Keswick Airbnb Short Term Rental Rules 2026

Quick Summary: Keswick STR Rules

Headline rules at a glance:

Keswick in the Town of Georgina Bylaw Framework

By-law 2019-0061(LI-3) is a Town-wide bylaw. Keswick, Sutton/Jackson's Point, and Pefferlaw all fall under it. Per Section 19 of the bylaw, the rules came into effect upon final approval of amendments to the Official Plan, the Keswick Secondary Plan, the Sutton/Jackson's Point Secondary Plan, the Pefferlaw Secondary Plan, and the amendment to the Zoning By-law, but not before January 1, 2020.

The Keswick Secondary Plan is referenced because Keswick has its own land-use framework within the broader Georgina Official Plan, reflecting its size and role as the Town's largest community. The STR bylaw aligns with that planning framework rather than overriding it.

Practically, that means a Keswick property must satisfy:

• Town of Georgina STR licensing rules under By-law 2019-0061(LI-3)
• Town of Georgina Zoning By-law No. 500 use and parking provisions
• Keswick Secondary Plan land-use designations
• Town of Georgina Noise By-law 2003-0075(PWE-1)
• Lake Simcoe Protection Act, 2009 considerations for waterfront properties (see Appendix A, Section 9)

No Principal Residence Rule

This is the most important investor-friendly distinction in the Town of Georgina, and applies in full to Keswick.

The original 2019 bylaw included Section 2(3): "Short-term Rental Accommodation shall only be permitted where a Host inhabits a dwelling unit, or any part thereof, on the same Premises as the Short-term Rental Accommodation; except by variance approved by the Short-term Rental Accommodation Committee."

That section was deleted by Bylaw 2023-0062(LI-3), which states verbatim:

"THAT Section 2(3) be deleted from the said By-law No. 2019-0061(LI-3)." Town of Georgina By-law 2023-0062(LI-3), Section 1, effective August 2, 2023

The same August 2023 amendment also deleted Section 2(6)(a), which originally required that the driveway or parking area not exceed 55% of the lot frontage. With that deletion, the 55% lot frontage cap is no longer a requirement for STRs in Georgina.

The combined effect: Keswick is one of the few GTA-adjacent markets where you can lawfully license an investment-property STR with no owner-occupant living on site. Aurora and Sault Ste. Marie are the closest comparators in Ontario.

150-Licence Cap and 100-Metre Separation

Two structural rules limit how many STRs can operate in Keswick at once.

150 Active Licences Town-Wide (Section 2(9))

"The number of active Short-term Rental Accommodation Licences shall not exceed 150 at any given time. For the purposes of this section, a Licence shall still be considered active if it is suspended and shall not be considered active if it has been revoked." Town of Georgina By-law 2019-0061(LI-3), Section 2(9)

The 150 cap is shared across Keswick, Sutton/Jackson's Point, and Pefferlaw. The Town's STR page is the source of truth for current availability. Licences are issued on a first come, first served basis. Once the cap is hit, new applications are not approved until an existing licence is revoked or surrendered.

100-Metre Separation (Section 2(8))

"There shall be a minimum separation distance of 100 metres between Short-term Rental Accommodation Premises. Such distance shall be measured from the closest points between the Premises (i.e. shortest distance between the lot lines of the two Premises)." Town of Georgina By-law 2019-0061(LI-3), Section 2(8)

Where this matters most in Keswick: lakefront streets and small lots near Lake Simcoe. If another licensed STR is already within 100 metres of your address, you cannot get a new licence. Some Keswick waterfront pockets are effectively full even though the Town-wide cap has slots. Confirm both the cap status and the 100-metre check with the Town before purchasing a property as an STR investment.

One Licence Per Premises (Section 2(10))

A maximum of one (1) STR licence is issued per Premises. You cannot license a duplex or multi-unit property as two separate STRs in Keswick.

Property Type Restrictions

Per Section 2(2):

"Short-term Rental Accommodation shall only be permitted within a Single Family Dwelling or a lawfully permitted and registered Accessory Apartment on the same lot as a Single Family Dwelling." Town of Georgina By-law 2019-0061(LI-3), Section 2(2)

This rules out:

• Townhouses (unless zoned as a single-family detached unit on its own lot)
• Condominium units
• Duplexes, triplexes, and other multi-unit dwellings
• Accessory dwellings without lawful permit/registration
• Hotels, motels, motor hotels, recreational vehicle parks, tent campgrounds (excluded by definition under Section 1)

For Keswick specifically, this matches the housing stock typical of the area: single-family detached homes on larger residential lots, frequently waterfront or near-waterfront.

Maximum Occupancy and Lake Simcoe Septic Considerations

Per Section 2(5):

• Section 2(5)(a): Maximum 12 Persons (renters and guests combined) on a Premises at any one time
• Section 2(5)(b): For properties on private septic systems, the maximum is determined at the time of application following a sewage capacity review (capped at the Section 2(5)(a)/(c)/(d) limits)
• Section 2(5)(c): Site-specific exception: a property zoned "R1-120" on Malone Avenue (originally zoned for 5 guest rooms) is limited to 15 Persons
• Section 2(5)(d): Site-specific exception: a property zoned "R-41" on Pefferlaw Road (originally zoned for 6 guest rooms) is limited to 18 Persons

The Renter's Code of Conduct (Appendix A, Section 9) flags an additional concern relevant to Keswick:

"Exceeding two persons per bedroom may result in the malfunctioning of the septic system and pollution of the ground water system. The maximum number of persons for lots on private services will be determined by the Town following a sewage capacity inspection. This is of concern within 100 metres (328 feet) of Lake Simcoe and permanent streams (as discussed in the Lake Simcoe Protection Act, 2009.)" Town of Georgina By-law 2019-0061(LI-3), Appendix A, Section 9

For Keswick waterfront properties on septic, plan for the sewage-capacity review to potentially limit overnight capacity below the 12-person ceiling. Lake Simcoe Protection Act considerations apply within 100 metres of the lake or any permanent stream.

Parking Requirements

Per Section 2(6) of the bylaw as currently in force (Section 2(6)(a) was deleted in August 2023):

• Section 2(6)(b): a minimum of three off-street parking spaces, plus one additional parking space per Guest Room
• Section 2(6)(c): compliance with all other parking provisions of the Zoning By-law

Per Section 2(7), all vehicles must park on a hard-surfaced driveway (gravel, paved, concrete, interlock, or similar). On-street parking by renters is not a substitute.

For a 4-bedroom Keswick STR, the requirement is 7 off-street spaces. For 6 bedrooms, 9 spaces. This is among the strictest STR parking rules in Ontario and reflects the Town's expectation that STRs are operated on substantial cottage-style lots.

How to Apply for a Keswick STR Licence

Per Section 3(1) of By-law 2019-0061(LI-3), a complete application includes:

1. Completed application form with each Owner, Host, Applicant, and Agent's name, address, telephone number, and email address
2. Proof of Ownership for the Premises
3. Proof the Applicant is at least 18 years old (if an individual)
4. Corporation documentation if the Applicant is a corporation: articles of incorporation and a list of all shareholders
5. Partnership documentation if applicable: names and addresses of each partner
6. Owner's written authorization if the Applicant or Agent is acting on behalf of the Owner
7. Rental agreement for at least 31 days between Host and Owner if the Host is not the Owner
8. Site plan and floor plan drawn to scale and fully dimensioned, showing all buildings, room uses, smoke detection and early-warning device locations, fire extinguishers, entrances and exits, decks, parking spaces, waste disposal, and other structures
9. Proof of insurance: $2,000,000 liability per occurrence, identifying STR operation, with a 10-day cancellation notice endorsement to the Town
10. Electrical Safety Authority (ESA) certificate
11. Payment of the applicable fees

Fee Schedule (Appendix B, as updated May 8, 2024)

• Short-term Rental Accommodation Licensing Fee (new): $550.00
• Short-term Rental Accommodation Renewal Fee: $350.00
• Bylaw Enforcement Inspection and Report Fee: $100.00 (charged on both new and renewal)
• Occupant Load, Inspection and Report: in accordance with Building Division Fee By-law 2021-0019, as amended
• Sewage Capacity Inspection Report (private septic only): in accordance with Building Division Fee By-law 2021-0019, as amended
• Fire Services Inspection Report: in accordance with Fire and Emergency Service Fees By-law 2023-0063(FI-3), as amended
• Variance Fee: $1,400.00
• Appeal Fee: $500.00

Per Section 8, a licence expires one year from issue, unless revoked.

Demerit Point System (Appendix C)

Demerit points accumulate per Appendix C of By-law 2019-0061(LI-3):

• 7+ points: licence may be suspended for up to six months
• 15+ points: licence may be revoked
• Two-year sunset: demerit points stay on file until the two-year anniversary of the date assessed, then drop off

Sample point values from Table 1 in Appendix C (selected):

• Operating without a licence (STR By-law): order not complied with = 3 points; conviction = 5 points
• Noise By-law infraction: observed by officer = 1 point; conviction = 4 points
• Host does not respond within 1 hour of Town request: observed by officer = 1 point; order not complied with = 2 points; conviction = 4 points
• Violation of any Provision of this By-law: observed = 1 point; order not complied with = 2 points; conviction = 4 points
• Violation of Renter's Code of Conduct: observed = 1 point; order not complied with = 2 points; conviction = 4 points
• Discharge of Fireworks: observed by officer = 1 point; conviction = 4 points
• Obstruction of an Officer: observed = 7 points; conviction = 15 points (revocation level on its own)
• Open Air Burning Violation: cost incurred for illegal fire = 2 points; conviction = 4 points
• Building Code Act order to comply: order not complied = 3 points; conviction = 7 points
• Fire Code order: not complied = 3 points; conviction = 7 points
• Property Standards order: not complied = 2 points; conviction = 4 points
• Waste Collection By-law infraction: order not complied = 2 points; conviction = 4 points

Enforcement and Fines

Per Section 10, individuals (other than corporations) and directors of a corporation who knowingly concur in the contravention can be fined:

• Up to $25,000 for a first offence
• Up to $50,000 for any subsequent offence

For corporations:

• Up to $50,000 for a first offence
• Up to $100,000 for any subsequent offence

All contraventions are designated as continuing offences pursuant to Section 429 of the Municipal Act, meaning each day a violation continues is a new offence (Section 10(2)).

Per Section 13, unpaid fines that remain due 21 days after a notice issued by the Licensing Coordinator can be added to the Owner's tax roll under Section 351 of the Municipal Act and collected as property taxes.

Appeals (Section 11)

Decisions to deny, suspend, or revoke a licence can be appealed to the Town's Short-term Rental Accommodation Committee. The request must be made in writing within 14 business days of the written notice, with payment of the $500 Appeal Fee. The Committee's decision is final and binding (Section 11(5)).

Staying Compliant in Keswick

• 1
  Confirm capacity before you buy. Check both the 150-licence cap and the 100-metre separation rule with the Town before closing on a Keswick property as an STR investment. Some streets are full.
• 2
  Designate a real local Host. Even though there's no on-site host requirement, Section 2(4)(a) still requires the Host to attend the premises within one hour of a Town request. For absentee owners, that's a paid local manager.
• 3
  Get the right insurance. $2M liability with the policy explicitly naming STR use, and a 10-day cancellation notice endorsement to the Town. Standard cottage policies do not satisfy Section 3(1)(i).
• 4
  Pre-book the inspections. ESA electrical certificate, Fire Services inspection, Bylaw Enforcement inspection, and (if on private septic) a sewage capacity review can each take 2-4 weeks. Start early.
• 5
  Plan the parking. 3 off-street spaces plus 1 per Guest Room, all on a hard surface (gravel, paved, concrete, interlock, or similar). A 4-bedroom STR needs 7 spaces. On-street parking does not count.
• 6
  Watch septic capacity for waterfront properties. Lake Simcoe Protection Act considerations apply within 100 metres of the lake. Sewage capacity inspections may cap your maximum guest count below the 12-person bylaw ceiling.
• 7
  Post the Renter's Code of Conduct on-site. Appendix A is mandatory and is the basis for guest-side enforcement (noise, fireworks, parking, waste, septic).
• 8
  Track your demerit points. 7 = suspension, 15 = revocation. A single noise complaint that progresses to a Part 1 conviction is 4 points. Three of those equals a suspension trigger.

Official Town of Georgina Resources

Always verify current rules with official sources before making hosting decisions:

Common Questions From Keswick Hosts

This article is for informational purposes only and does not constitute legal advice. Bylaw and regulation details change. Always verify current rules directly with the Town of Georgina before making hosting decisions.

Sources used in this article (all retrieved April 2026):

• Town of Georgina Short-Term Rental Accommodation Licensing By-law 2019-0061(LI-3). Used for: STRA definition (Section 1), property-type restriction (Section 2(2)), original on-site Host rule (Section 2(3) since deleted), Host one-hour response (Section 2(4)(a)), occupancy limits and site-specific exceptions (Section 2(5)), parking (Sections 2(6)-(7)), 100-metre separation (Section 2(8)), 150-licence cap (Section 2(9)), one-licence-per-premises (Section 2(10)), application requirements (Section 3(1)), grounds for refusal (Section 7(2)), 1-year licence term (Section 8), fines and continuing offences (Section 10), 14-day appeals (Section 11), tax-roll fine collection (Section 13), Renter's Code of Conduct (Appendix A), Fee Schedule (Appendix B as originally enacted), Demerit Point System (Appendix C).
• Amendment Bylaw 2023-0062(LI-3) effective August 2, 2023. Used for: deletion of Section 2(3) (on-site host requirement) and Section 2(6)(a) variance language.
• Amendment Bylaw 2024-0035(LI-3) effective May 8, 2024. Used for: replacement Appendix B fee schedule ($550 / $350 / $100 / $1,400 / $500 with cross-references to Building Division Fee By-law 2021-0019 and Fire and Emergency Service Fees By-law 2023-0063(FI-3)).
• Town of Georgina Short-Term Rental Accommodations webpage. Used for: current operational guidance, application process, and confirmation that the bylaw conforms to the Keswick, Sutton/Jackson's Point, and Pefferlaw Secondary Plans.
• Lake Simcoe Protection Act, 2009. Referenced in Appendix A Section 9 of the bylaw for waterfront septic considerations within 100 metres of the lake.
• Town of Georgina Noise By-law 2003-0075(PWE-1), Zoning By-law No. 500, Building Division Fee By-law 2021-0019, and Fire and Emergency Service Fees By-law 2023-0063(FI-3). Referenced for cross-bylaw obligations.