Ajax limiting short-term rentals to owner’s principal residence with new framework

The Town of Ajax is introducing a short-term rental framework that they hope will help tackle the housing crisis in Ontario and Canada.

The framework will permit short-term rentals in all urban residential zones, where deemed appropriate by the Planning and Development Department.

It adds all operators in Ajax must be using their principal residence for rentals.

They must also work with the platforms such as Airbnb and Vrbo, to enforce and issues of nuisance.

The town will apply to the federal government’s Short-Term Rental Enforcement Fund in order to launch an education campaign to highlight short-term rental best practices to operators.

An update on how the framework is being implemented will be brought to council in September 2025.