Cottage STR Licence Lab
Educational summary only, not legal or tax advice. Rules change. Always confirm with the municipality. Last checked October 9, 2026. Disclaimer

Ontario cottage-country short-term rental licence map

Fees, insurance minimums and renewal deadlines for cottage-country STR licences, with every fact linked to its official municipal source. Toronto isn't covered here.

Trent Lakes renewal window is open
– days left
to submit your Trent Lakes 2027 STRA renewal ($250). The deadline is December 15, 2026. Miss it and your registration is revoked, so you'd re-apply as new ($350).

Renewal checklist Trent Lakes rules

Kawartha Lakes
– days until Kawartha Lakes summer 6-month licences expire (October 31, 2026). After that, renting needs a winter or annual licence, and approval can take about 2–4 weeks. Details

Map

Pins mark approximate municipal locations, not boundaries. Map data © OpenStreetMap contributors.

Townships covered

Renewal window OPEN: Oct 1 to Dec 15, 2026

Trent Lakes

Peterborough County

$250 renewal, Oct 1 to Dec 15 window. Late = revoked. $2M liability. Reg # on all ads.

Rules, fees & deadlines →
Summer 6-month licences expire Oct 31, 2026

Kawartha Lakes

Single-tier city

$200 to $1,750 depending on term and hosting. $2M liability. Summer licences end Oct 31.

Rules, fees & deadlines →
All operator licences expire Mar 31, 2027

Kingston

Single-tier city

$203 operator licence. All licences expire Mar 31. Max 2 STRs per operator. Licence # in ads.

Rules, fees & deadlines →
Annual licence; renewal notice 60 days before expiry

Muskoka Lakes

District of Muskoka

$500/yr ($1,000 waterfront/R4). $2M liability. Licence # on every online ad. Summer limits.

Rules, fees & deadlines →

Why licence status matters at tax time

Since 2024, the Income Tax Act (s.67.7) has denied deductions for expenses tied to a non-compliant short-term rental. That means a rental of under 90 consecutive days in a place that doesn't permit it, or that doesn't meet all provincial and municipal registration, licence or permit requirements. The denial is prorated by non-compliant days, and the normal reassessment time limits don't apply. CRA source.

More townships (Lake of Bays, Huntsville, Prince Edward County, Blue Mountains and others) are not covered yet. This site doesn't list them because their rules haven't been verified.