Chatham-Kent council has approved a new municipal framework aimed at addressing renovictions, selecting the most comprehensive of three options presented by administration.
Option 3, approved during council’s June 22 meeting, includes the implementation of a Rental Renovation Licence By-law and a public education campaign designed to provide greater oversight of renovation-related tenant displacement.
The bylaw will take effect Oct. 1, 2026, and will require landlords to obtain a municipal licence after issuing an N13 notice for renovations that require a rental unit to be vacated. The program will also establish a $500 per-unit licence fee.
Council also authorized administration to implement the program, including the hiring of a licensing assistant on a 16-month contract and the development of a public education campaign at an estimated cost of approximately $152,365, funded through the Strategic Development Reserve. Ongoing administrative costs will be considered as part of the municipality’s 2028-31 multi-year budget process.
The report presented to council noted that the municipality cannot override Ontario’s Residential Tenancies Act or determine the validity of eviction notices. Instead, the bylaw is intended to provide additional local oversight by requiring documentation supporting renovation plans and informing tenants of their rights before displacement occurs.
Administration was also directed to advocate to the province for a provincewide approach to reducing renovictions, arguing that a consistent legal framework across Ontario would address gaps in existing legislation while avoiding a patchwork of municipal regulations.
