Short-term rental licensing
Kingston requires short-term rental operators to hold a City licence and comply with its short-term rental licensing by-law and zoning.
Locations · Ontario
Kingston, Ontario
Limestone heritage, a university district, and steady demand from institutions.
Kingston sits where Lake Ontario meets the St. Lawrence River, midway between Toronto and Montréal. Its limestone architecture, institutions and waterfront give it a character unlike any other Ontario city, and its rental market reflects the steady presence of Queen's University, St. Lawrence College, the Royal Military College and Canadian Forces Base Kingston.
That institutional demand, combined with a historic housing stock, makes Kingston a market where careful management and a clear understanding of each property's condition and permitted use are essential.
Neighbourhoods
Getting to know Kingston.
Five areas, from Downtown & Sydenham to Kingston East & Barriefield: 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.
Downtown & Sydenham
Limestone row houses and nineteenth-century homes around City Hall and the waterfront. The Sydenham district is a heritage conservation district, so exterior changes may need City approval.
Properties in Kingston- Typical homes
- Limestone and brick heritage houses, apartments above shops, condominiums
- Getting around
- Kingston Transit express routes; VIA Rail at Kingston station
Local property
Property characteristics in Kingston.
01
Limestone heritage homes
Neighbourhoods such as Sydenham and the downtown core contain nineteenth-century limestone and brick homes, some designated or within heritage conservation districts.
02
The University District
Housing near Queen's University is dominated by student rentals, with high turnover and concentrated demand ahead of each academic year.
03
Military and institutional households
Postings to CFB Kingston and employment at the city's hospitals and colleges support demand for family homes and longer tenancies.
Communities
Where we focus.
- Downtown & SydenhamHeritage homes and the historic core.
- University DistrictStudent rentals near Queen's University.
- Kingston West & CataraquiPost-war and newer family neighbourhoods.
- Kingston EastResidential areas near CFB Kingston and the Royal Military College.
For owners and buyers
Considerations in Kingston.
- Kingston licenses short-term rentals; long-term rentals follow the Residential Tenancies Act.
- The City has studied a broader residential rental licensing program; confirm whether any new requirements are in force.
- Heritage designation can affect renovation and exterior changes.
- Student rentals should be priced and managed with academic-year turnover in mind.
Applicable rules
Residential rental licensing
The City of Kingston has studied a residential rental licensing program for long-term rentals at several points. Confirm with the City whether any such requirement applies at the time you lease.
Ontario: residential tenancies
Long-term residential tenancies follow the Residential Tenancies Act, 2006 and the Landlord and Tenant Board's processes.
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
Kingston questions
Do you work with student rental properties?
Yes. We review and manage residential rentals of many kinds, including those near Queen's University, under the same Residential Tenancies Act framework as any other tenancy.
Are heritage properties a concern for acquisition?
Heritage status is part of our review because it shapes what can change about a property. It does not, on its own, prevent us from considering an acquisition.
Do I need a licence to rent my Kingston home long-term?
Kingston licenses short-term rentals. For long-term rentals, confirm with the City whether any residential rental licensing requirement is in force at the time you lease.
Nearby markets
Around Kingston.
London
A university city on the Thames, with a well-established rental licensing regime.
York Region
Nine municipalities north of Toronto, from new towers at the subway's end to small towns and farmland.
Toronto
Six former municipalities, one city, and the deepest rental market in the country.
Kingston