Stronger Rules for Short-Term Rentals

Last updated: Dec 1, 2025

Starting this fall, the City will significantly expand education, monitoring, and enforcement efforts in response to growing concerns about unregulated Short-Term Rental (STR) activity.

An STR is defined as a home or portion of a home rented for 30 days or less, commonly listed on platforms such as Airbnb, Vrbo, or Booking.com.

Under Mississauga’s STR By-law:

• Operators must hold a valid STR license.

• Rentals are only permitted in a person's principal residence (the place they live most of the year).

• License numbers must be displayed on all print and online listings.

The City's goal is to ensure STRs operate safely, respectfully, and without negatively impacting surrounding neighbourhoods.

Why Changes Are Needed

As of April 1, 2025:

• An estimated 1,855 STR listings were active in Mississauga.

• Staff confirmed 1,554 qualified as STRs.

• Only 510 were properly licensed.

Between 2021 and April 2025, City staff responded to:

• 2,000+ service requests

• 1,315 Notices of Contravention

• 404 penalties issued

Many non-compliant cases involved:

• Operating without a license

• Operating more than one STR

• Operating from a home that is not the operator’s principal residence

To close the gap between enforcement and compliance, the City—supported by $4.75M in federal funding—will expand its enforcement capacity.

New Penalty Structure (Effective November 17, 2025)

To better encourage compliance, penalties will now range from $500 to $1,000, depending on the violation.

Major Offences – $1,000

• Operating without a license

• Operating from a non-principal residence

• Failing to comply with enforcement orders

Administrative Offences – $500

• Failing to display a license number on listings

• Failing to provide records when requested

• Minor breaches of the STR By-law

These higher penalties align Mississauga more closely with other large municipalities and aim to discourage illegal operators from treating fines as a “cost of doing business.”

Enhanced Enforcement Program

Thanks to support from Housing, Infrastructure and Communities Canada (HICC) and funding from STREF, Mississauga is expanding its enforcement team.

New measures will include:

• Proactively identifying unlicensed STRs

• Conducting regular on-site inspections

• Completing mandatory inspections during licensing

• Faster response to complaints

• Issuing warnings and penalties where needed

• Educating operators and guests about responsibilities

• Improved processing of STR licence applications

• Providing clear reporting options for residents

The City’s objective is to reduce illegal STR activity and protect long-term housing availability.

Requirements for STR Operators

To operate a short-term rental legally in Mississauga, residents must:

• Hold a valid, annually renewed license

• Follow all City by-laws (noise, nuisance gatherings, litter, parking, property standards)

• Follow condominium rules, if applicable