New and expired short-term rentals in Tiny Township will be getting a fee hike in 2026 to operate, while renewals will remain at their same rate.
The decision was made at the recent Tiny regular meeting of council, with the deciding rationale being that the program should remain cost-neutral as per the original intent.
Short-term rentals in Tiny had been a contentious issue throughout 2022 as the township attempted to implement regulations upon the rentals generating income, but which didn’t need to conform to bylaw or zoning matters.
A short-term rental bylaw was adopted at that time, capping applicants at 300 rentals within the township, with high fees to keep the program cost-neutral.
In the recent report to council, staff recommended maintaining the $1,750 fee for renewed applications submitted prior to Dec. 31 of any current year; however, new and expired applications would be subjected to a $250 increase to $2,000.
CAO Robert Lamb explained that through challenges and appeals, the township borrowed from municipal reserves to cover legal costs; however, resolutions in the township’s favour meant those funds would be returned upon award of settlement along with additional fine revenue.
He also noted the program was scaled according to the necessity for regulating the short-term rentals. While roughly 286 applications were made for the 2023 season, that number reduced to just over 150 last year, necessitating a reduction in staff as fewer complaints required fewer involvement.
Coun. Kelly Helowka expressed concerns that “by increasing the new application fee, it may send more short-term rentals underground.”
Lamb responded the intent was to get new applications in before Jan. 1 as a compliance incentive; he added that previous kind gestures by the township for short-term rentals to receive conditional approval were met with non-compliance as the rental owner would use that approval and not follow through with remaining fire inspections and other regulatory requirements.
As urgency to send out notification of the fee increase precipitated a decision at the late October council meeting for the short-term rental operator December 31 deadline, council approved the fee increase.
Following the council meeting, Lamb told MidlandToday that the township website held all information for any residents interested in starting up a short-term rental in the 2026 season.
The 2025 fee schedule bylaw amendment for short-term rental application fees can be viewed on the agenda page on the Township of Tiny website.