St. Catharines: short-term rental licensing
St. Catharines requires short-term rental operators to hold a licence under its short-term rental licensing by-law.
Locations · Ontario
The Niagara Region
Twelve municipalities, heritage districts and wine country, each with its own rules.
The Niagara Region is a federation of twelve local municipalities, and property decisions here begin with knowing which one a property sits in. St. Catharines, Niagara Falls, Welland and Niagara-on-the-Lake differ in housing stock, tenant demand and, most noticeably, in how they regulate short-term rentals.
Heritage districts in Niagara-on-the-Lake and Port Dalhousie, family neighbourhoods in St. Catharines and Welland, and properties near Brock University and Niagara College each call for a different approach. We assess Niagara property municipality by municipality, never on a regional generalisation.
Neighbourhoods
Getting to know Niagara.
Four areas, from St. Catharines & Port Dalhousie to Welland & Thorold: 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.
St. Catharines & Port Dalhousie
The region's largest city has a downtown along St. Paul Street, mature residential streets, and Port Dalhousie, a lakeside former village with a heritage commercial district.
Properties in Niagara- Typical homes
- Detached houses, older apartments, townhouses, student rentals near Brock
- Getting around
- St. Catharines GO station; Niagara Region Transit
Local property
Property characteristics in Niagara.
01
Heritage and character homes
Old Town Niagara-on-the-Lake and parts of St. Catharines contain designated heritage properties and heritage conservation districts, where exterior changes may require municipal approval.
02
Tourism and short-term rentals
Visitor demand in Niagara Falls and Niagara-on-the-Lake has made short-term rental regulation a significant local issue. Each municipality licenses and zones these uses differently.
03
Long-term residential rentals
Students, healthcare and hospitality workers and commuters along the QEW support a steady long-term rental market, particularly in St. Catharines, Welland and Thorold.
Communities
Where we focus.
- St. CatharinesThe region's largest city; licenses short-term rentals under its own by-law.
- Niagara FallsRegulates short-term and vacation rentals through licensing and zoning.
- Niagara-on-the-LakeLicenses short-term rentals under a dedicated by-law; heritage district controls in Old Town.
- Welland & ThoroldResidential neighbourhoods and student rental demand near Niagara College and Brock University.
For owners and buyers
Considerations in Niagara.
- Never assume a short-term rental use permitted in one Niagara municipality is permitted in another.
- Heritage designation or district status can affect renovation and exterior changes.
- Purchasers relying on short-term rental income should confirm licensing eligibility before buying.
- Long-term tenancies follow the Residential Tenancies Act regardless of municipality.
Applicable rules
Niagara-on-the-Lake: short-term rental licensing
Niagara-on-the-Lake licenses short-term rentals under a dedicated by-law, most recently updated in 2025, with requirements for operators, properties and occupancy.
Niagara Falls: vacation and short-term rentals
Niagara Falls regulates short-term and vacation rental units through licensing and zoning, which limit where these uses may operate. Confirm eligibility for a specific address with the City.
Ontario: residential tenancies
Long-term residential tenancies across the region 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
Niagara questions
Can I operate a short-term rental anywhere in Niagara?
No. Each municipality sets its own licensing and zoning rules, and some limit short-term rentals to particular areas or property types. Confirm the rules for the exact address before relying on that use.
Do you consider heritage properties?
Yes. Heritage status is part of our review because it affects what can change about a property, but it does not prevent us from considering an acquisition.
Which Niagara municipalities do you focus on?
Our current focus includes St. Catharines, Niagara Falls, Niagara-on-the-Lake, Welland and Thorold. Enquiries from elsewhere in the region are welcome.
Nearby markets
Around Niagara.
Hamilton
Century homes, a working harbour, and a rental market shaped by two major institutions.
Greater Toronto Area
Peel, Halton and Durham: the cities and towns that ring Toronto, each with its own rules.
Toronto
Six former municipalities, one city, and the deepest rental market in the country.
Niagara Region