Short-Term Rentals

As of January 1, 2025, an amended Short-Term Rental By-Law will be in effect. New applications for Dedicated Short-Term Rentals and Owner Occupied Short-Term Rental will be accepted and must comply with the new land use zoning regulations. The application portal will open on January 2, 2025. 

Please click here to access: Short-Term Rental Licencing By-Law 102-2024, Official Plan Amendment By-Law 02-2024 and Comprehensive Zoning By-Law 01-2024. 

For a list of licenced Short-Term Rentals, please visit our Business Directory. 

Short Term Rental Application Form

Short-Term Rental licences are non-transferrable.

Applications will be processed on a first-come, first- serve basis.

To operate a Short-Term Rental (STR) in Fort Erie you must meet the zoning and licencing requirements and obtain a STR licence through the Town of Fort Erie.

A “short-term rental” means the use of all or part of a Dwelling Unit, either dedicated or owner-occupied, to provide sleeping accommodation for any period of thirty (30) calendar days at a time or less in exchange for payment, but does not include any type of institutional dwelling, hotels, or other similar uses.

Types of Short-Term Rentals Licences

There are two types of Short-Term Rentals licences. You should only apply for the licence that applies to you.

Dedicated Short-Term Rental: means a STR is located on a property where the Owner is not a full-time resident.

The Town’s Comprehensive Zoning By-law permits dedicated short-term rentals in the following zones:

Local Commercial (C1), General Commercial (C2), Central Business District Commercial (C2A), Highway Commercial (C3), Rural Commercial (C7), Core Mixed Use 1 (CMU1), Core Mixed Use 2 (CMU2), Core Mixed Use 3 (CMU3), Core Mixed Use 4 (CMU4), Core Mixed Use 5 (CMU5), Core Mixed Use 6 (CMU6),  Residential 2B (R2B), Waterfront Residential (WR) – lots west of Kraft Road to Mathews Road only and Waterfront Rural Residential (WRR) - lots west of Kraft Road to Mathews Road only.

Owner-Occupied Short-Term Rental: means a STR that is located on a property where the Owner is a full-time resident occupying the property on a full-time basis, including the duration of the rental term where the owner is present.   

The Town’s Comprehensive Zoning By-law permits owner-occupied short-term rentals in the following zones:

Agricultural (A), Rural (RU), Rural Residential (RR), Residential 1 (R1), Residential (R2), Residential 2 A (R2A), Residential 2 B (R2B), Residential 3 (R3), Residential Multiple 1 (RM1), Waterfront Residential (WR) – lots west of Kraft Road to Mathews Road only.

Zoning verification by the Town of Fort Erie Planning department will be required to ensure short-term rental use is permitted.

Short-Term Rental Application Requirements

1. Short-Term Rental Information: Full address, number of legal parking spaces, number of bedrooms and if application is for entire dwelling or bedroom rental only.

2. Owner/Corporation Information: Name of owner(s) and full contact information. (Name, mailing address, telephone and cell number and email address).

3. Applicant/Operator Information: Applicant/Operator full contact information (name, mailing address, telephone and cell number and email address).

4. Responsible Local Contact Person: Provide full contact information for the responsible local contact person (Local contact person shall be at the premises within 30 minutes of contact).

5. Additional Questions:

a. Are you aware of any outstanding Fire Orders?

b. Are you aware of any Property Orders?

c. Are you aware of any Building Permits?

d. Have you had any interior renovations in the last 10 years? If yes, what was the nature of the renovations?

6. Document Checklist: 

• Copy of transfer/deed for ownership confirmation
• Proof of insurance for Short-Term Rental use (minimum liability coverage $2M)
• Site Plan 
• Fire Exit Floor Plan
• Owner Consent Form (if applicable)
• Certificate of proof that the well water is safe to drink (if applicable)
• Acknowledgement by the Region of Niagara that the dwelling has a functioning septic system as of the date of the first rental application (if applicable). Region Contact 905-980-6000 ext. 3358.

Short-Term Rentals in Fort Erie

As of January 1, 2020, all Fort Erie Short-Term Rental operators (such as Airbnbs) are required to obtain a Short-Term Rental licence from the Town of Fort Erie. Licence application forms can be completed online.

Short-Term Rental Application Fee:

• 1 or 2 Bedrooms = $750.00
• 3 Bedrooms = $1,250.00

• The maximum occupant limits in a Short-Term Rental shall be as follows:
  1 bedroom = maximum 4 people
  2 bedrooms = maximum 6 people
  3 bedrooms = maximum 8 people

• The maximum number of bedrooms in a Short-Term Rental shall be limited to 3.

• Short-Term Rentals with more than 3 bedrooms are allowed to operate and additional bedrooms shall be closed off with appropriate signage posted on the door(s). Maximum occupancy is 8 persons.
• Annual fire and building inspections shall be carried out for each Short-Term Rental premises.
• The time limit for guests visiting Short-Term Rentals shall be 11:00pm each day.

• The owner or operator must maintain a register that contains the following information:
  1.The name and address of the Renter(s)
  2.The names of any other Person or Persons who occupy the Premises overnight and/or to who sleeping accommodation will be provided at the Premises during the Short-Term Rental period reserved and/or booked by the Renter(s)
  3.Upon request of the Town of Fort Erie, the owner shall produce the register for review and/or inspection by the Town.

• Advertising a Short-Term Rental without including the Town of Fort Erie issued licence number may result in a $75.00 administrative penalty and 3 demerit points.
• Advertising a Short-Term Rental with more than three (3) bedrooms may result in a $500.00 administrative penalty and 5 demerit points. 
• Advertising a Short-Tern Rental that exceeds the maximum occupancy may result in a $500.00 administrative penalty and 5 demerit points. 
• Advertising a Short-Term Rental without a licence may result in a $1,000 administrative penalty and a two (2) year prohibition on applying for a licence from the date on which the first Penalty Notice is issued. In the event a Short-Term Rental continues to advertise without a licence, the administrative penalty will increase to $1,500 for each subsequent infraction and the prohibition can be extended up to five (5) years.    
• A Short-Term Rental licence will be immediately revoked where the total number of Demerit Points in effect against a Short-Term Rental is fifteen (15) or more.  An Owner whose licence has been revoked may, within ten (10) days of being notified of the revocation, submit a written request to the Coordinator to appeal the licence revocation to the Hearing Officer.  
• Operating a Short-Term Rental without a licence may result in a $1,500 administrative penalty and a two (2) year prohibition on applying for a licence from the date on which the first Penalty Notice is issued. In the event a Short-Term Rental continues to operate without a licence, the administrative penalty will increase to $2,000 for each subsequent infraction and the prohibition can be extended up to five (5) years.

Short-Term Rental Guest Rules

 Contacting By-law Enforcement (905-871-1600, ext. 5216)

We want everyone to enjoy being part of the Fort Erie community. If you are concerned that a Short-Term Rental property might be violating Town bylaws (i.e., noise and nuisance, parking, property standards, fire safety or building violation), please take a minute to review our FAQs or Short-Term Rental By-law to confirm. If confirmed, please call Municipal By-law Enforcement during hours of operation at 905-871-1600, ext. 5216 or use the online submission form.

If you have concerns about a Short-Term Rental property regarding noise and nuisance or parking outside of regular business hours, please call the non-emergency number for the Niagara Regional Police Services at 905-871-2300. In case of an emergency, always call 911.

Bay Beach (Also known as Crystal Beach)

Commercial Season Passes are now available for $100 each.

Local accommodation operators/owners may:

a) Pick up the Passes at Town Hall (1 Municipal Centre Drive) anytime between 8:30 AM - 4:30 PM, Monday to Friday, save and except holidays. You can bring either a printed copy of the receipt (e-mailed) or your smartphone with the e-mail on it along with photo ID for you or the person you have designated to collect the pass(es). Please contact Town Hall via phone at 905-871-1600 prior to pick-up to ensure your order is ready.
b) Receive the Passes via Mail - Passes will be sent via regular mail with Canada Post. Please be aware that the Town will not be held responsible for delayed, lost or damaged items and we will not be in a position to reissue passes for any such reasons.

Contact:

For more information, please contact our Business Licencing Coordinator at edts@forterie.ca or call  
905-871-1600, ext. 2252.