Mississauga Airbnb Inspection Checklist 2026

Quick Facts: Mississauga STR Licence and Inspection

When Mississauga Inspects Your Airbnb

Not just once. The guide is clear that inspections happen at three points:

"The City of Mississauga will conduct inspections of short-term rentals prior to issuing a licence, at time of renewal, and potentially at any time during the licensing period." City of Mississauga, Short-term rental operator's guide 2026, page 7

And you cannot send someone in your place:

"You, as the operator, are required to attend this inspection. Another individual or representative cannot attend the inspection on your behalf." City of Mississauga, Short-term rental operator's guide 2026, page 6

The Mississauga Airbnb Inspection Checklist

This is the City's own list from page 17 of the guide, grouped the way staff will walk your property. The City notes it "is not exhaustive" and that areas "beyond just the short-term rental" may be inspected too.

Outside: Grounds

• No garbage, debris or refuse piling up
• No standing water or drainage problems
• Grass and weeds cut
• Driveway and hard surfaces in good repair
• House number visible from the street
• Exterior lights working
• Bins stored properly (the guide says backyard, side yard or garage when it is not pickup day)
• Trees not creating a hazard
• Pool or hot tub enclosure compliant and maintained
• Fences and gates solid

Outside: Building and Roof

• Walls, foundation and siding sound
• Stairs and porches safe
• Windows and doors open, close and seal
• Trim, fascia, soffits and eaves maintained
• No graffiti
• Roof sound and weather tight, eavestroughs working, downspouts draining away from the foundation

Inside

• Walls, floors and ceilings in good repair
• No pests
• Kitchens and bathrooms working and safe
• Electrical and plumbing free from defects
• No hazards

Licence and Operations

• Valid licence, and the licence number shown on every ad
• The rental is your principal residence
• Only one short-term rental at a time
• No more than 180 rental days in the calendar year
• Evacuation plan posted
• 24/7 emergency contact given to guests
• Guest records kept
• You cooperate with the inspection

How to Prepare: The Week Before

Most of the checklist is normal home upkeep. These are the items that actually catch first-time hosts:

• 1
  Post an evacuation plan at every exit. This one is in the by-law itself, not just the guide. Use the City's template on page 15 of the guide: draw each floor with two ways out of every room if possible, and name a meeting place outside.
• 2
  Test every smoke alarm. The City's fire safety page states: "The Ontario Fire Code requires a working smoke alarm on every level of a home and outside all sleeping areas."
• 3
  Check your CO alarms against the 2026 rules. Since January 1, 2026, any home with a fuel-burning appliance, a fireplace or an attached garage needs a CO alarm "adjacent to each sleeping area" and "on every storey (floor) of your home, including storeys that do not have a sleeping area." Most houses with a gas furnace qualify.
• 4
  Post an emergency information sheet. Guests must get the 24/7 emergency contact from your licence application, and the City recommends posting when to call 911. The guide's page 14 template covers it in one page.
• 5
  Check the heat. The guide cites the Adequate Temperature By-law: at least 20°C, and no higher than 26°C if you have air conditioning.
• 6
  Walk the outside like a stranger would. Cut the grass, put the bins away, replace dead exterior bulbs, and make sure the house number is easy to read from the street.

Documents to Have Ready

The inspector can review anything the by-law requires you to keep, and can ask for proof that you live there:

"You may be required to submit current supporting documentation to demonstrate your principal residence, including but not limited to: insurance policies, paystubs, or tax documents." City of Mississauga, Short-term rental operator's guide 2026, page 8

• Proof of principal residence: home insurance, a recent utility bill, a paystub or a tax document at this address
• Liability insurance: at least $2 million per occurrence
• Guest records (once you are operating), kept for three years: nights rented in the calendar year, nightly and total price including MAT, and whether each stay was entire unit or partial unit. The guide has a guest record template on page 18.

Principal Residence and Secondary Suites

"STR is operator's principal residence" sits right on the inspector's list. The by-law defines it this way:

"Principal Residence" means a Dwelling owned or rented by an individual person, either alone or jointly with others, where the individual person is ordinarily resident. Mississauga By-law 0289-2020, Section 1

The 2026 guide adds a point many owners miss. If your property has a secondary suite, garden suite or laneway suite (an ARU), you can only short-term rent the unit you live in:

"If you reside in the main house, then you would only be eligible to short-term rent the main house. If you reside in the secondary suite or laneway suite (ARU), then you would only be eligible to short-term rent the secondary suite or laneway suite of the house." City of Mississauga, Short-term rental operator's guide 2026, page 5

So be ready to walk the inspector through your layout and answer plainly where you live and which parts guests use. If the home is not where you ordinarily live, a mid-term rental of 31 days or more is the route that does not need a short-term rental licence.

Fees and Fines

From the City's rates and fines table on page 16 of the guide:

• Annual licensing fee: $283
• MAT: 6% of the rental price per stay, reported monthly (see our Mississauga MAT filing guide)
• Offence: minimum $500, maximum $100,000
• Continuing offence: minimum $500 and maximum $10,000 for each day it continues

The fee is set by the City's User Fees and Charges By-law and can change, so confirm it at mississauga.ca/str when you apply. For the full rulebook, read our Mississauga Airbnb rules guide.

Official Resources

Mississauga STR Inspection FAQs

This article is for informational purposes only and does not constitute legal advice. It summarizes the City of Mississauga's 2026 operator's guide and By-law 0289-2020 as of October 2026. Always confirm current rules with the City before your inspection.