Last updated 2026-07-25
TL;DR
Toronto requires anyone renting a unit for less than 28 consecutive days to register with the city, pay a $61 annual fee, and only rent out their principal residence (plus up to one secondary suite or laneway suite). Registration renews every year on December 31. Operating without it can bring fines up to $100,000 under the Municipal Code.
What is Toronto's short-term rental registration requirement?
Toronto's short-term rental rules live in Chapter 547 of the Toronto Municipal Code, which the city adopted in December 2017 and finally enforced starting in late 2020 after a legal challenge delayed it [1]. If you rent any part of a residential unit in Toronto for less than 28 consecutive days, at any price, you fall under this bylaw. That covers a spare room rented on Airbnb for a weekend just as much as a whole condo rented out for two weeks. The core idea is simple even though the paperwork isn't: you can only offer short-term rentals in your principal residence. Toronto defines principal residence as the address you actually live at and use for your main mailing address, the one on your ID, your income tax return, and your utility bills [1]. You can't register a rental property you don't live in, and you can't register a condo you keep empty as an investment. Registration itself happens online through the city's short-term rental portal. You'll need a government photo ID, proof of principal residence (a utility bill or tax document), and a $61 registration fee as of the city's current fee schedule [2]. That fee renews annually, and registrations expire December 31 each year regardless of when you first signed up [2].
Who has to register, and who's exempt?
Anyone hosting a short-term rental (under 28 days) in Toronto has to register, whether you're renting a single bedroom, an entire condo, or a secondary suite. This applies whether you list on Airbnb, Vrbo, Booking.com, or just take bookings directly through word of mouth or a personal website. A few carve-outs exist. Bed and breakfasts that meet Toronto's zoning definition for that use are regulated separately and don't need short-term rental registration [1]. Hotels, motels, and licensed lodging houses aren't covered by Chapter 547 either, since they already fall under different licensing categories. Here's the part that trips people up: you're allowed to register your principal residence PLUS one secondary suite (like a basement apartment) or a laneway suite on the same property, but that's the cap. You cannot register a second home, a rental property across town, or a unit you own but don't live in. If your business model is buying condos specifically to run them as short-term rentals, Toronto's rules are built to block that.
How much does Toronto short-term rental registration cost?
| Registration fee | $61 | Annual [2] | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Municipal Accommodation Tax | 6% of rental price | Per booking [3] | |
| Late/non-compliance fines | Up to $100,000 per offense | If convicted [1] | Compare that to hosting on a long-term basis, where you'd fall under regular tenancy rules instead of short-term rental registration at all. If you're weighing which model makes sense, our landlord basics page walks through both. |
The registration fee is $61 per year as listed in the city's current business licensing fee schedule [2]. That's a flat cost regardless of how many nights you rent out or how much revenue you bring in. Beyond the base registration fee, short-term rental hosts in Toronto also pay the Municipal Accommodation Tax (MAT), which is 6% on the purchase price of accommodation for stays under 30 days [3]. Platforms like Airbnb typically collect and remit this on your behalf under an agreement with the city, but if you take bookings directly, you're responsible for collecting and remitting the MAT yourself. Here's a quick cost breakdown for a typical single-unit host: | Cost item | Amount | Frequency |
How do I register my short-term rental with the city?
You register through Toronto's official short-term rental portal, accessible from the city's Municipal Licensing and Standards division page [2]. The process asks for your name, the property address, proof that it's your principal residence, and a valid ID. The city cross-references your address against tax and utility records in some cases, since the whole point of the principal residence rule is stopping ineligible investment units from registering. Expect to upload a document like a driver's license or a utility bill showing your name and the unit address. Once approved, you'll get a registration number. Toronto requires that number to appear on your listing wherever you advertise the unit, whether that's Airbnb, Vrbo, or a personal site [1]. Platforms operating in Toronto are also required to remove listings that don't display a valid registration number, per the city's agreements with major booking platforms. Registrations aren't permanent. They expire every December 31 and you have to renew and pay the fee again the following year, even if nothing about your unit or situation changed [2].
What happens if I don't register my short-term rental in Toronto?
Operating a short-term rental in Toronto without registering is a bylaw offense under Chapter 547, and the city has real enforcement teeth here. Violations of the Municipal Code can bring fines up to $100,000 for a corporation and lower but still serious amounts for individuals, depending on the specific offense and whether it's a repeat violation [1]. In practice, most first-time enforcement starts with a compliance notice or an order to stop operating, not a maximum fine out of the gate. But the city has pursued court cases against operators running multiple unregistered units, since that's exactly the pattern (commercial-scale short-term rental businesses disguised as individual hosts) the bylaw targets. Platforms are also on the hook. Toronto's rules require companies like Airbnb to only list registered properties and to remit the Municipal Accommodation Tax, and platforms that don't comply can face their own penalties under the bylaw [1]. That's part of why you'll often see Airbnb ask Toronto hosts for their registration number directly before a listing goes live. If you got a notice or a fine and aren't sure what triggered it, the honest first move is to check your registration status and renewal date before assuming it's a misunderstanding. Renewal lapses are a common, boring cause of enforcement letters.
What is landlording, and how is it different from short-term rental hosting?
Landlording means renting out residential property to tenants under an ongoing lease or tenancy agreement, typically month-to-month or with a fixed term of a year or more. A landlord manages tenant relationships, collects rent, handles maintenance, and operates under provincial or state landlord-tenant law rather than short-term rental bylaws. Short-term rental hosting is a different animal, legally and practically. In Ontario, long-term tenancies (anything with a tenant who has exclusive possession for an extended period) fall under the Residential Tenancies Act, 2006, which governs notice periods, rent increases, and eviction procedures [4]. Short-term stays under 28 days in Toronto instead fall under Chapter 547 and municipal licensing, not the RTA. The distinction matters because your legal obligations, your insurance needs, and your tax treatment all shift depending on which side of that 28-day line you're on. If you're renting out a unit long-term in Toronto or elsewhere, you're a landlord under provincial tenancy law. If you're doing short stays, you're a short-term rental host under municipal bylaw. Some people do both on different units, and each unit has to follow the rules for what it actually is.
How do I become a landlord if I want to switch from short-term to long-term rental?
Becoming a landlord starts with confirming your property is legal to rent long-term under your city's zoning and any rental licensing rules, then drafting a compliant lease, screening tenants properly, and understanding your notice and eviction obligations under provincial law. In Ontario, that means following the Residential Tenancies Act, 2006, which sets out standard lease terms, rent increase guidelines (capped at 2.5% for 2024 under the province's annual guideline), and formal eviction processes through the Landlord and Tenant Board [4][5]. You'll also want renters insurance requirements written into your lease, proper move-in inspection documentation, and a clear understanding of what notice periods apply for entry, rent increases, and lease termination. Many municipalities outside Toronto also require rental registration or licensing for long-term units, separate from short-term rental rules. If you're operating in a city with mandatory rental licensing, check with your local licensing office before advertising the unit. Our landlord landlords guide covers the basics of that transition in more depth, and if you're managing the licensing paperwork side, a $79 City Rental License & Inspection Prep Packet can help you organize what a given city's office typically asks for, though you should always confirm current fees and forms with your specific city.
What is a landlord, exactly?
A landlord is the owner (or authorized agent of the owner) of a residential property who rents that property to a tenant in exchange for rent, under a lease or tenancy agreement. The landlord holds legal responsibility for the property's condition, for following provincial and municipal law on tenancy, and for respecting the tenant's right to quiet enjoyment of the unit. In Ontario, the Residential Tenancies Act, 2006 defines the landlord-tenant relationship and lays out obligations like maintaining the unit in a good state of repair, following proper notice procedures, and not entering the unit without appropriate notice except in emergencies [4]. A landlord isn't automatically anyone who owns rental property, either. Under the RTA, a landlord specifically means the person who permits occupancy of a rental unit for rent, which can include property managers acting on an owner's behalf [4]. This distinction matters for short-term rental hosts too, since if you convert a unit to long-term rental, you take on landlord status and all the obligations that come with it under provincial tenancy law, separate from Toronto's Chapter 547 short-term rental rules.
What rights do tenants have without a lease?
Tenants without a written lease still have full legal protection under provincial tenancy law in most jurisdictions, including Ontario. A verbal agreement to rent, once a tenant has moved in and started paying rent, creates a tenancy that's governed by the same rules as a written lease. Under Ontario's Residential Tenancies Act, 2006, a tenancy without a written lease automatically becomes a month-to-month tenancy with the same notice requirements, rent increase rules, and eviction protections as any other tenancy [4]. The landlord still has to give proper notice before entry, follow the formal eviction process through the Landlord and Tenant Board, and can't raise rent beyond the provincial guideline without following the right process. The absence of a written lease also cuts against the landlord in disputes, since there's no document specifying rules like pet policies, guest limits, or specific maintenance responsibilities beyond what the law already requires. If you're operating without a lease, get one in writing as soon as possible. It protects both sides, but especially protects the landlord's ability to enforce anything beyond baseline statutory obligations.
Why do landlords require renters insurance?
Landlords require renters insurance mainly to protect themselves and the tenant from the cost of the tenant's own liability, like accidental fires, water damage, or injuries to guests inside the unit. A landlord's own property insurance covers the building itself but typically excludes the tenant's personal belongings and doesn't always cover liability claims that originate from the tenant's actions. Renters insurance (sometimes called tenant's insurance) usually costs a modest amount, commonly cited in the range of $15 to $30 a month depending on coverage and location, and covers the tenant's possessions plus liability protection if they accidentally cause damage or someone is injured in their unit. For landlords, requiring it shifts some of that liability risk away from the landlord's own policy and reduces disputes over who pays when something goes wrong. Ontario law doesn't require tenants to carry renters insurance by default, but landlords can make it a condition of the lease as long as that condition is reasonable and disclosed upfront. If you're requiring it, put it in writing in the lease and ask for proof of an active policy at move-in and renewal.
How much notice does a landlord have to give?
Notice requirements depend on what the landlord is doing, whether that's entering the unit, ending a tenancy, or raising rent, and the exact number varies by jurisdiction. In Ontario, a landlord must give at least 24 hours written notice before entering a rental unit for a non-emergency reason, and that notice must state the reason, date, and a time between 8 a.m. and 8 p.m. [4]. For rent increases, Ontario landlords must give 90 days written notice using the province's required form before a rent increase takes effect, and the increase can't exceed the annual guideline unless the unit is exempt (like most units first occupied after November 2018) [4][5]. For ending a tenancy, notice periods range widely: 60 days for landlord's own use in many cases, or as little as 10 to 14 days for specific cause-based terminations, always through the formal N-series forms and Landlord and Tenant Board process [4]. Other provinces and U.S. states set their own numbers, so if you're operating outside Ontario, confirm the specific notice periods with your local landlord-tenant statute rather than assuming Ontario's rules apply.
What can a landlord look at during an inspection?
During a routine inspection, a landlord can generally look at the general condition and cleanliness of the unit, check for damage beyond normal wear and tear, confirm smoke and carbon monoxide detectors are working, and look for safety hazards like blocked exits or unauthorized modifications. What a landlord cannot do is search through the tenant's personal belongings, open closed drawers or containers, or use the inspection as a pretext to harass or intimidate the tenant. Inspections still require proper notice under most tenancy laws. In Ontario, that's the same 24-hour written notice rule that applies to any non-emergency entry [4]. The landlord can visually assess the property's condition but doesn't have authority to conduct a search the way a building inspector or code enforcement officer would during a licensing inspection. This is a different question from who's responsible for a rental property walk-through inspection in places like California, where state law puts specific procedural obligations on the landlord at move-in and move-out.
Who is responsible for the rental property walk-through inspection in California?
In California, the landlord is responsible for offering the tenant an initial move-out inspection before the tenant vacates, if the landlord intends to withhold any part of the security deposit. Under California Civil Code Section 1950.5, the landlord must notify the tenant of their right to request this inspection and, if the tenant requests it, conduct it within a reasonable time before the end of the tenancy, then give the tenant an itemized list of deficiencies and a chance to fix them before move-out [6]. The move-out inspection is optional for the tenant to request, but if requested, it's the landlord's job to schedule and perform it, then provide the itemized statement in writing [6]. This is separate from any move-in inspection, which isn't mandated by the same statute but is strongly recommended practice and often required by local rental licensing ordinances in individual California cities. If you manage property in a California city with its own rental licensing or inspection program, check that city's specific ordinance in addition to the state civil code, since local rules frequently add requirements state law doesn't cover.
What can a landlord not do in Ohio?
In Ohio, a landlord cannot enter a tenant's unit without reasonable notice except in an emergency, cannot shut off utilities or change locks to force a tenant out (a practice known as self-help eviction), and cannot retaliate against a tenant for exercising a legal right like reporting a code violation. These protections come from Ohio Revised Code Chapter 5321, the Ohio Landlords and Tenants Act [7]. Under ORC 5321.04, a landlord must maintain the premises in a fit and habitable condition, keep common areas safe, and maintain electrical, plumbing, and heating systems in good working order [7]. A landlord who wants to end a tenancy or remove a tenant has to go through the formal eviction process (a forcible entry and detainer action) through the courts. Ohio Revised Code Section 5321.15 specifically prohibits landlords from using self-help remedies like lockouts or utility shutoffs to force a tenant out, and a tenant harmed by that kind of illegal eviction can recover damages [8]. Ohio also restricts retaliatory conduct under ORC 5321.02, meaning a landlord can't raise rent, decrease services, or start eviction proceedings mainly because a tenant complained to a government agency about a code violation or exercised another legal right .
Frequently asked questions
Do I need to register a short-term rental in Toronto if I only rent it a few weekends a year?
Yes. Toronto's Chapter 547 registration requirement applies to any rental under 28 consecutive days, regardless of how many nights per year you actually rent it out. There's no minimum threshold of nights or income that exempts occasional hosts from registering.
Can I register a short-term rental for a condo I own but don't live in?
No. Toronto's rules require that short-term rentals operate out of your principal residence, meaning the address where you actually live and receive mail, tax documents, and utility bills. Investment condos you don't live in aren't eligible for short-term rental registration.
How much is the Toronto short-term rental registration fee?
The registration fee is $61 per year according to the city's current fee schedule, and it renews annually with registrations expiring every December 31. Confirm the current amount with Toronto's Municipal Licensing and Standards division, since fees can change.
What's the Municipal Accommodation Tax and do I have to collect it myself?
It's a 6% tax on short-term accommodation charges in Toronto. If you book through a platform like Airbnb, the platform usually collects and remits it for you under an agreement with the city. If you take direct bookings, you're responsible for collecting and remitting it yourself.
What happens if my Toronto short-term rental registration expires?
Your listing becomes non-compliant and platforms are supposed to remove it until you renew. Operating without valid registration can also trigger enforcement action under Chapter 547, including fines. Renewal isn't automatic, so mark your calendar for December 31 each year.
How to become a landlord in Ontario after running a short-term rental?
Switch the unit to a long-term lease governed by the Residential Tenancies Act, 2006, screen tenants, draft a written lease, and follow provincial rules on notice, rent increases, and deposits. You'll also want to check whether your municipality requires separate rental licensing for long-term units.
What is landlording as a general concept?
Landlording is the ongoing work of renting out property: finding tenants, collecting rent, maintaining the unit, and handling legal obligations under tenancy law. It's distinct from short-term rental hosting, which falls under municipal licensing bylaws rather than provincial or state tenancy statutes.
What rights does a tenant have if there's no written lease?
A tenant without a written lease still gets full protection under tenancy law once they've moved in and paid rent, typically as a month-to-month tenancy. That includes notice requirements for entry and eviction, and protection against rent increases beyond legal limits.
Why do landlords require renters insurance from tenants?
It shifts liability for the tenant's belongings and accidental damage away from the landlord's own insurance policy. A landlord's property insurance usually doesn't cover a tenant's personal items or liability from incidents the tenant causes, so renters insurance fills that gap.
How much notice does a landlord have to give before entering the unit?
In Ontario, 24 hours written notice is required for non-emergency entry, stating the reason, date, and a time between 8 a.m. and 8 p.m. Other provinces and states set different minimums, so confirm the specific rule where your property is located.
What can a landlord look at during a routine inspection?
A landlord can check general condition, cleanliness, safety features like smoke detectors, and look for damage beyond normal wear and tear. A landlord cannot search personal belongings or use an inspection to harass a tenant, and proper advance notice is required first.
What can a landlord not do in Ohio?
An Ohio landlord cannot enter without reasonable notice except in an emergency, cannot shut off utilities or change locks to force a tenant out, and cannot retaliate against a tenant for reporting code violations. These protections come from Ohio Revised Code Chapter 5321.
Sources
- City of Toronto, Short-Term Rentals registration and fees: Registration fee of $61 per year, annual expiry on December 31, required documents for registration
- City of Toronto, Municipal Accommodation Tax: 6% Municipal Accommodation Tax on short-term accommodation charges
- Residential Tenancies Act, 2006, S.O. 2006, c. 17: Ontario tenancy law on notice for entry, landlord definition, rent increase notice, month-to-month tenancy without written lease
- Ontario Ministry of Municipal Affairs and Housing, Rent Increase Guideline: Ontario's annual rent increase guideline of 2.5% for 2024
- California Civil Code Section 1950.5: Landlord's obligation to offer a move-out inspection and provide itemized deficiency statement in California
- Ohio Revised Code Section 5321.04: Ohio landlord obligations to maintain premises in fit and habitable condition
- Ohio Revised Code Section 5321.15: Prohibition on Ohio landlords using self-help evictions like lockouts or utility shutoffs
- Ohio Revised Code Section 5321.02: Ohio's prohibition on retaliatory conduct by landlords against tenants who exercise legal rights