STRU Owners to Complete Licensing Process

Short-Term Rental Units (STRU) provide an important and unique service to the local tourism economy by providing an alternate form of accommodation options for vacation goers. On September 1, 2022, the Town of Essex implemented a system of zoning regulations and licensing to ensure STRU operators are complying with municipal bylaws, and that the character of neighbourhoods is maintained.

All persons seeking to operate a STRU in the Town of Essex must be located in a district, and within a building, where STRUs are permitted under the Zoning Bylaw. All STRUs must also obtain a licence from the Town of Essex to operate within the jurisdiction by December 31, 2022.

To apply for an STRU license, visit www.essex.ca/STRS to access the online STRU Licensing Application. As a reminder, only those STRUs located in a residential district operating on or before May 9, 2022 are eligible for a licence. New and existing STRUs are permitted to operate with a licence in commercial, agricultural and select green districts.

Information on STRUs regulations, the licensing process, enforcement and more, can be found at www.essex.ca/STRS. Questions and comments on the licensing system can also be submitted to str@essex.ca. Individuals who wish to be added to the STRU mailing list to be informed of future notifications are encouraged to contact str@essex.ca.

“This is an important step towards regulating the Short Term Rental Units in the Town of Essex” said the Mayor of the Town of Essex. “We thank all STRU owners for their cooperation in completing the application process.”