Kawartha Lakes does not maintain private wells or water systems. Property owners are responsible for all maintenance, repairs and water quality testing on any private well that you own. From the Haliburton, Kawartha, Pine Ridge (HKPR) District Health Unit:
"If your business or premise provides drinking water to the public and you do not get your drinking water from a municipal drinking water system, you may be the owner or operator of a small drinking water system. The owners/operators of these systems need to follow the requirements of the Small Drinking Water System regulations — Ontario Regulation 319/08 — to ensure that this water is safe to drink.
Short Term Rentals, will be assessed by the HKPR District Health Unit using the definition of a 'Public Facility' under Ontario Regulation 319/08: Small Drinking Water Systems. Those that meet the definition of 'a place that operates primarily for the purpose of providing overnight accommodation to the travelling public,' will be subject to a risk assessment by a Public Health Inspector."
For more information please visit the HKPR's Small Water Drinking Systems page.
December 2023 - 24/7 STR Hotline and Online Form Launched
As of December 1, 2023, if you live near a Short Term Rental and you've been experiencing things such as loud parties, trespassing, violation of occupancy limits, parking issues, or anything else, you can now report your issues at any time to our 24/7 STR Hotline and/or Online Form.
Residents can either call the number listed below to get their complaint in or they can visit the online form:
Call: 705-990-2497
Use the online form: 24/7 STR Hotline
Reporting through these channels will help us to monitor Kawartha Lakes' Short Term Rental units for non-compliance and possible By-Law infractions. Which in-turn, will help us to ensure that Short Term Rentals are following all of the rules that they have to follow in order to remain licensed.
Any questions about the hotline or online form can be directed to str@kawarthalakes.ca
September 2023 - STR Jump In Page archived
With the community consultation and engagement phase of the STR project complete, the STR Jump In page has officially been archived.
Moving forward all updates and Short Term Rental information will be put on this webpage.
For historical context and to read up on how we've gotten to this point in the process, please visit the archived STR Jump In project page here.
August 2023 - Short Term Rental Business Accommodation Licence Application Launches
The soft rollout of the new Short Term Rental (STR) Licensing Program continues with the launch of the Short Term Rental Business Accommodation License Application.
STR owners can fill out the form online or they can download the fully accessible version of the form, fill it out and bring it in to the Municipal Law Enforcement Office, with all required documents, to make the payment.
To register for a Short Term Rental Business Accommodation licence please fill out the online form here:
Short Term Rental Business Accommodation Application (online)
A paper copy of the form can be downloaded for printing here:
Short Term Rental Business Accommodation Application (print)
July 2023 - Short Term Rental program implementation timeline
Next steps for the implementation of the new Short Term Rental (STR) Licensing Program have started. Once program details are finalized, more information on how to register your STR will be circulated.
While Staff work on finalizing those details, here is the anticipated STR program implementation timeline for the rest of the year:
Soft Rollout: June 2023
- STR By-law finalized
- STR Application (form and intake process) finalized
- Enhanced complaint tracking begins
- Communications and marketing awareness campaign planning
- STR webpage updated
- Initiate Vendor Support Call Centre
Phase 1: July to August 2023
- Complete guidance and educational documents for STR owners
- Launch updated licensing and complaint tools
- Liaise with owners and start to register them
- Collect location data and begin STR mapping work
- Budget allocation
- Hire STR support staff
- Office space and equipment allocation for new staff
Phase 2: September to October 2023
- Launch STR call centre and 24/7 complaint line
- Utilize mapping and location data gathered in Phase 1 to engage STR owners for licensing purposes using compliance notices
- Train new staff
- Issue STR Business Licences to registrants
Phase 3: November to December 2023
- Review the STR policy, by-law and processes
- Analyse collected STR data
- Invoice any offence fees to owners
Full Program: January 2024 onwards
- Council will be provided with a progress report by March 30, 2024
- The report will potentially include any recommended program or by-law changes based off of the data that gets collected throughout the remainder of 2023
Although Staff will be sticking to the above timeline as closely as possible, please note that the implementation timeline is subject to change.
June 2023 - Council adopts new By-law and approves licensing program
At the June 20, 2023 Regular Council meeting, Council adopted a new By-Law and approved a soft rollout for a licensing program. The changes are being put in place to ensure the health and safety of all renters and residents. The new program and By-law will allow the municipality to respond to concerns quickly, and to ensure that owners are taking responsibility for the safe and respectful use of their properties.
Details on the public consultation, task force recommendations and more are available on the municipality's engagement website: www.jumpinkawarthalakes.ca/short-term-rentals
Read the By-law to License, Regulate and Govern Short-Term Rental Accommodation Businesses in the City of Kawartha Lakes (Download).
March 2023 - Public Information Session 2
The Short Term Rental survey closed on February 15, 2023. Thank you to all of those that filled out the survey. We had over 1000 replies making it one of our most filled out surveys ever!
Survey results have been posted in the Documents section on the Short Term Rental Jump In page. View the survey results here.
Please note that there will be a second drop-in Public Information Session where the community can come to see the results of the survey, read the highlights of the new draft By-law, ask questions about the survey or draft By-law, and learn what comes next for Short Term Rentals in Kawartha Lakes (key upcoming Council dates, how to sign up for a deputation, etc.)
Public Information Session 2 Details:
Date: Monday March 6, 2023
Time: 4pm to 7pm
Location: Coboconk Service Centre, Community Room, 9 Grandy Road, Coboconk, ON
February 2023 - Public Information Session 1
The Short Term Rental survey closed on February 15, 2023. Thank you to all of those that filled out the survey. We had over 1000 replies making it one of our most filled out surveys ever!
Survey results have been posted in the Documents section on the Short Term Rental Jump In page. View the survey results here.
Please note that there will be a drop-in Public Information Session where the community can come to see the results of the survey, read the highlights of the new draft By-law, ask questions about the survey or draft By-law, and learn what comes next for Short Term Rentals in Kawartha Lakes (key upcoming Council dates, how to sign up for a deputation, etc.)
Public Information Session 1 Details:
Date: Tuesday February 28, 2023
Time: 4pm to 7pm
Location: City Hall, Victoria Room, 26 Francis St., Lindsay, ON
December 2022 - Short Term Rental Jump In Survey Launches
In the Summer of 2022, City Staff were tasked with monitoring and tracking complaints regarding Short Term Rentals in the City of Kawartha Lakes with the goal being to bring a report to Council by March 31, 2023.
Along with the complaints and feedback that the municipality continues to receive and track, the municipality invited the public to provide input regarding Short Term Rentals across the municipality in the form of a survey.
The survey closed on February 15, 2023.
Visit the Short Term Rental Jump In page to view the project page, survey results, and key upcoming dates.
June 2019 - Council receives Short Term Rentals Update
At the June 4 Committee of the Whole, Council received an update on Short Term Rentals in Kawartha Lakes. Presented by Municipal Law Enforcement, this update included information about ongoing public education campaigns, how many calls are received about Short Term Rentals and more. Council moved to continue with monitoring Short Term Rentals and implementing an education campaign.
Read the full presentation here.
August 2018 - Council makes a decision on Short Term Rentals
Council made a decision on short term residential rentals in the City of Kawartha Lakes at the August 14 Council Meeting. Council adopted the first option of the Short Term Rentals Follow Up Report to continue to monitor short term residential rentals and implement several amendments to City by-laws to enable Municipal Law Enforcement to better respond and track issues arising at these properties.
Read the full news release in our newsroom.
June 2018 - Council receives update on Short Term Rentals
City staff have completed an extensive review of short term residential rentals in the City of Kawartha Lakes and will be providing an informational report to Council on the June 19 agenda on the outcomes of the review and proposed options for Council consideration.
Read the full news release in our newsroom.
April 2018 - Kawartha Lakes wants public input on Short Term Rentals
The City’s Municipal Law Enforcement and Licensing Division hosted a Short Term Rentals Public Forum and invited residents to attend.
Read the full news release in our newsroom.
October 2017 - Council to explore regulations on Short Term Rentals
At the October 10 Council meeting, Council received a staff report on the implications of regulating short term rental accommodations and made the decision to proceed with public consultation on the matter. Staff will bring back a report on other options including costs by the end of June 2018.
Read the full news release in our newsroom.
