How to List a Short-Term Rental in Waterloo (2026 Licence Rules)
To list a short-term rental in the City of Waterloo you need a city short-term rental licence, and the unit must be your own home: Waterloo only licenses owner-occupied short-term rentals. Each stay is capped at 30 nights, and a unit can be rented for a maximum of 275 nights a year. Source: City of Waterloo, https://www.waterloo.ca/building-and-renovating/residential-rental-licences/get-a-short-term-rental-licence/
What the Waterloo licence application needs
Application Form A, proof of ownership and government-issued ID
An insurance declaration dated within the past 12 months
An electrical inspection by a licensed electrician, and a gas or oil appliance inspection or declaration
A floor plan with measurements and room labels, plus a parking plan for houses and townhouses
A criminal record check (required since July 1, 2026)
For apartment units, a letter from the building owner or condo board
Licence fees
New licences range from $460 for a one-bedroom house or townhouse to $675 for a five-bedroom apartment unit, and renewals cost less. Units can have a maximum of five bedrooms. Check the city page for the current fee table before you apply.
If you don't live in the unit
You can't run a short-term rental in Waterloo in a unit you don't live in. The usual alternatives are a furnished rental with stays longer than 30 nights, or a standard long-term lease on the Ontario Standard Lease. SMOOTH manages both, including furnished and mid-term rentals: smoothpm.ca/short-term-rentals
Frequently asked questions
Who do I contact at the City of Waterloo?
Email rental@waterloo.ca or call 519-747-8785.
Do Kitchener and Cambridge have the same rules?
No. Each city sets its own short-term rental bylaw. Check the rules with Kitchener or Cambridge before listing a unit there.
Can SMOOTH manage my Waterloo rental instead?
Yes, as a long-term rental or a furnished mid-term rental. Call 1 (866) 255-1902 or request a proposal at smoothpm.ca/contact-us.
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