Served Oshawa
Property maintenance in Oshawa, near campus and downtown
Oshawa does something few of its neighbours do: it licenses rentals in one part of the city only, the blocks around Ontario Tech University and Durham College, and it sets heat a degree or two higher than the rest of Durham.
Checked 2026-10-02
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Coverage
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The licensing area near campus
Inside the mapped area, an individually owned unit or a multi-unit building near the schools carries a two year licence, and lodging houses are not permitted in the area's zoning. For owners renting to students, see student housing and turnovers.
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22 C from September 1
The Adequate Heat By-law starts the season on September 1 and ends it June 15, at 22 C. A furnace that has sat idle all summer gets checked in August, because a no heat call on September 2 already counts. See the heating season.
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Downtown is getting denser
Downtown Oshawa's growth centre can now permit up to 1,000 homes per hectare, up from 550, with about 1,600 units in the pipeline, and the City carries a provincial target of 23,000 new homes from 2022 to 2031 (City of Oshawa, Housing).
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Water is the Region's
The Region of Durham owns the water and sewers: a watermain break or sewer backup goes to 311 in the region or 905-668-7711. Its Basement Flooding Loan Program lends up to $3,000 interest free for a backwater valve and sump pump after a sanitary backup; the linked terms date from 2009, so we confirm the program with the Region before an owner counts on it.
Plumbing is done by licensed plumbers and drain work by licensed drain contractors. Gas work is done by TSSA registered contractors. We only use ECRA/ESA-Licensed Electrical Contractors. Pest control is done by licensed exterminators.
To send an Oshawa job, request work.
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Local rules
Rental housing inside the Residential Rental Licensing Area around Ontario Tech University, Durham College and the Simcoe Street corridor needs a City licence under By-law 124-2024. Class A covers individually owned single units, Class B covers multi-unit buildings under one owner from 3 units up. Licences run two years. Outside the mapped area there is no rental licence.
A rented dwelling heated by or at the expense of the landlord must be kept at 22 C or more from September 1 to June 15 (Adequate Heat By-law 76-2006, sections 2(a) and 3). The heat clause in the Property Standards By-law was deleted in 2019 once this by-law took over.
Two unit houses, accessory apartments included, are registered under By-law 41-2001. A unit created before July 1994 registers through Municipal Licensing and Standards for $500; one created after needs a building permit and registers after the final inspection. A lot may hold up to 3 units, with at most one in an accessory building.
Source: City of Oshawa, Two unit houses
The Property Standards By-law 1-2002 sets no air conditioning duty or maximum temperature. Section 7.1.11 only requires air conditioners to stop condensation draining onto walkways or the neighbouring property.
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Common services in Oshawa
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Questions
What is the minimum heat in an Oshawa rental?
22 C from September 1 to June 15, under the Adequate Heat By-law 76-2006, where the landlord pays for the heat. It is the highest minimum of the Durham municipalities.
Does every Oshawa rental need a licence?
No. By-law 124-2024 applies only inside the mapped licensing area around Ontario Tech University, Durham College and the Simcoe Street corridor.
How long does an Oshawa rental licence last?
Two years, for both Class A single units and Class B multi-unit buildings inside the licensing area.
Does Oshawa investigate anonymous property standards complaints?
No. Complaints go to Service Oshawa at 905-436-3311, and anonymous complaints are not investigated.
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