Council approves Lodging House By-law

On Monday, Aug. 26, 2024 Council approved a by-law permitting lodging houses city-wide. This new bylaw aims to improve public safety, consumer protection, and nuisance control while also reducing barriers for property owners. Key changes include more robust licensing requirements and enhanced property maintenance measures. Another key change is enhanced safety measures including:

• mandatory inspections
• advertising requirements
• implementation of a Lodging House Handbook a
• implementation of a ‘Dedicated Responsible Person’

Licensing fees have also been reduced and a public application portal will be made available for applicants. Currently, there are only 15 licensed lodging Houses in Kitchener, but staff estimate there are approximately 150-300 unlicensed lodging houses operating in the City.

For more information, please visit kitchener.ca/housing

A report on the short-term rentals by-law will be presented to Council at a later date. Please subscribe for updates to get project updates. Add your email to the Stay Informed box and click 'Subscribe'.