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Short-Term Rental License

All accommodations operating within the Municipality of the District of Chester are required to have a license to advertise, promote, or carry on business. There is no fee to obtain the STR license from the Municipality of Chester.

There are three types of accommodations under this license:

Short-Term Rental

This is the use of a residential dwelling unit to provide accommodation for periods of 28 days or less. This includes dwellings like: Apartments, Backyard suites, Condominiums, Duplexes or townhouses. Houses, Rooms for rent in your home, Self-contained secondary suites, Vacation homes or cottages.

Traditional Tourist Accommodations

This is a building or establishment functioning in a commercial capacity containing one or more unit providing accommodation for periods of 28 days or less. This includes motels, hotels, inns, bed and breakfasts, and campgrounds with roofed accommodations.

Unusual lodgings

This is for those other types of accommodations which do not fit in the other category and includes  Bunkies, Domes, Stationary recreational vehicles (RVs), and Yurts.

The Province of Nova Scotia also requires all short-term rentals to register. Part of this process requires that an operator provide proof of compliance with municipal land-use by-laws. This license can be used as proof of compliance for the purposes of registering with the Province.

After you submit your application, staff will review it to ensure all documentation is in order and the required permits are in place. This process will take approximately 30 days to complete at which time, you will be issued your STR license. 

In addition to completing the online form, you will need the following documents for the application to be processed, which can be uploaded with the online form:

  1. Proof of insurance for the property(s) you are applying for.
  2. A simple site sketch (see the FAQs for details and a sample that can be used as a guide).
  3. A signed letter of confirmation from your condo board that you are authorized to operate (if applicable), and
  4. Proof of authorization if you are submitting this application on behalf of a property owner(s) (if applicable; see the FAQs for details and a sample that can be used as a guide).