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Short-Term Accommodations

Short-term accommodations are rental accommodations in dwellings for tenancies less than 30 days. This includes businesses such as vacation rentals, and bed and breakfasts. Tenancies may be facilitated through hosting platforms such as Airbnb, Vrbo, Expedia, Booking.com, Obasa Six-Three Suites, and many others.

There are two types of accommodations; short-term rental properties and homestays. Short-term rental properties are located in a dwelling that is not the principal residence of the host, while homestays are located in a dwelling that is the principal residence of the host.

To ensure that dwellings are in compliance with safety standards and are compatible with the residential characteristics of the neighbourhood, the City of Saskatoon licenses short-term accommodations and regulates the land use through Bylaw 9746 - The Business License Bylaw, 2021 and Bylaw 8770 - The Zoning Bylaw, 2009.
 

Regulations
  Homestay Short-Term Rental Property
Maximum Number of Guests One Unit Dwelling: 6 guests

All other dwellings: 2 guests

 6 guests

 
On-site Parking 2 spaces

No spaces required in districts without parking requirements

 1 space

No spaces required in districts without parking requirements
Host Declaration Yes Yes
Permission of Property Owner Yes Yes
Permission of Condominium Corporation N/A Yes

 

To learn more about short-term accommodation options, including how to apply for a license, please refer to the following information:

Short-Term Rental Properties

Short-Term Rental Properties are rental accommodations in a dwelling that is not the principal residence of the host.

Requirements
  • Commercial Business License
  • Host Declaration
  • Written permission of the property owner (if applicable)
  • Written permission of the condominium corporation (if applicable)
  • Discretionary use approval is required in the following residential zoning districts:
    R1, R1A, R1B, R2, R2A, RMHL, RMTN, RMTN1, RM1, RM2, RM3, and RM4. 
Development Standards
  • Up to 6 guests in total may be hosted, with up to three guests hosted in a secondary suite
  • One hard surface parking space provided on-site for  guests (not applicable in the B6, MX2, M4 and DCD1 zoning districts)
Application Process

To apply, follow these steps:

  1. Complete the Host Declaration and save it on your computer.
  2. Apply online for a Commercial Business License Application.
  3. When prompted, attach PDF documents, including your saved Host Declaration, written permission of the owner (if applicable) and written permission of the condominium corporation (if applicable).
  4. Submit Commercial Business License Application form with application fee. 
Homestays

Homestays are a short-term rental accommodation in a dwelling that is the principal residence of the host. This includes a secondary suite where the host resides in the principal dwelling unit. A license for a homestay is only required when hosting guests in a secondary suite, or hosting more than two guests in your home.

Requirements
  • Commercial Business License
  • Host Declaration
  • Written permission of the property owner (if applicable)
  • Written permission of the condominium corporation (if applicable)

Development Standards

  • In a one-unit dwelling up to six guests in total may be hosted, with up to three guests hosted in a secondary suite
  • In a duplex, townhouse, apartment or condominium, up to two guests may be hosted
  • Two hard surface parking spaces provided on-site (not applicable in the B6, MX2, M4 and DCD1 zoning districts)
Application Process

To apply, follow these steps:

  1. Complete the Host Declaration and save it on your computer.
  2. Apply online for a Commercial Business License Application.
  3. When prompted, attach PDF documents, including your saved Host Declaration, written permission of the owner (if applicable) and written permission of the condominium corporation (if applicable).
  4. Submit Commercial Business License Application form with application fee. 
Hostels

Hostels are establishments in which transient lodgers are harboured, received or lodged for less than one week at a time. Hostels differ from short-term accommodations in that they are commercial buildings which have been constructed or converted to host guests and are not dwellings.

Hostel Type I: up to five guests can be hosted

Hostel Type II: more than five guests can be hosted

Requirements