Municipal By-law Enforcement

The City of Stratford shares a common goal with our residents 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.

We supervise the contract with the Stratford-Perth Humane Society for Animal Control services.

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:

This chart outlines Plumbing Licensing Fees in effect January 1, 2026:

Plumbing Licensing Fees
License	Fee
Backflow Tester	$115.00
Drain Layer	$115.00
Drain Layer Contractor	$123.00
Journeyman Plumber	$22.00
Master Plumber	$115.00
Plumbing Contractor	$123.00
Late Fee (applications submitted after January 31st)	$41.00

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.

Bed & Breakfast Application

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 & Breakfast Application

Bed and Breakfast Establishment Fees in effect January 1, 2026

Bed and Breakfast Establishment Fees
License	Fee
1 Room Bed and Breakfast	$210.00
Each Additional Bedroom	$130.00
Late Application Fee	$75.00
Transfer Fee	$40.00
Appeal Fee	$190.00

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.

Short-Term Rental Accommodation Application

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 to the By-law Division.

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
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

Fees

View our list of 2026 Accommodation Fees

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 Application

This chart outlines Group Home Licensing Fees in effect January 1, 2026:

Group Home Licensing Fees
License	Fee
Group Home (New)	$210.00
Group Home (Renewal)	$176.00

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. Please note than an indemnity agreement is required as part of the approval process.

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 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 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.

Permit Fees
Fees	Permit Fees in effect January 1, 2026
Driveway Widening	$141.00
Fence & Hedge Amendment	$705.00
Pool (Above Ground)	$285.00
Pool (In-Ground)	$457.00
Sidewalk, Community Events Signs	$59.00
Sign Permit	$261.00
Sign Variance	$704.00

Cross Connection Program

To ensure the continued supply of safe, clean drinking water to its users, the Corporation of the City of Stratford has adopted a proactive approach to backflow prevention. As part of this initiative, a list of all Industrial, Commercial, Institutional, Multi-Residential facilities, and properties, including Residential properties with an irrigation system, has been compiled. These types of properties must have appropriate Cross-Connection Devices installed as needed, have Cross-Connection Surveys conducted every five (5) years, and all Cross-Connection devices (Backflow Prevention Devices) tested on an annual basis, as required by the Canadian Safety Association (CSA) Standards, as amended.

For a list of current City of Stratford Licensed Qualified Persons please contact the Backflow Prevention Officer at 519-271-0250 extension 5345.

What is Cross-Connection Control?
Cross-Connection Control ensures the protection of drinking water against contamination, pollutants, or other harmful substances. This is typically achieved through the installation of an appropriate backflow prevention device at the water connection point where such a hazard exists.

How can a backflow situation occur?
Backflow occurs due to back siphonage, backpressure, or both. Back siphonage happens when water flows in the opposite direction in a system due to negative pressure in the water line. Backpressure occurs when the downstream water pressure exceeds the pressure of the supplied water, or when a direct cross-connection between potable water and another process line allows contaminants to enter the potable supply.

What health risks could be associated with backflow?
Depending on the contaminant involved, the health risks associated with backflow can range from minor irritation to potentially fatal illnesses.

What role do I play in Cross-Connection Control?
If you are an owner of Industrial, Commercial, Institutional, Multi-Residential facilities, and properties, including Residential properties with an irrigation system, a Cross-Connection Survey must be completed (every 5 years), all testable devices must be tested and inspected to ensure they are functioning as intended (annually). If a Backflow Prevention Device does not pass an annual test and is required to be replaced, or a new Backflow Prevention Device is required to be installed, a City of Stratford Building Permit must be acquired prior to any replacement or installation. Failure to do so will add extra costs to the property owner (double permit fee).

What are the next steps following the Survey?
If the Cross-Connection Survey indicates that your property requires the installation or update of Backflow Prevention Device(s) in compliance with Canadian Safety Association (CSA) Standards, a building permit must be obtained before installation. The required work should be completed immediately. It is the responsibility of the property owner to make sure that Qualified Persons (contractors) are licensed with the City of Stratford, prior to conducting any Surveys, testing and replacement/installations of any Backflow Prevention Device.

Important Notice
If Survey(s) and/or Test Report(s) are conducted and submitted more than 30 days before the prescribed COMPLIANCE DATE, the City of Stratford reserves the right to refuse such documentation. If Survey(s) and/or Test Report(s) are submitted 14 days past the prescribed COMPLIANCE DATE, the documentation will only be accepted if the Survey(s) and/or Test(s) were conducted within 14 days of the issued COMPLIANCE DATE.

According to Section 16 of the Cross Connection Control By-Law, failure to submit a Test Report, Cross-Connection Survey, and Compliance Certificate within the specified time will result in a late filing fee of $100.00. Additionally, the City of Stratford may discontinue the water service to your property until all required reports, surveys, and certificates are provided and the property is deemed to be in compliance.

Property Owner's Responsibility
It is the responsibility of the property owner to hire a Qualified Person (contractor) to conduct the necessary Surveys and/or Tests, install devices, obtain permits, and cover the associated costs. If Surveys and/or Tests are conducted too early or too late, the City of Stratford reserves the right to reject the documentation, and a new Survey/Test will be required at the property owner's expense.

Cross-Connection Control Documents
By-law 50-2004 - Cross Connection Control

Appendix A to Bylaw 50-2004

Appendix B - Cross Connection Survey

Appendix C - Backflow Prevention Device Test Report

Appendix D - Certificate of Compliance

Submission of Cross-Connection Documentation

Email (preferred method):

Email ByLaw Department

In-Person/Mail:

City of Stratford

Building and Planning Services Department

82 Erie St, 3^rd Floor