March 18, 2025, the online application portal was open yesterday. Thank you to those that completed their applications. We are temporarily closing the portal to review the first applications received and to work out any technical issues with the site. Your patience is appreciated.
Short-Term Rental Accommodation Licensing
In April 2024, Council passed By-law 19-2024 to licence, regulate and govern Short-Term Rental Accommodations in the Township. An amending By-law 62-2024 was approved in November 2024 adjusting the effective licensing date.
An Application Guide was created to provide details to assist applicants in completing the requirements for licensing.
The Township of Greater Madawaska is committed to being an inviting, safe, and inclusive community that values and protects its rural character, heritage, and natural environment. Our Short-Term Rental Accommodation By-law is designed to regulate short-term rental properties and create a harmonious living environment for both residents and visitors.
The objective of the Short-term Rental Accommodation By-law is to:
- Ensure the safety of all occupants.
- Preserve the character of our community.
- Balance the interests of residents and visitors.
To accommodate the delay of the portal and the influx of applications, applicants will not be penalized if their application has not been processed as of April 1, 2025.
Licence Application
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Step 1 - Prepare for your application
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Use the Application Guide to prepare for applying for your licence.
The Checklist in the guide will assist you with the collection of all the documentation that you will require for completing your application.
You will need to the following forms included with your application, these forms are also available on the Portal:
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Step 2 - Apply for a Licence
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Prior to beginning the application, ensure that you have read through our Short-Term Accommodation Application Guide.
Once you have prepared all required documentation as stated in Step 1 and have read over the application guide, please click the link below to complete your application.
Application Portal - Temporarily closed
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Step 3 – Application Review and Licence Issuance
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Once the application has been submitted, staff will review the information provided, considering Municipal and Provincial regulations, to confirm compliance. Should the application be missing information or not conform to a regulation or by-law, the applicant will be advised via email. Applicants will be given the opportunity to update the application or provide any missing documentation and resubmit.
If the application is found to be in compliance, the applicant will be advised. If a site inspection is required it will be arranged with the applicable Department.
If a licence must be denied, the applicant will be advised, including with reasons for denial.
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Resources and Links
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Council Reports and Presentation
- Reports to Council
- Presentation
By-laws
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Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
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What is a Short-Term Accommodation?
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| A Short-Term Accommodation (STA) is the rental of a property for less than 28 days in duration. This would include renting a private room in a home, an entire home, a seasonal property, or any other space for 28 days or less. |
Does my site and floor plan need to be completed by a professional?
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| No, they do not. A hand-drawn map or diagram is acceptable. Drawings must be legible, detailed and show all structures, parking area, septic system, street, etc. |
What type of insurance is required?
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| The Property Owner must hold liability insurance of not less than $2 million dollars per occurrence for property damage and bodily injury. |
By-law enforcement and entry
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| Municipal law enforcement officers enforce municipal by-laws. When a complaint is received, it is investigated to determine if there has been a by-law violation. The appropriate action will then be taken to resolve the matter. At any time, an officer may enter onto land for the purpose of carrying out an inspection to determine whether by-laws are being obeyed. |
Zoning by-law and regulation
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| The zoning by-law does not prohibit the use of a dwelling unit (e.g. entire cottage or home) for any length of time (e.g. short term or long term) to be rented. However, if a room rental is provided, providing or selling meals and/or drink is strictly prohibited as this would be considered a bed and breakfast establishment. Bed and breakfasts are only permitted on properties with specific zoning that permits this use. |
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Being a good neighbour
The Short-Term Rental Accommodation Licensing By-law was crafted with considerable guidance from residents, operators, Council, and other municipalities. It was designed to help protect the safety of operators, renters, and neighbours, allowing everyone to have an enjoyable experience in Greater Madawaska.
Operators protect their neighbours and renters by submitting plans and agreements to the Township for approval.
Renters protect operators and neighbours by acknowledging their responsibility to keep the unit clean and keep gatherings reasonable. Renters should refer to information on this website to see if there are any fire restrictions in place and should refer to our By-laws page to see what local by-laws they should be familiar with when visiting our Township.
Operators and Renters should always be courteous and respectful of their neighbours’ concerns. Work together to resolve them. Share concerns with the rental operator or designated responsible person. If the concerns are not resolved and they are regulated by a municipal by-law, report the concern for assistance from By-law Enforcement.
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