News

Residential Rental Licensing Bylaw updated

23 June 2025

Following what we learned about community priorities for rental licensing, we recommended changes to the Rental Licensing bylaw which were approved at the June 23, 2025 Council meeting. The changes will enhance tenant protections, improve the livability and safety of rental units, support long-term housing supply, and ensure fair and effective enforcement across all forms of rental accommodations in Waterloo.

Summary of changes

  • Updated the Rental Licensing Bylaw to ensure continued protections for tenant safety and habitability, while removing barriers to creating rental units.
  • Created a more comprehensive and refined approach to regulating short-term rentals, focused on protecting long-term rental availability and reducing neighbourhood impacts.

The new regulations will go into effect July 1, 2026. Read the full report in the Council Meeting Packet (starts on page 124).

What's next

We're also continuing to review the possibility of an Apartment Building Safety Program along with changes to the Property Standards Bylaw to address the maintenance, safety and oversight of Waterloo’s growing number of apartment buildings. We will return to Council in the fall with an update.