
| Brampton | short-term rentals need a City licence and are limited to the operator's principal residence, for stays under 28 consecutive days and up to 180 days a year, with no more than three bedrooms rented individually; a 4% Municipal Accommodation Tax applies to stays of 30 days or less | by-law 165-2021 Read by us 28 Oct 2026 |
| Brantford | every short-term rental (stays of up to 28 consecutive days) must be registered with the City for $50 a year and operated by people whose principal residence it is; a 4% Municipal Accommodation Tax applies to hotels, motels and bed and breakfasts, including rooms sold online | by-law 28-2022 Read by us 29 Oct 2026 |
| Brockville | the zoning by-law permits short term vacation rentals in the R1 to R4A zones and some mixed-use zones, with at most three guest rooms, none in accessory buildings or additional dwelling units, and one parking space per guest room; the City lists no short-term rental licence; a 6% Municipal Accommodation Tax applies to stays under 30 days | by-law 050-2014 s.3.49 Read by us 29 Oct 2026 |
| Caledon | short-term rentals (stays under 28 days, up to 180 nights a year) need a Town licence since 8 Sep 2026 ($250 until 6 Nov 2026, then $500); the rental must be the operator's primary residence, one per owner, and corporately owned properties are not licensed | the municipality's by-law Read by us 29 Oct 2026 |
| Chatham-Kent | short-term rentals are not licensed except those offering five or more bedrooms, which need a Rental Dwelling Unit, Large business licence | by-law 65-2026 Read by us 29 Oct 2026 |
| Collingwood | a Town licence is needed for stays of 28 days or less, in three classes tied to the licensee's principal residence in a single-detached home (guest rooms with the host on site, the whole home, or an additional unit on the owner's lot); two guests per approved guest room to eight; at most 200 licences; one per lot; a 4% Municipal Accommodation Tax applies | by-law 2024-078 Read by us 29 Oct 2026 |
| Cornwall | a 5% Municipal Accommodation Tax applies to stays of fewer than 30 nights in any place of accommodation, a dwelling unit included (By-law 2024-102); the zoning by-law permits a bed and breakfast of up to five guest rooms only as an accessory use to a single-detached house | by-law 2018-039 (as amended by 2024-102) Read by us 29 Oct 2026 |
| East Gwillimbury | the zoning by-law lists short term rental accommodation (stays under 30 days) as a permitted use in the Mixed Use zones, subject to site plan approval, with one parking space per bedroom; the residential and rural zones don't list it, and the Town has no short-term rental licence | by-law 2018-043 Read by us 29 Oct 2026 |
| Fort Erie | a short-term rental of 30 days or less needs a Town licence ($750 for one or two bedrooms, $1,250 for three); dedicated rentals are permitted only in listed commercial, mixed-use, R2B and some waterfront zones, owner-occupied ones (one per property, owner present) in listed residential, rural and agricultural zones, with at most three bedrooms and eight guests | by-law 102-2024 Read by us 29 Oct 2026 |
| Georgina | a yearly Town licence is needed for stays of 30 days or less, in a single family dwelling with three parking spaces plus one per guest room; at most twelve persons, fewer on a septic system; licensed rentals at least 100 m apart unless a variance is granted; no more than 150 active licences | by-law 2019-0061 (LI-3) Read by us 29 Oct 2026 |
| Guelph | short-term rentals of 30 days or less have needed a City licence since 1 December 2023, and the operator must live in Guelph | the municipality's by-law Read by us 28 Oct 2026 |
| Hamilton | short-term rentals are limited to the operator's principal residence, with one licence per operator; a 4% Municipal Accommodation Tax applies | by-law 07-170 Read by us 5 Oct 2026 |
| Innisfil | a short-term rental of less than 28 days is treated as a bed and breakfast: permitted only in zones that allow one, owner-occupied, with at most three guest rooms and no kitchens in them, and no employees except for housekeeping and food preparation | by-law 080-13 s.3.9 Read by us 29 Oct 2026 |
| Kawartha Lakes | a City licence is needed to rent a dwelling for fewer than 28 consecutive days, hosted or un-hosted, with at most two renters per bedroom plus two (under-15s not counted), no guests after 11 pm, no un-hosted rental to anyone under 25, $2 million liability insurance and the licence number on every listing | by-law 2023-111 Read by us 29 Oct 2026 |
| Kingston | short-term rentals need a City licence ($203), with at most two per operator; a 5% Municipal Accommodation Tax applies | the municipality's by-law Read by us 5 Oct 2026 |
| Kitchener | Council decided on 23 Jun 2025 not to license short-term rentals | the municipality's by-law Read by us 5 Oct 2026 |
| Lakeshore | short-term rental accommodations (stays of 28 consecutive days or fewer) are not permitted in any zone; shorter stays are held to the bed and breakfast rules, which allow one only in a single detached dwelling in the zones that permit it; additional units may not be rented as vacation rentals; an Ontario Land Tribunal appeal of the by-law was before Council in September 2025 | by-law 85-2023 Read by us 29 Oct 2026 |
| Lincoln | every short-term accommodation (up to 28 consecutive days) and bed and breakfast needs a Town licence ($550 for one year, $650 for two), with one short-term accommodation per property and principal residency rules in zoning By-law 2024-60; a 4% Municipal Accommodation Tax applies | by-law 2024-61 Read by us 29 Oct 2026 |
| London | short-term accommodations of 28 days or less need a City licence and must be at the host's resident address, with one rental per provider from 1 October 2026; a 4% Municipal Accommodation Tax applies | the municipality's by-law Read by us 28 Oct 2026 |
| Milton | short-term rentals of 28 days or less need a Town licence ($375 a year) and must be the operator's principal residence, with occupancy limited to two persons per bedroom | the municipality's by-law Read by us 29 Oct 2026 |
| Mississauga | short-term rentals are limited to the operator's principal residence, with a licence ($283 a year) and up to 180 nights a year; a 6% Municipal Accommodation Tax applies | by-law 0289-2020 Read by us 5 Oct 2026 |
| Newmarket | one short-term rental per lot is licensed, with a permanent resident on the property, up to three bedrooms and six guests; a 4% Municipal Accommodation Tax applies | the municipality's by-law Read by us 5 Oct 2026 |
| Niagara Falls | a licensed vacation rental unit must be in a tourist, general or commercially designated zone, not a residential area, with at most three bedrooms and two on-site parking spaces; a pilot of up to 100 owner-occupied short-term rental licences closed to applications on 30 September 2026; a 4% Municipal Accommodation Tax applies, rising to 5% on 1 April 2027 | by-law 2021-57 Read by us 29 Oct 2026 |
| North Bay | a City licence is needed for stays of up to 28 days: the owner's principal home in the zones the by-law lists (a whole home up to 180 days a year), other homes only in the C1 and C7 zones, at most eight guests and four guest rooms; a 4% Municipal Accommodation Tax applies to stays under 30 days | by-law 2022-77 Read by us 29 Oct 2026 |
| Oakville | short-term accommodations of 28 consecutive days or less need a Town licence and must be in the operator's principal residence, with at most three lodging units; platforms need their own licence; a 4% Municipal Accommodation Tax applies to stays under 30 days | by-law 2018-045 Read by us 29 Oct 2026 |
| Orillia | every dwelling rented for fewer than 28 consecutive days needs an annual City licence: one per property, at most 150 a year by lottery, two guests per approved bedroom and ten in all overnight, fees of $680 per bedroom to $2,040 (2026); a 4% Municipal Accommodation Tax applies | Municipal Code Chapter 730 Read by us 29 Oct 2026 |
| Oshawa | short-term rentals need a City licence and are limited to the operator's principal residence, for stays under 28 consecutive days and up to 180 days a year; a 5% Municipal Accommodation Tax applies | by-law 122-2024, Schedule Q Read by us 28 Oct 2026 |
| Ottawa | a City host permit is needed to rent all or part of a principal residence for under 30 consecutive nights, renewed every two years; rural homeowners and cottage owners may offer cottage rentals under a separate permit | by-law 2021-104 Read by us 5 Oct 2026 |
| Quinte West | a 4% Municipal Accommodation Tax applies to accommodation for less than 30 days in any place, a dwelling unit included; the zoning by-law permits a bed and breakfast of up to three guest rooms in a single detached house only, in the zones that list it | by-law 19-077 Read by us 29 Oct 2026 |
| Sarnia | short-term accommodations (stays of less than 30 consecutive days) need an annual City licence and a fire inspection, in the operator's principal residence, with at most three guest rooms and an entire home rented for at most 180 days a year; a 4% Municipal Accommodation Tax applies | by-law 15 of 2020 Read by us 29 Oct 2026 |
| Sault Ste. Marie | a City licence, renewed every three years, is needed to rent a unit or part of one for less than 28 consecutive days; the zoning by-law permits one self-contained short-term rental per lot, with listed exceptions (s.4.15), and a 6% Municipal Accommodation Tax applies to stays under 30 days | by-law 2022-178 Read by us 29 Oct 2026 |
| St. Catharines | a short-term rental needs a City licence (two-year term, $563.80 application fee) and must be the operator's principal residence, a secondary home-based business with stays of up to 28 consecutive days and one parking space per bedroom; a 4% Municipal Accommodation Tax applies to stays of 30 days or less | the municipality's by-law Read by us 29 Oct 2026 |
| Stratford | a City licence is needed for short-term rental accommodation, at most 28 consecutive days per stay and 180 rental days a year, in a single detached, semi-detached, converted or townhouse dwelling in listed zones and not on a private street; fees of $420 for the first room and $130 per additional room (2026); a 4% Municipal Accommodation Tax applies | by-law 130-2022 Read by us 29 Oct 2026 |
| Tecumseh | a short-term rental (less than 28 consecutive days) is permitted only in a dwelling unit on the lots shown on Schedule D of the zoning by-law, one per lot with one parking space; rentals that existed when the by-law passed may continue if used continually | by-law 2026-050 s.5.15 Read by us 29 Oct 2026 |
| Thunder Bay | a 5% Municipal Accommodation Tax applies to stays of less than 30 days (By-law 74/2018), and short-term accommodation operators file the City's establishment form within 30 days of starting; the City's pages set out no short-term rental licence | the municipality's by-law Read by us 29 Oct 2026 |
| Timmins | a yearly City licence is needed for a short-term rental (stays under 30 consecutive days), only where the zoning permits the use, with $2 million of insurance, a fire officer's statement of the sleeping occupant load and a responsible person on call within an hour; a 6% Municipal Accommodation Tax applies to stays of 30 days or less | by-law 2025-9085 (as amended by 2025-9230) Read by us 29 Oct 2026 |
| Toronto | short-term rentals are limited to the operator's principal residence (a secondary, laneway or garden suite only if it is the operator's own principal residence) and must be registered with the City ($390 in 2026); an entire home may be rented up to 180 nights a year; a 6% Municipal Accommodation Tax applies | Municipal Code Chapter 547 Read by us 5 Oct 2026 |
| Waterloo | short-term rentals of 30 days or less must be owner-occupied and licensed by the City, for up to 275 days a year | the municipality's by-law Read by us 28 Oct 2026 |
| Welland | a short-term rental of up to 28 consecutive days needs a yearly City licence held by the owner; zoning permits it as a secondary use where homes are allowed, or as the principal use in some commercial zones, with at most three guest bedrooms and 0.5 extra parking spaces per guest room, and in an accessory dwelling unit only if the operator lives on the premises | the municipality's by-law Read by us 29 Oct 2026 |
| Whitchurch-Stouffville | a Town licence is needed for stays of up to 28 days, renewed yearly; one rental per operator in the town and one dwelling unit per lot; two guests per guest room and ten in all; no rental in a vehicle, tent, boat or accessory building; proof of $2 million liability insurance and an inspection before the first licence | by-law 2026-069-LI Read by us 29 Oct 2026 |
| Windsor | short-term rentals are limited to the operator's principal residence, with a City licence | by-law 115-2022 Read by us 5 Oct 2026 |
Summarised by OfferDue from each municipality's own by-law or published page on the date shown. The by-law or rate schedule is the authoritative text.
Home-based business rules, city by city
What each zoning by-law allows for a business run from the home.
| Municipality | Rule | Record |
|---|---|---|
| Ajax | permits a home based business inside the dwelling unit (not in an accessory building), with at most one employee besides the residents, using no more than 25% of the floor area or 45 m² whichever is less, with no outdoor storage or display and sales only of goods assembled, crafted or produced on the lot | by-law 95-2003 s.4.11 Read by us 29 Oct 2026 |
| Aurora | permits a home occupation entirely within the dwelling or permitted accessory buildings, clearly secondary to the home, with at most one employee who lives elsewhere and no mechanical equipment beyond domestic use, using at most 25% of the floor area and never more than 45 m²; where the house has a second suite, in only one unit | by-law 6000-17 s.4.6 Read by us 29 Oct 2026 |
| Barrie | permits a home occupation in residential zones in the operator's own home or detached private garage, using at most 30% of the home's floor area, with one employee who lives elsewhere (and a parking space for them), one client at a time, and no retail uses | by-law 2009-141 s.5.2.10 Read by us 5 Oct 2026 |
| Belleville | permits an urban home occupation in a dwelling unit, accessory dwelling unit or detached garage, using at most 25% of the floor area, with one non-resident employee, no outdoor storage beyond one vehicle on the driveway and no display beyond permitted signage; a rural home occupation may also use an accessory building up to 50% of the dwelling's floor area and employ two non-residents | by-law 2024-100 s.16.9 Read by us 29 Oct 2026 |
| Bradford West Gwillimbury | permits a home occupation indoors in the dwelling or an enclosed accessory building (outdoor swimming lessons excepted), in the operator's principal residence, with at most one non-resident employee, up to 25% of the dwelling's floor area or 50 m² in residential zones, no outside storage, sales only of goods made on site or tied to a service there, and at most three visitors at a time | by-law 2010-050 s.4.12 (By-law 2025-05) Read by us 29 Oct 2026 |
| Brampton | permits one home occupation only in a detached house, run by the people who live there, using up to 15% of the floor area (not counting the basement), with one employee from outside the family, one small wall sign and no outside storage; other homes may have a home office of up to 15 m² with one visitor at a time. The new By-law 14-2026 is under appeal, and where both apply the stricter rule prevails | by-law 270-2004 s.6.12 Read by us 5 Oct 2026 |
| Brantford | permits a home occupation run by the occupants with at most one employee who lives elsewhere, in the dwelling, a garage or accessory structure but not in an additional dwelling unit, confined to one area of no more than 28 m² when in the dwelling, with no outdoor storage or display and no goods offered for sale or rent on the premises | by-law 124-2024 s.3.17 Read by us 29 Oct 2026 |
| Brockville | permits a home occupation in any dwelling unit except in the Rural zone, using up to 25% of the floor area or 28 m², whichever is less, with no non-resident employees, no exterior change, no outdoor storage or display, an accessory building only for storage, no more than two clients at a time, sales only of goods made there, no extra parking, and a Certificate of Zoning Compliance first | by-law 050-2014 s.3.24 Read by us 29 Oct 2026 |
| Caledon | permits a home occupation run by the resident operator using up to 25% of the dwelling unit, not in an accessory building, with at most one person who lives elsewhere, no external display or advertising beyond a lawful sign, no outdoor storage and sales only of goods produced on the premises | by-law 2006-50 s.4.16 Read by us 29 Oct 2026 |
| Cambridge | permits a home occupation in the R1 to R3 zones (not Rural Residential), run by the people whose principal residence it is, with at most one employee who lives elsewhere, using up to 25% of the floor area (50 m² at most), with no outside storage or display and a list of excluded uses such as restaurants and retail stores. Residential lands deferred from this by-law's first phase stay under By-law 150-85 | by-law 26-007 s.4.8 Read by us 5 Oct 2026 |
| Chatham-Kent | permits a home occupation in a single detached, semi-detached or row house dwelling, not in an accessory building or garage, with at most two on-site employees including residents, using no more than 25% of the floor area to 55.75 m², with no outdoor storage | by-law 216-2009 s.4.15 Read by us 29 Oct 2026 |
| Clarington | permits a home occupation within the principal residence, run by household members plus one other person, using no more than 25% of the floor area, with no outside storage and no display beyond a permitted sign; retail sales only of antiques and home craft products | by-law 84-63 s.3.11 Read by us 29 Oct 2026 |
| Collingwood | permits up to two home occupations per lot in any zone where a home is permitted, inside the dwelling or a fully enclosed detached accessory building, using at most 25% of the home's floor area or 20 m² of an accessory building, with no outside storage or display and indoor display and sale up to 10 m²; a short-term accommodation is run as a home occupation | by-law 2010-040 s.4.39 Read by us 29 Oct 2026 |
| Cornwall | permits one home occupation per dwelling unit in any zone that permits homes, using no more than 25% of the dwelling unit's floor area, with at most one on-site non-resident employee, no outdoor storage, no exterior display beyond one unlit sign of up to 15 × 45 cm, and conducted within the main dwelling unless the Committee of Adjustment authorizes otherwise | by-law 2022-001 s.3.12 Read by us 29 Oct 2026 |
| East Gwillimbury | permits a home business within the dwelling unit, and in an accessory building only on a lot of 2.5 ha or more (up to 50 m² of it), with at most one non-resident employee, using no more than 25% of the dwelling's floor area or 50 m², whichever is less, clearly secondary to the home, with no outdoor storage, display or sales | by-law 2018-043 s.4.14 Read by us 29 Oct 2026 |
| Fort Erie | permits a home occupation in any dwelling in a zone that permits dwellings, run by the occupants with at most one non-resident employee, using no more than 25% of the dwelling and accessory structures or 40 m², whichever is less, with one extra parking space, no outside display or sale of goods and no open storage; automotive uses, kennels, restaurants and taverns are among the uses not permitted | by-law 129-90 s.6.8 Read by us 29 Oct 2026 |
| Georgina | permits a home occupation run by family members living in the dwelling, with at most two employees who live elsewhere, using no more than 25% of the residential floor area, clearly secondary to the home, with no display beyond a legal sign; the Town's page says not in an attached garage or a backyard shed | by-law 500 s.5.21 Read by us 29 Oct 2026 |
| Greater Sudbury | permits a home occupation as an indoor use within the home (not in accessory buildings), with at most one employee who lives elsewhere, using up to 25% of the home or 100 m², whichever is less, with no outdoor storage or retail and at most five clients present at once; home-based businesses are on the City's list of businesses that need a licence | by-law 2010-100Z s.4.14 Read by us 5 Oct 2026 |
| Grimsby | permits a home occupation run only by residents of the dwelling with no other employees, using no more than 25% of the dwelling unit's gross floor area or 25 m², whichever is less, with no outdoor storage or display, one non-illuminated sign and sales only of products made on the premises; veterinary clinics, kennels, automobile service garages, retail stores and restaurants are among the uses not permitted | by-law 14-45 s.4.15 Read by us 29 Oct 2026 |
| Guelph | permits home occupations run by the home's occupant, using up to 25% of the floor area or 50 m², whichever is less, with one employee who lives elsewhere per unit, at most three clients at a time, no outdoor display or storage, no retail store and no use of an attached garage | by-law (2023)-20790 s.4.15 Read by us 5 Oct 2026 |
| Halton Hills | permits one home occupation entirely within the home (not a garage, accessory building or yard), run by a resident operator with at most one employee besides the residents, using up to 25% of the floor area to 45 m² in urban residential zones (100 m² in other zones where permitted; basements not counted), with no outdoor storage and sales only of goods produced on the premises | by-law 2010-0050 s.4.12 Read by us 29 Oct 2026 |
| Hamilton | permits one home business (plus an office) in a detached or semi-detached house, with at most one employee who lives elsewhere, using up to 25% of the floor area or 50 m², whichever is less, with no outdoor storage or product display; in townhouses and multi-unit buildings it is limited to residents, 15 m² and academic instruction, craftsperson shop or office. Some homes are still under a former municipality's by-law | by-law 05-200 s.4.21 Read by us 5 Oct 2026 |
| Innisfil | permits a home occupation run by a resident within the dwelling unit (in a residential zone not in a garage or accessory building), using at most 25% of the floor area or 100 m², with no outside storage or display, and at most four non-resident employees for an office use or one for other uses | by-law 080-13 s.3.24 Read by us 29 Oct 2026 |
| King | permits a home occupation entirely within the dwelling unit (not a detached accessory building), using up to 25% of its floor area or 28 m², whichever is less, run by a resident with at most one non-resident employee, no exterior change, no open storage or display and no more than two clients on the premises at once; veterinary clinics are not home occupations | by-law 2017-66 s.3.15; 2016-71 s.3.16; 2022-053 s.3.20 Read by us 29 Oct 2026 |
| Kingston | permits a home occupation in a home or an accessory building, run by a person who lives there, with at most one employee who lives elsewhere working on site, a floor area smaller than the home itself, and no outdoor storage of materials or equipment | by-law 2022-62 s.6.3.2 Read by us 5 Oct 2026 |
| Kitchener | permits a home occupation run by the people who live in the home, with at most one employee who lives elsewhere, using up to 25% of the home's floor area (50 m² at most), with no more than three customers at a time and no outdoor storage; a zoning certificate is needed to run it. About 20% of Kitchener's properties are still under the older By-law 85-1, whose rules may differ | by-law 2019-051 s.4.7 Read by us 5 Oct 2026 |
| LaSalle | permits a home occupation contained entirely within the dwelling unit (not an attached garage or accessory building), clearly secondary to the home, using at most 25% of the floor area to 50 m², selling only services and goods offered or produced there, with no outdoor storage and no change to the home's exterior beyond a sign under the sign by-law | by-law 8600 s.3.1 n) Read by us 29 Oct 2026 |
| Lakeshore | permits a home occupation run only by people living in the dwelling unit, confined to the dwelling unit or an attached garage (a detached accessory building only by site-specific amendment), using at most 25% of the floor area, with no outdoor storage, one unlit sign up to 0.2 m², at most three parking spaces and a listed range of office, studio and service uses | by-law 2-2012 s.6.27 Read by us 29 Oct 2026 |
| Lincoln | permits a home-based business carried out by an occupant of the dwelling, clearly secondary to the home, using no more than 25% of the dwelling's floor area or 50 m² of an accessory building, with no outside storage, a sign of at most 0.3 m², no regular deliveries by commercial vehicles and no use of the parking the home needs | by-law 2022-50 s.3.18 Read by us 29 Oct 2026 |
| London | permits a home occupation run by a resident in houses, plexes and townhouses (not with an additional residential unit), with at most one non-resident employee in a support role, using up to 25% of the floor area (28 m² at most), with no more than five clients present at a time, no outdoor use or storage, and no retail or food service | Z.-1 s.4.10 Read by us 5 Oct 2026 |
| Markham | permits a home occupation as a secondary use conducted by a resident entirely within a permitted building, with at most one employee besides the household, using at most 25% of the floor area of the unit and its accessory buildings, with no outdoor storage or display, no sale of goods not made on the premises (except phone, mail or internet sales not picked up there) and at most four students or patrons at once; properties outside By-law 2024-19 follow older zoning by-laws | by-law 2024-19 s.4.9.1 Read by us 29 Oct 2026 |
| Milton | permits one home occupation inside the dwelling unit (not an accessory building), run only by residents whose principal residence it is, using up to 25% of the floor area or 30 m², whichever is less, with one client at a time, an extra parking space where clients visit, and no outdoor storage, display or retail sales; limited to instruction, office, pet grooming, baking or catering and personal service uses. Rural lots follow Zoning By-law 144-2003 | by-law 016-2014 s.4.11 Read by us 29 Oct 2026 |
| Mississauga | permits one home occupation (tutoring, music instruction, artist or artisan, or office) only in a detached house that is the operator's principal residence, using up to 25% of the floor area to 50 m², with no staff who live elsewhere, at most two clients at a time and one extra parking space; other homes may have a home office of up to 15 m² with no clients; a Zoning Certificate of Occupancy is needed | by-law 0225-2007 s.4.1.16 Read by us 5 Oct 2026 |
| New Tecumseth | permits a home occupation in a dwelling unit or accessory building, run by household members plus one person who lives elsewhere, using at most 25% of the dwelling's floor area to 50 m², with no outside evidence but one sign, no open storage, sales only of goods made on site or tied to a service there, and no auto repair, paint shop, furniture stripping or restaurant | by-law 2021-128 s.2.6 Read by us 29 Oct 2026 |
| Newmarket | permits a home occupation entirely within the home (not a garage, accessory building or yard), with at most two employees who live elsewhere besides the resident operators, using up to 35% of the floor area to 42 m², with no outdoor storage or display and only accessory retail sales | by-law 2010-40 s.4.6 Read by us 5 Oct 2026 |
| Niagara Falls | permits a home occupation entirely within the dwelling in the listed residential zones, run only by its residents with no employees, using no more than 20% of the floor area, with nothing in an accessory building, no exterior sign, no goods sold or kept for sale and no outdoor storage | by-law 79-200 s.5.5 Read by us 29 Oct 2026 |
| Norfolk County | permits a home occupation within the dwelling only (not an accessory building), with up to two employees besides the proprietor, using at most 25% of the usable floor area to 60 m², with no change to the outside of the dwelling and no sales except arts and crafts made on the premises | by-law 1-Z-2014 s.3.14 Read by us 29 Oct 2026 |
| North Bay | permits a home based business run by a resident, with at most one on-site employee who lives elsewhere (none in a fourplex, townhouse or apartment), using no more than 50 m² or 30% of the home's floor area, whichever is less, with no exterior sign of the business beyond the Sign By-law and at most two clients at a time | by-law 2015-30 s.3.28 Read by us 29 Oct 2026 |
| Oakville | permits a home occupation entirely within the dwelling, run by residents whose principal residence it is with no one else working in it, using up to 25% of the residential floor area (basement included) to 50 m², with no outside storage, display, sales or signs; limited to art gallery, business office, commercial school (music instruction only in a detached house), medical office and service commercial uses | by-law 2014-014 s.4.9 Read by us 29 Oct 2026 |
| Orangeville | permits one home occupation per dwelling unit, secondary to the home: offices, studios and similar uses in any dwelling, medical offices, personal services, small repairs and bed and breakfasts (up to three guest rooms) only in single or semi-detached homes, and music teaching, home daycare to five children and recording studios only in single-detached homes; at most 30% of the floor area to 40 m², one non-resident employee and no outside storage or display | by-law 22-90 s.5.14 Read by us 29 Oct 2026 |
| Orillia | permits a home occupation on a residentially zoned lot or in an existing dwelling unit, using at most 25% of the unit's floor area, with up to two employees who live elsewhere, no outdoor storage or display, sales only of goods made or repaired on site, and no vehicle repair, restaurant, clinic, kennel, bed and breakfast, retail store or warehouse | by-law 2014-44 s.5.11 Read by us 29 Oct 2026 |
| Oshawa | permits a home occupation run by residents in their principal residence, inside the home or an attached garage, using at most 25% of the floor area and 28 m², with at most three clients present at once, no outdoor storage or display, and retail sales only of what is made or repaired on site; a home food business needs a City licence | by-law 60-94 s.5.3 Read by us 5 Oct 2026 |
| Ottawa | permits a home-based business wherever homes are allowed, run by someone who lives in the unit, inside the home or an accessory building but not outdoors in a yard, with no outdoor storage and nothing that becomes a nuisance through noise, odour, traffic or parking; in the urban, Greenbelt and suburban areas it allows up to 2 non-resident employees on site (3 in hub, mainstreet and corridor zones), up to 49% of the unit's floor area open to staff or clients (55 m² in a detached garage or accessory building) and on-site sales only of items made there or tied to a service given there, while the rural area allows more (up to 4 employees in some zones, limited screened outdoor storage); a business that needs a City business licence can't be home-based, a home day care may have up to 5 clients (6 where provincial law allows), a home instructional business up to 5 clients at a time, and where the home is reached through a shared entrance or hallway no clients may be served on site. The City says applications deemed complete since 11 March 2026 must also meet the old By-law 2008-250, with the stricter rule applying, and some parts of 2026-50 are still under appeal | by-law 2026-50 s.301 Read by us 6 Oct 2026 |
| Peterborough | permits a home-based business run only by residents of the dwelling, using at most 46 m² of floor area of which at most 28 m² in accessory buildings, with no display, outdoor storage or other outside evidence, small non-lit signs only, retail limited to goods made on site, at most five students at a time, and no restaurant, licensed daycare, veterinary office, taxi service, public garage, kennel or salvage yard | by-law 97-123 s.6.23 Read by us 29 Oct 2026 |
| Quinte West | permits a home occupation in any zone where a dwelling is permitted, run only by residents of the dwelling, using no more than 15% of the dwelling's floor area when in the home, with no outside display or storage, one non-illuminated sign of up to 0.4 m², and no medical clinic, private hospital, eating establishment or veterinary clinic | by-law 14-86 s.4.15 Read by us 29 Oct 2026 |
| Richmond Hill | permits a home occupation in the operator's principal residence, entirely indoors with no storefront, using at most 25% of the floor area, with no workers who live elsewhere, no outdoor storage, at most four students or patrons at once, and not in an additional residential unit. Parts of this by-law are still under appeal, and homes outside it follow the older zoning by-laws | by-law 93-25 s.3.8.1 Read by us 5 Oct 2026 |
| Sarnia | permits a home occupation in a dwelling unit or accessory structure, run by residents with at most one non-resident employee or volunteer, using no more than 25% of the floor area of the dwelling and accessory buildings, with no outdoor storage, no external alterations and sales only of goods produced on the premises or related to the use | by-law 85 of 2002 s.3.19 Read by us 29 Oct 2026 |
| Sault Ste. Marie | permits a home-based business within a dwelling unit or accessory building, with at most two full-time employees on the premises including at least one resident, using up to 30% of the floor area of the home and accessory buildings or 50 m², whichever is less, with no outdoor display or storage and one sign of up to 0.2 m² | by-law 2005-150 s.1.41 Read by us 29 Oct 2026 |
| St. Catharines | permits a home based business in any zone, in the dwelling, an attached garage, accessory structures or an accessory dwelling unit, using up to 25% of the dwelling's floor area to 40 m², run by residents with one non-resident employee at a time, at most 5 clients at once and 20 in 24 hours, and no outdoor storage; automotive uses, small engine repair, kennels, restaurants and nightclubs are not permitted | by-law 2013-283 s.2.2.2 Read by us 29 Oct 2026 |
| St. Thomas | permits a home occupation run by residents only, within the dwelling or an accessory building, using at most 15 m² or 15% of the floor area, whichever is less, with no signs, no sales except by telephone and no deliveries or pick-ups by non-occupants; some professions and barbershops are excluded | by-law 50-88 s.4.2.8 Read by us 29 Oct 2026 |
| Stratford | permits a home occupation as an accessory use in a single detached, semi-detached, converted or townhouse dwelling, by a proprietor who lives there, using up to 25% of the dwelling's floor area to 30 m², with at most one non-resident employee per shift, no exterior change, no open storage, retail limited to 15% of the occupation's floor area, and a parking space where clients visit | by-law 10-2022 s.4.13 Read by us 29 Oct 2026 |
| Tecumseh | permits a home occupation run solely by people whose principal residence is the dwelling, entirely within the dwelling unit (in a residential zone also an attached garage, never a detached accessory building), using at most 20% of the floor area, with no outside storage, no illuminated sign or sign over 0.5 m², and sales limited to art, crafts, antiques and goods produced or repaired on site | by-law 2026-050 s.5.7 Read by us 29 Oct 2026 |
| Thunder Bay | permits a home business carried on by the residents within the home or its accessory buildings, with at most one assistant or employee who lives elsewhere, using up to 25% of the home's floor area (25% of the home and accessory buildings in rural areas), with no retail, restaurant, vehicle repair or industrial uses and at most one non-illuminated sign | by-law 1-2022 s.12.1.1 Read by us 29 Oct 2026 |
| Timmins | permits one home based business per dwelling in an urban area, conducted entirely within the dwelling unit and using up to 25% of it to 46 m², with at most two people working on site including the owner-occupants, up to three business parking spaces, no outdoor storage and clients or deliveries received from 7 am to 9 pm; rural areas also allow an accessory building | by-law 2011-7100 s.4.17 Read by us 29 Oct 2026 |
| Toronto | permits a home occupation in the business operator's principal residence, with up to two employees working there besides the operator (one for a health professional's office), using at most 25% of the home's interior floor area or 100 m², whichever is less, with no outdoor activity, display or storage, no exterior alterations, and no direct sale of goods, vehicle repair or manufacturing | by-law 569-2013 Chapter 150.5 Read by us 5 Oct 2026 |
| Waterloo | permits up to two home occupations per home, run by one operator who lives there (plus one employee for some types, such as personal services or a health practitioner), using up to 25% of the floor area, with no more than two clients at a time and no outside storage; a City business licence is needed first | by-law 2018-050 s.3.H.3 Read by us 5 Oct 2026 |
| Welland | permits a home occupation in a single-detached, semi-detached, two-unit or townhouse dwelling, using no more than 25% of the floor area or 28 m² whichever is less, with no non-resident employees, no outdoor storage or display, an accessory building only for storage, sales only of goods it produces and at most two clients at a time | by-law 2017-117 s.5.18 Read by us 29 Oct 2026 |
| Whitby | permits a home based business within the dwelling unit, with limited storage in an attached garage or accessory structure, using no more than 25% of the floor area or 50 m² whichever is less, with no outdoor storage or display and sales only of goods made on site; an employee who is not an occupant is allowed only in some village zones | by-law 1784 s.4(ee); 2585 s.6(33) Read by us 29 Oct 2026 |
| Whitchurch-Stouffville | permits a home occupation in a single detached, semi-detached, stacked or back-to-back townhouse dwelling or an accessory building, clearly secondary to the home and in the operator's principal residence, with at most one employee who lives elsewhere, using at most 25% of the floor area and never more than 90 m², with no outdoor storage, display or signage and no retail sales beyond what is made or repaired on site | by-law 2010-001-ZO s.3.27 Read by us 29 Oct 2026 |
| Windsor | permits a home occupation in the home, a garage or an accessory building, run by a resident, using up to 25% of the home's floor area, with no outdoor storage, no outside sign of the business beyond what the Sign By-law allows, and direct sales limited to related goods. Lands annexed from Tecumseh follow By-law 85-18 instead | by-law 8600 s.5.99.40 Read by us 5 Oct 2026 |
| Woodstock | permits one or more home occupations in the dwelling or an accessory building in a residential zone, together at most 30 m², with at most one non-resident employee and a paved parking space for that employee, no outside storage or display, limited manufacturing and repairs, and one sign up to 0.2 m² | by-law 8626-10 s.5.2.5 Read by us 29 Oct 2026 |
Summarised by OfferDue from each municipality's own by-law or published page on the date shown. The by-law or rate schedule is the authoritative text.
Sources
- Residential Tenancies Act, 2006, s.6.1; Ontario rent increase guideline: data date Act consolidated 21 Sep 2026; guideline page 23 Jun 2026
- OfferDue's hand-kept table: rental licensing
- OfferDue's hand-kept table: short-term rental rules
- OfferDue's hand-kept table: home-based business rules
Ontario statutes and regulations from e-Laws (ontario.ca/laws), © King's Printer for Ontario.
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