Stratford: questions buyers ask
What public rules cover short-term rentals in Stratford?
The City's Accommodation Licensing By-law 130-2022, as summarised on its Municipal By-law Enforcement page, the definition in Zoning By-law 10-2022, and Municipal Accommodation Tax By-law 93-2022.
Sources checked October 29, 2026
The rule in Stratford
- A licence, permit or registration is needed
- Up to 180 a year
Stratford by-law 130-2022: 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.
From Stratford by-law 130-2022, checked 29 Oct 2026
- The recordShort-term rentals
- Where to read itMunicipal By-law Enforcement; Accommodation Licensing By-law 130-2022 and 2 more
- The free check reads itPick “Rental and short-term rental rules”
What the record shows
The City's by-law enforcement page says a licence under By-law 130-2022 is required for all short-term rental accommodations, with a maximum of 28 consecutive days per rental and 180 days of rental a year, in a single detached, semi-detached, converted or townhouse dwelling in the zones it lists, and not on a private street. The Zoning By-law defines a short term rental accommodation as an entire dwelling unit used for sleeping accommodation for less than 28 consecutive days and operated by the principal resident, ancillary to the home's residential use. The page asks for a fire inspection, an electrical safety assessment and $2 million of liability insurance, and says a rental with three or more rooms could need a building permit or change of use permit.
The City's 2026 fees list $420 to apply for the first room and $130 for each additional room. The Municipal Accommodation Tax, under By-law 93-2022, is four per cent on accommodation sold for 30 days or less and has applied since 1 July 2023. The City's pamphlet on additional residential units says short-term rentals are not permitted in those units. The by-laws are the public rule; whether a particular home holds a licence is a separate question.
Where to read it yourself
- Municipal By-law Enforcement: the City's summary of short-term rental licensing, the quick-check list and the application forms
- Accommodation Licensing By-law 130-2022: the by-law, consolidated to March 20, 2023 (PDF)
- Fees and Charges By-law 125-2025 (2026): the 2026 accommodation licensing fees (PDF)
- Municipal Accommodation Tax: By-law 93-2022 and the four per cent rate
What OfferDue covers in Stratford
Rental and short-term rental rules is in the free check as a summary of the City's by-law, from our hand-kept table, linked to the City's page. The full report adds the home-business rule. Neither says how a given home is used.
Free check: pick “Rental and short-term rental rules” See the sample report
Public-record information, not legal, financial, insurance or inspection advice. Records change and can be incomplete, and this page describes the records, not any particular home. What we cover, city by city.