Municipal By-law Enforcement

Municipal By-Law Enforcement

The City of Stratford shares a common goal with our residence to make our community safe, healthy, and enjoyable for everyone.

To that end, we have by-laws and regulations in place to encourage residents and businesses to be responsible and respectful of their neighbours and contribute to the health, safety and vibrancy of our community.

Our municipal by-law enforcement officers investigate complaints received from the public regarding alleged violations and non-compliance with various City by-laws. By-law enforcement officers also work with the public to license Bed and Breakfast Establishment and Short-Term Rental Accommodation Licenses.

Registering a Complaint

The By-law Department is responsible for the investigation and enforcement of all our municipal bylaws.

To file a complaint, it must be in a written form.

Please complete a Complaint Form. Paper copies are available to pick up at City Hall (1 Wellington St.) or City Hall Annex (82 Erie St.).

Complainant information is confidential and will be treated as such.

All written complaints must include:

The complainant's name, address and contact number
Violation or concern
Time and date of the violation
Location of the violation

Licenses & Registration

Trade (Plumbing / Drain layer Contractors)

Trades Licenses are required for Plumbing and Drain Layer Contractors working within the City of Stratford in accordance with by-law 181-2004. License application forms are listed below and can be submitted by email.

Our Trade Licensing Forms are below:

Backflow Tester

Drainlayer

Drainlayer Contractor

This chart outlines Plumbing Licensing Fees in effect January 1, 2023:

License	Fee
Backflow Tester	$107.00
Drain Layer	$107.00
Drain Layer Contractor	$114.00
Drain Layer Examination	$109.00
Journeyman Plumber	$20.00
Master Plumber	$107.00
Plumbing Contractor	$114.00
Late Fee (applications submitted after January 31st 2023)	$38.00

Bed and Breakfast Establishment

Bed and Breakfast Establishment Licenses are required for all Accessory Guest Rooms or Bed and Breakfast Establishments in accordance with by-law 108-2004, as amended.

Bed and Breakfast Establishments are currently only being licensed within a Single Detached Dwelling or an existing accessory building in conjunction with a Bed and Breakfast Establishment located on Ontario, Huron, and Erie Streets.

License application forms are listed below and can be submitted by email.

New Bed and Breakfast Establishments with three or more rental rooms could require a Building Permit or a Change of Use permit as the use of the building would change from a Single Detached Dwelling to a Boarding, Lodging, or Rooming House. This change requires the building to adhere to more stringent health and safety requirements including fire safety requirements. Even if no construction is proposed a change of use permit will be required. A qualified designer will be required to provide documentation to the Building Division as part of your Building Permit application.

Bed and Breakfast Quick Check

Here are a few items to check prior to applying for a Bed and Breakfast Establishment. The Establishment must conform to the following requirements:

Principal Owner Occupied (Owner must be present during the rental)
Dwelling Type (Single Detached Dwelling)
Permitted in the following Zones: R1, R2, R3, R4, R5, MUR, C1, C2, C3, UR, A.
Not permitted on a Private Street
Guest Rooms may not be suites (shall not include separate dining or food preparation areas)
No limit on consecutive stay days or annual limit of stay days
Liability Insurance required $2 million per occurrence
List of all motor vehicles owned by operator
Amenities spaces and planting strips in accordance with the Comprehensive Zoning By-law section 4.3.3.
Accessory Guest rooms may have 1 accessory guest room and may be permitted on a Private Street
Parking to be provided on subject property only, each parking space is a minimum of 2.4m x 5.6m (site plan required outlining location)
Floor Plans to be provided identifying all rooms and spaces used by renters and only for owner.

Bed and Breakfast Establishment Forms

Bed & Breakfast Application

Bed & Breakfast Renewal Application

Fees

Bed and Breakfast Establishment Fees in effect January 1, 2023

Council has implemented a one-year moratorium on Bed and Breakfast and Short-Term Rental Fees for 2023. Fees will be reviewed prior to the 2024 budget deliberations with notice being given to all current licensed operators. All current Bed and Breakfast licenses expiring December 31, 2022 have been extended to March 31, 2023.

Short-Term Rental Accommodation

Short-Term Rental Accommodation Licenses (STR) are required for all Short-Term Rental Accommodations, Hostels, Boarding, Lodging, and Rooming Houses, Inns (1-5 Suites), or Short-Term Guest rooms in accordance with by-law 130-2022.

In the case of Short-Term Rental Accommodations there is a maximum consecutive of 28 stay days per rental as well as a maximum 180 days of rental annually.

In the case of a Hostel, Boarding, Lodging, and Rooming Houses, or an Inn (1-5 Suites) there is only a requirement for a STR license if the accommodation provides stays less than 28 consecutive days to the traveling or vacationing public. If for these types of accommodations stays are provided for a longer duration, there is no requirement for a STR License. The 180 day maximum rental per year is also not applicable to this type of accommodation.

License application forms are listed below and can be submitted by email.

Short-Term Rental Accommodations with three or more rental rooms could require a Building Permit or a Change of Use permit as the use of the building would change from a Single Detached Dwelling to a Boarding, Lodging, or Rooming House. This change requires the building to adhere to more stringent health and safety requirements including fire safety requirements. Even if no construction is proposed a change of use permit will be required. A qualified designer will be required to provide documentation to the Building Division as part of your Building Permit application.

Short-Term Rental Quick Check

Here are a few items to check prior to applying for a Short-Term Rental Accommodation License. The Accommodation must conform to the following requirements.

General Provisions: (for all types of Accommodations)

Fire Safety Checklist (signed by Fire Inspector)
Fire Inspection Certificate (signed by Fire Chief or designate)
- Confirming property is in conformance with the Fire Protection and Prevention Act (FPPA)
- Statement of maximum occupancy permitted
Fire Safety Protocol
- Fire Safety Instructions
- Fire Safety Plan Drawings (to be posted at Primary Entry)
Electrical System Safety Assessment
- Completed by Licensed Electrical Contractor
Liability Insurance required, $2 million per occurrence for term of license. Certificate to include confirmation property can be used as a Short-Term Rental and confirmation that the insurer can only cancel with a maximum 60 days’ notice
Amenities spaces and planting strips in accordance with the Comprehensive Zoning By-law 4.3.3.
Parking Management Plan (Site Plan)

- Property dimensions
- Location of buildings on property
- Setbacks from all property lines
- Location and dimension of driveway
- Location and dimension of parking spaces. Parking to be provided on subject property only each parking space is a minimum of 2.4m x 5.6m
- Location and dimensions of rear yard landscaped open space and amenity space
- Identify location and type of containers for waste, recycling, and organics.
Confirmation of sufficient lighting levels, both interior and exterior from a qualified designer
Floor Plans to be provided identifying all rooms and spaces used by renters and only for owner.
- Floor plan for each floor, identifying the use of each room. Label rooms by name, physical description, or location.
- Label number of beds and size per room as well as maximum occupancy of each room.
- Identify which, if any, rooms are owner occupied.
- This includes a sketch of the basement and accessible attic.
- Indicate Occupancy Limits

Short-Term Rental Accommodation:

Principal Owner (Owner vacates property while rental occurs)
Dwelling Type (Single Detached, Semi, Converted, or Townhouse Dwelling)
Permitted in the following Zones: R1, R2, R3, R4, R5, MUR, C, C2, C3, UR, A
Not Permitted on a Private Street
Maximum 28-day consecutive rentals
Maximum 180 days of rental per calendar year

Hostel:

Only requires license if providing stays of 28 consecutive days or less
Accredited or recognized by Hosteling Association or operated by non-profit and contains common washrooms

Boarding, Lodging, and Rooming Houses:

Only requires license if providing stays of 28 consecutive days or less
Occupied by Owner or Principal Tenant as a principal resident
Dwelling Type (Single Detached Dwelling)
Contains 2 or more guest rooms rented weekly or longer

Inns (1-5 Suites):

Only requires license if proving stays of 28 consecutive days or less
Inns providing accommodation with 6 or more suites do not require a license

Short-Term Rental Forms

Short-Term Rental Accommodation Application

Fees

Short-Term Rental Fees in effect January 1, 2023

Group Home Registration

Group Home Licenses are required for Group Homes within the City of Stratford as defined in the Comprehensive Zoning By-law and the Group Home Registration By-law 52-2004. License application forms are listed below and can be submitted by email.

Group Home Forms:

Group Home Application

Fees Group Home Registration Fees in effect January 1, 2023
Group Home (New)		$195.00
Group Home (Renewal)		$164.00

Permits

Completed Permits for Awnings, Driveways, Signs and Swimming Pool Applications can be submitted using the Electronic Permit Submission Page. If you intend to pay the application fee with a credit card, please fill out the Credit Card Form. Current by-law fees are outlined below.

Hardcopy applications are accepted at the City Hall Annex (3rd Floor), located at 82 Erie Street, Stratford Ontario, N5A 2M4. Only 1 method of submission is required for each permit.

Please ensure that all of the required forms and drawings, as outlined below, are submitted. Upon receipt of your submission, a staff member will reach out to confirm your permit cost, and whether any documents or drawings are missing. Municipal staff cannot begin review of your Application until all documents, and payment, are submitted.

Awning

Awing permits are required for any awing to be installed where the awing is a movable canvas awing that will be fastened to the face of a building and extended over City property as defined in the Awning By-law 149-66. Application forms are listed below and can be submitted by email.

Awning Forms

Awning Application

Driveway

Driveway alteration permits are required for new or modifications to driveway to ensure the driveway meets the Comprehensive Zoning By-law. Application forms are listed below and can be submitted by email.

Driveway Alteration Form

Driveway Permit Application Package

Swimming Pool

Swimming Pool permits are required to ensure the pool fencing and equipment meets the Comprehensive Zoning By-law and Fence and Hedge By-law 128-2003, as amended, requirements. Application forms are listed below and can be submitted by email.

Swimming Pool Form

Swimming Pool Application

Sign

Sign permits are required for new or modifications to existing signs to ensure the signs meets the Comprehensive Zoning By-law and Sign By-law 159-2004, as amended. Application forms are listed below and can be submitted by email.

Sign Permit Form

Sign Permit

Fees	Permit Fees in effect January 1, 2023
Awning	$242.00
Driveway Widening	$131.00
Fence & Hedge Amendment	$654.00
Pool (Above Ground)	$265.00
Pool (In-Ground)	$424.00
Sidewalk, Community Events Signs	$55.00
Sign Permit	$242.00
Sign Variance	$654.00