Mississauga: short-term accommodation
The City of Mississauga requires operators of short-term rental accommodation to hold a City licence and meet the conditions of its licensing by-law.
Locations · Ontario
The Greater Toronto Area
Peel, Halton and Durham: the cities and towns that ring Toronto, each with its own rules.
The Greater Toronto Area is the City of Toronto plus the four surrounding regions of York, Peel, Halton and Durham. Toronto and York Region have their own pages. This page covers the rest: Peel Region (Mississauga, Brampton and Caledon), Halton Region (Oakville, Burlington, Milton and Halton Hills) and Durham Region (Pickering, Ajax, Whitby, Oshawa, Clarington and the northern townships).
These are large cities in their own right, not suburbs of one market. Mississauga's city centre towers, Brampton's family neighbourhoods, Oakville's lakeside streets and Oshawa's university-area rentals each carry different tenants, prices and municipal rules. Rental licensing, second-unit registration and short-term rental controls change at each municipal boundary, so we check the rules for the specific address before advising on any property.
Neighbourhoods
Getting to know the GTA.
Six areas, from Mississauga City Centre to Pickering, Ajax, Whitby & Oshawa: the homes in each and how people get around. They describe the area, not offices or properties we hold.
Photograph is illustrative and may not show this neighbourhood.
Mississauga City Centre
Condominium towers have grown up around Square One and the civic centre over the past two decades, creating one of the largest concentrations of high-rise rental suites outside Toronto.
Properties in the GTA- Typical homes
- High-rise condominium suites, some purpose-built rental
- Getting around
- MiWay buses and the City Centre Transit Terminal; GO buses
Local property
Property characteristics in the GTA.
01
Family homes with additional units
Detached and semi-detached houses across Peel, Halton and Durham often include a basement or second unit. Whether a unit is legal depends on local zoning, the Ontario Building Code and the Fire Code, and some municipalities also require registration or a licence.
02
Condominium centres
Mississauga City Centre, parts of Oakville and Burlington, and pockets of Pickering and Whitby have growing clusters of condominium towers. Leasing is shaped by each corporation's declaration and rules as well as the Residential Tenancies Act.
03
Commuter rail corridors
GO Transit's Lakeshore West, Lakeshore East, Milton and Kitchener lines tie these communities to Union Station. Distance to a station, and the frequency of service on that line, is often a deciding factor for tenants.
Communities
Where we focus.
- MississaugaLicenses short-term rental accommodation under its own by-law.
- BramptonHas operated a residential rental licensing program in selected areas; confirm current coverage.
- Oakville, Burlington & MiltonHalton Region municipalities with distinct zoning and rental by-laws.
- Pickering, Ajax & WhitbyDurham's lakeshore communities along the GO Lakeshore East line.
- OshawaLicenses residential rental housing in defined areas, including near its university and college.
Getting around
Transit and access.
GO Transit
Lakeshore West, Lakeshore East, Milton and Kitchener lines connect Peel, Halton and Durham to Union Station.
Local transit
MiWay, Brampton Transit, Oakville Transit, Burlington Transit and Durham Region Transit run local and rapid bus service.
Highways
The QEW, Highway 401, Highway 403 and Highway 407 ETR carry most car commuting; Highway 407 is tolled.
Service levels and routes change. Check the operator before relying on a route.
Market context
Reading the wider GTA market
TRREB's sales and condominium rental reports cover the whole of its market area, including Peel, Halton and Durham, and are shown on our Market Insights page. We do not show municipality-level averages here because the published figures we could verify do not break down consistently by city.
Within these regions, the gap between a new condominium suite, a basement apartment and a whole house is larger than the gap between municipalities. Compare a home with similar homes nearby rather than with a regional average.
- One-bedroom
$2,273
Average lease price
down 2.3% vs Q2 2025
- Two-bedroom
$3,013
Average lease price
down 1.7% vs Q2 2025
- Units leased
21,251
Rental transactions
up 4.2% vs Q2 2025
- Units listed
27,844
Listed for rent
up 2.9% vs Q2 2025
Source: TRREB Rental Market Report, Q2 2026 · Toronto Regional Real Estate Board (TRREB) · published August 31, 2026 · checked October 30, 2026
For owners and buyers
Considerations in the GTA.
- Purchases outside the City of Toronto pay the provincial Land Transfer Tax only.
- Second units, basement apartments and rooming arrangements are regulated by each municipality; confirm registration or licensing for the specific address.
- Mississauga requires short-term accommodation operators to be licensed, and other municipalities have their own rules.
- Oshawa licenses residential rental housing within defined areas of the city.
- Most residential tenancies in Ontario must use the province's standard form of lease.
- Condominium rules can restrict leasing practices; review the declaration and rules before committing to a rental strategy.
Applicable rules
Oshawa: residential rental housing licensing
Oshawa requires a licence for residential rental housing within defined areas of the city, with property standards, fire and zoning requirements. Check whether a property falls within the licensing area before leasing.
Ontario: additional residential units
Provincial changes made under the More Homes Built Faster Act, 2022 permit up to three residential units on many serviced residential lots. Local zoning, building permits and any registration requirement still apply, and they differ between municipalities.
Ontario: residential tenancies
Tenancies across the GTA are governed by the Residential Tenancies Act, 2006. Rent increases, deposits, entry, notices and termination follow the Act, and disputes are heard by the Landlord and Tenant Board.
This information is general and educational. It is not legal, tax, accounting or investment advice, and rules change. Confirm requirements with the relevant authority or a qualified professional before acting.
Questions
the GTA questions
Where are Toronto and York Region?
They have their own pages, because their housing, transit and municipal rules are distinct enough to need separate treatment. This page covers Peel, Halton and Durham.
Does the Toronto land transfer tax apply in Mississauga or Oakville?
No. The Municipal Land Transfer Tax applies only to properties within the City of Toronto. Purchases elsewhere in the GTA pay the provincial Land Transfer Tax, subject to any applicable rebates.
Can a tenanted property be sold?
Yes. A sale does not end a tenancy in Ontario, and a tenant's rights continue with a new owner. Vacant possession can only be obtained in the circumstances and through the notices permitted by the Residential Tenancies Act.
Nearby markets
Around the GTA.
Toronto
Six former municipalities, one city, and the deepest rental market in the country.
York Region
Nine municipalities north of Toronto, from new towers at the subway's end to small towns and farmland.
Hamilton
Century homes, a working harbour, and a rental market shaped by two major institutions.
Greater Toronto Area