In May of 2022, East Ferris’ council – after much discussion and community consultation – passed a by-law regulating short-term rentals in the municipality. The law set guidelines for operators and property owners, with license fees, regulations on the amount of time one can rent, and other rules to follow.
In 2022, two licenses were issued, and this year, five operators were granted licenses. A three-month license costs $750 and a five-month term costs $1,000. License holders must also have a minimum of $2 million in liability insurance covering the rental periods.
East Ferris’s by-law was the first in the region to deal directly with short-term rentals. North Bay passed its own early this year, and West Nipissing, Bonfield, Callander, and Nipissing Township, are working on their own.
Those listings, most often posted on sites like AirBnB and Vrbo, illicit strong responses from many residents. Some don’t want them at all, others resent the government getting involved in their business. As such, drafting the by-laws can be a timely and often difficult process.
For those who do not follow the rules, there are fines. Operating a short-term rental without a license will cost you $500, and operating outside of the specified calendar months (as per your license) could cost you $1,000.
However, according to, Greg Kirton, the Director of Community Services, no fines have been given out. By-law enforcement has been in contact with property owners “but any issues were resolved in a timely fashion and issuing fines was not necessary in any instance.”