Checked
Short-term rental operator licences in Kingston, Ontario
Kingston, Ontario, Canada
Kingston requires a licence before marketing or operating paid stays of 30 consecutive days or less. Owners or authorized agents apply through MyKingston, with annual expiry on March 31.
Key information
Kingston requires a licence before marketing or operating paid stays of 30 consecutive days or less. Owners or authorized agents apply through MyKingston, with annual expiry on March 31.
On this page
Property and operator scope
The accommodation must be part of a dwelling with cooking, eating, living or sleeping, and sanitary facilities. A separate sleeping-only bunkie does not qualify. The owner or authorized agent may apply; corporate or multiple-owner arrangements require supporting documents.
Operators may run at most two short-term rentals at once. Existing legal secondary suites may qualify, but a missing unit number or open building permit should be checked with buildinginspection@cityofkingston.ca before applying.
Sources: City of Kingston: Short-term rental operator licences
Documents and review
Supply official identification for all owners, ownership proof, agent authorization where needed, permissions from multi-unit owners where applicable and corporate documents where relevant. Planning, Building, Fire and Property Standards may review or inspect.
The stated review can take up to 20 days. A denied applicant has 15 days to appeal. The listed operator charge is $203, subject to annual changes. After approval and payment, display the licence near the entrance and include its number in marketing.
Sources: City of Kingston: Short-term rental operator licences
Guests and rooms
Whole-dwelling bookings allow no more than two people per bedroom and ten per single booking. Children aged two or younger are excluded from those counts. Room-by-room operation permits at most three rented rooms and four guests total.
Provide emergency contacts, follow parking and other bylaws, maintain required records and remit Municipal Accommodation Tax. Report changes to application information in writing within 14 days.
Sources: City of Kingston: Short-term rental operator licences
Expiry and fire-code update
Licences run to March 31 each year. The page also uses anniversary wording elsewhere, so confirm renewal timing with Licensing and do not rely on a later personal anniversary.
A dated January 1, 2026 notice states expanded CO alarm requirements near sleeping areas and on every floor. Older conditional wording remains in the FAQ; use the dated update and Fire review rather than treating the older paragraph as the current complete standard.
Sources: City of Kingston: Short-term rental operator licences
Quick reference
| Topic | What to know |
|---|---|
| Stay length | 30 consecutive days or less |
| Operator maximum | 2 rentals at once |
| Whole dwelling | 2 per bedroom; 10 per booking, excluding age 2 or younger |
| Room-by-room | 3 rooms; 4 guests total |
| Annual end date | March 31 |
| Listed licence fee | $203 |
Sources: City of Kingston: Short-term rental operator licences
What to do next
- Check the unit
Confirm legal dwelling status and open permits.
- Apply
Provide ownership, ID and permissions.
- Operate within conditions
Display number, track guests and renew on time.
Sources: City of Kingston: Short-term rental operator licences
10 useful questions
Can I advertise before being licensed?
No. The page requires a valid licence to market or operate.
Source: City of Kingston: Short-term rental operator licences
Can an authorized agent apply?
Yes, with the owner’s written authorization.
Source: City of Kingston: Short-term rental operator licences
Does a sleeping-only bunkie qualify?
No. The rental must be part of the defined dwelling unit.
Source: City of Kingston: Short-term rental operator licences
How many rentals may one operator run?
Up to two at the same time.
Source: City of Kingston: Short-term rental operator licences
How many people can a whole-home booking have?
At most ten, with no more than two per bedroom and the stated young-child exclusion.
Source: City of Kingston: Short-term rental operator licences
What is the room-by-room limit?
Up to three rented bedrooms and four guests total.
Source: City of Kingston: Short-term rental operator licences
What is the listed licence charge?
$203, subject to current annual fees.
Source: City of Kingston: Short-term rental operator licences
When is annual expiry?
The explicit end date is March 31.
Source: City of Kingston: Short-term rental operator licences
How quickly must changed application details be reported?
In writing within 14 days.
Source: City of Kingston: Short-term rental operator licences
Must the number appear in marketing?
Yes. Include the operator licence number.
Source: City of Kingston: Short-term rental operator licences
Official information and forms
This guide covers the City of Kingston, Ontario, Canada. Other Kingston communities and the surrounding counties have separate services. Fees and active service notices can change. Use the linked official page for the application or latest notice.