Short-term rental rules in Wasaga Beach, Ontario

The rules today

Who can host	Anyone renting for 30 days or less needs a Town licence (applicants 18+). Class A (bed and breakfast) requires the premises to be the licensee's principal residence; Class C (rental cabin/cottage) has no residency requirement in the by-law. Licence is not transferable and is void on change of ownership. Source
Where it is allowed	By-law does not list zones; it requires compliance with the Zoning By-law and a zoning compliance inspection on new applications. Check with the Town which zones allow your type of rental. Source
Limits	Class A: only the number of guest rooms permitted by zoning; one bedroom kept for owner/responsible person; licensee present 10pm-6am. Occupancy and parking must follow the Neighbourhood Partnership Plan/Zoning/Parking By-law; no numeric guest cap in the by-law text itself. Responsible Person must respond within 30 min and attend within 1 hour. Insurance at least $5,000,000 general liability (Schedule A). Source
Licence process	Apply by email to wbbl@wasagabeach.com with Schedule A documents (site, garbage, parking, noise plans, ID, ownership proof, insurance). Inspections: building, zoning, arrears, fire, property standards (new); arrears, fire, property standards (renewal). Docs and inspections must be completed within 60 days of receipt or application is invalid. All licences expire April 1 each year; renewal must be started by April 1 or licence is deemed expired (page: late renewal fee 30%). Licence number must be shown in every advertisement/listing. Source
Fees	Town page lists application/renewal fees by units: 1-4 units $224/$196; 5-10 $560/$532; 11-19 $800/$772; 20+ $1,000/$1,000. By-law says fees are set in the Fees and Charges By-law. First-year fee prorated for existing licensees. Source
Taxes	4% Municipal Accommodation Tax (plus HST) on room rate for stays of 30 days or less, effective April 1, 2026, By-law 2025-63; quarterly remittance. Source
Penalties	AMPS under By-law 2026-16 amending 2025-18 (first/second/subsequent): operating without licence, marketing without licence, operating contrary to by-law, expired/suspended licence, no insurance, false application: $1,000/$1,500/$2,000; marketing without licence number $250/$400/$600; fail to respond/comply/garbage/parking/occupancy $250-500 first. Demerit points (Schedule B): operating unlicensed 4 (7 second), occupancy 2, licence number missing 1; 7 points = possible suspension, 14 = possible revocation; points last 1 year. Guest-behaviour offences (s.13) are Provincial Offences Act fines. Source

What changed in Wasaga Beach

• April 1, 2026

  4% MAT began

  What hosts should do: Register for the Town's MAT portal, charge 4% and remit quarterly.

  Source

• February 12, 2026

  New STA licensing By-law 2026-08 replaced prior Tourist Establishment/STA licensing under Business Licensing By-law 2019-26 for STAs licensed under it; all licences expire April 1

  What hosts should do: Existing operators had to apply by April 1, 2026; new hosts apply and pass inspections before operating or advertising.

  Source

Sources

• STA Licensing By-law 2026-08 (passed 2026-02-12, in force 2026-03-01) (page updated By-law 2026-08, passed 2026-02-12)
• By-law 2026-17 adding Schedule A (requirements/inspections) and Schedule B (demerits) (page updated By-law 2026-17, passed 2026-02-26)
• Schedule A requirements and inspections (page updated no date shown)
• Town STA page (page updated no last-updated date shown (footer 2026))
• AMPS amendment 2026-16 (page updated By-law 2026-16, passed 2026-02-26)
• MAT notice (By-law 2025-63) (page updated notice dated 2026-01-22)

General information for hosts, not legal or tax advice. This page summarises the official sources above as of November 12, 2026. Check the source and your town before you act. See an error? Tell us and we will re-check it.