Municipalities
Township of Lake of Bays and Town of Huntsville. (MNR fact sheet)
What is Lake of Bays cottage management?
Lake of Bays cottage management means a local team looks after your cottage. For owners who rent, that is full rental management: the listing, the guests, the cleaning and the licensing paperwork. For owners who keep the cottage for family, it is property services: property checks, a named contact and vendors on one bill.
Lake of Bays is in the northeast corner of Muskoka. Its rules come from two municipalities, the Township of Lake of Bays and the Town of Huntsville, so the first job is to know which one your cottage is in.
We have a home in the Township of Lake of Bays, on nearby Menominee Lake. See Which Homeseeker homes are near Lake of Bays?.
What should owners know about Lake of Bays?
Lake of Bays is a large, deep lake with a regulated water level and a shoreline shared by two municipalities. The lake facts below come from the Ontario Ministry of Natural Resources fact sheet.
Size and depth
6,780 hectares, up to 70 m deep and 22 m deep on average, with a 167 km perimeter. (MNR fact sheet)
Water level
Regulated. A provincial dam at Baysville controls the level, and flows follow the Muskoka River Water Management Plan. (MNR fact sheet)
Public access
Public launches at Old Highway 117, South Portage Road, Rabbit Bay and Dwight, plus private access through several marinas. (MNR fact sheet)
Shoreline
The MNR sheet describes shoreline development as high: urban, shoreline residential and commercial. (MNR fact sheet)
The township
The Township of Lake of Bays is in the northeast corner of Muskoka, about 193 km north of Toronto, and includes Baysville, Dwight and the island community of Bigwin. (Wikipedia)
Do I need a licence to rent my Lake of Bays cottage?
Yes, if you rent for short stays. The Township of Lake of Bays licenses short-term rentals, and so does the Town of Huntsville for the part of the lake in its boundary.
Township of Lake of Bays
- Licences are issued under By-law 2024-065, and new applications and renewals are made online.
- You provide proof of ownership, a site plan, a floor plan, proof of insurance, septic system information, a responsible person, and a fire alarm test sheet.
- The township gives a timeline of roughly three to six weeks for a new licence, which can vary. Renting without a licence is unlawful, and advertising must stop until one is granted.
- Zoning and setbacks matter. Applications are also circulated to check whether the property touches the original shore road allowance, which can lead to an encroachment agreement with the township.
- A licence is suspended at three demerit points or confirmed violations within one year.
Official source: Township of Lake of Bays, short-term rentals.
Town of Huntsville
- A licence is required for rentals of 30 days or less.
- The town caps the number of short-term rental licences, issued first come, first served, and an owner must have owned the property for one full year before applying.
- Applications go through the town's online permit system, and licences expire on December 31 each year.
Official source: Town of Huntsville, short term rental licensing.
Township and town rules here were checked against the linked official pages on Nov 10, 2026. Licensing rules change, so read the current page before you apply.
Should I rent my Lake of Bays cottage or have it looked after?
Rent the cottage if you want it earning. Choose property services if you keep it for family and want it looked after. You can add the other later.
Rental management for owners who rent
For owners who rent: listing creation and optimization, pricing, guest communication, cleaning with checklists, STR licensing and compliance support, and monthly performance reports. Lake of Bays and Huntsville license separately, so the licence work starts with the right municipality. Before you sign, we send you a projection of what it could earn. See the rental management page.
Property services for owners who keep it
For owners who keep the cottage: property checks with proof after every visit, a named contact, vendors on one bill, seasonal opening and closing, and the cottage ready when you arrive. See the property management page.
What do the property service levels include?
Property services come in three levels: Estate Management, Estate Management Plus and Private Estate Management. A cottage far from home, about 193 km north of Toronto, is a good fit for a named contact and proof after every visit. See the property management page for what each level includes.
What do Lake of Bays owners plan for?
Each point below comes from the rules and facts on this page.
- Which municipality. Lake of Bays and Huntsville license separately, with different forms and timelines.
- Allow time. The township says a new licence can take several weeks, so apply well before you plan to advertise.
- Shore road allowance and setbacks. Docks, boathouses and buildings near the water can raise questions during the township review. Gather your survey and plans early.
- A regulated water level. Dock and boathouse owners should know the level is managed by the dam at Baysville under the Muskoka River Water Management Plan.
- The drive. At about 193 km from Toronto, a property check with proof saves a trip when you cannot get up.
Which Homeseeker homes are near Lake of Bays?
We manage The Menominee, a cottage in the Township of Lake of Bays on Menominee Lake, near Huntsville.
See The Menominee for how we present a home, or browse all Homeseeker residences.
Own a cottage in the Lake of Bays area? Request a call and we will go through what rental management or property services look like for it.
How do we get started on Lake of Bays?
You get in touch, we ask about the cottage and how you use it, and we suggest a service. There is nothing to sign on the first call.
- 1
Get in touch
Call 705-996-6769, or use the Request a call link. Tell us if you are in Lake of Bays or Huntsville and what you want help with.
- 2
Walk us through the cottage
We go through how you use the cottage and which service fits. If you want to rent, we send you a projection of what the cottage could earn before you sign.
- 3
Begin when you are ready
We put the chosen service in place and name your contact. Scope is agreed on the call.
What do Lake of Bays owners ask before they start?
What does Lake of Bays cottage rental management include?
For owners who rent: the listing, pricing, guest communication, cleaning with checklists, STR licensing and compliance support, and monthly performance reports. Before you sign, we send you a projection of what it could earn. See the rental management page.
Is a licence required to rent a Lake of Bays cottage?
Yes, if you rent for short stays. The Township of Lake of Bays requires a licence under By-law 2024-065, and the Town of Huntsville licenses rentals of 30 days or less on its side of the lake. Check which municipality your cottage is in, then read that municipality's official page.
I keep my Lake of Bays cottage for family. Can you still help?
Yes. Property services are for owners who keep the cottage: property checks with proof after every visit, a named contact, vendors on one bill, and seasonal opening and closing. See the property management page.
Which municipality is Lake of Bays in?
The Township of Lake of Bays and the Town of Huntsville, according to the Ontario Ministry of Natural Resources fact sheet.
Do you manage a home near Lake of Bays?
Yes. We manage The Menominee, a cottage in the Township of Lake of Bays on Menominee Lake.
Is the water level on Lake of Bays regulated?
Yes. A provincial dam at Baysville controls the level, and flows follow the Muskoka River Water Management Plan, according to the MNR fact sheet.
How do I begin?
Call 705-996-6769 or request a call. Tell us which municipality you are in and whether you rent the cottage.
Sources
Where the facts and rules above come from, read on Nov 10, 2026.
Own a cottage near Baysville, Dwight or Huntsville?
Call 705-996-6769 or request a call. Tell us the municipality and whether you rent, and we will tell you what fits.