# What should St. Catharines rental owners know before repairs or a new unit? > Repairs, turnovers and new units for rental property in St. Catharines: the city's property standards complaint step, parking for new units and the unit grants. - Canonical HTML: https://www.rebornrenos.com/areas/st-catharines/ - Section: Home > Areas > St. Catharines - Business: Reborn Renos, 4048 Stadelbauer Drive, Beamsville, ON, Canada (serves Beamsville, Lincoln, Grimsby, Stoney Creek, Hamilton, St. Catharines, Thorold, Niagara Falls) - Phone: (905) 920-1418 | Email: michal.gagatrs@gmail.com - Page updated: 2026-11-02 --- Areas Reborn Renos does turnovers, repairs and new rental units in St. Catharines, and three city rules come up often. A tenant's property standards complaint goes to the landlord in writing first, with a two-week timeline to start and finish the work. The zoning by-law asks for half a parking space for each added unit. And the City's Community Improvement Plan offers grants of up to $40,000 for an interior unit and $80,000 for an exterior one. [Call (905) 920-1418](tel:+19059201418) [Request a quote](https://www.rebornrenos.com/request/?face=commercial) ## What happens when a tenant complains about property standards? The landlord hears it first, in writing, with a deadline. Before the City takes a complaint from a tenant, it says: “If you are a tenant, you must provide us with a copy of the written complaint you submitted to your landlord or management company listing the issues that need to be addressed and two-week timeline to have the work started and completed.” Then: “After we receive the complaint, an inspector will visit the site to ensure the complaint is valid.” [(City of St. Catharines, Property Standards By-law)](https://www.stcatharines.ca/by-laws-and-animal-services/commonly-requested-by-laws/property-standards-by-law/) Two weeks is not long to book a trade, so a letter like that is worth a same-day call. That is the kind of job on [income property maintenance](https://www.rebornrenos.com/properties/maintenance/), and the province's standards are in [rental maintenance standards](https://www.rebornrenos.com/guides/rental-maintenance-standards/). ## How much parking does an added unit need? Half a space each, plus the house. “The City’s Zoning By-law requires 0.5 parking spaces per ADU on a lot. If there is one ADU on the lot, 1 parking space is required. If there are two ADUs on the lot, 1 parking space is required. The principal dwelling unit also requires 1 parking space.” And on permits: “Building permits are still required for all ADU projects, even with a pre-approved design.” [(City of St. Catharines, Pre-Approved Detached ADU Designs)](https://www.stcatharines.ca/building-and-renovating/pre-approved-detached-accessory-dwelling-unit-designs/) The provincial rule and Hamilton's version are in [adding a rental unit](https://www.rebornrenos.com/guides/adding-a-rental-unit/), and the build itself is on [new rental units and build-outs](https://www.rebornrenos.com/properties/rental-units/). ## Are there grants for adding a unit in St. Catharines? The City says so: “To encourage the creation of ADUs, the City offers support through the Community Improvement Plan ADU Program: grants of up to $40,000 for interior units and $80,000 for exterior units.” [(City of St. Catharines, read November 2, 2026)](https://www.stcatharines.ca/building-and-renovating/pre-approved-detached-accessory-dwelling-unit-designs/) Programs open and close, and grants come with their own conditions, so confirm with the City that it is open and what it asks before the work starts. For a basement or interior unit as an investment, see [work for real estate investors](https://www.rebornrenos.com/properties/investors/). ## Can a unit be rented short term? Only with a licence, and only as a side use of a home. “Starting in 2022, short-term rentals must obtain a licence to operate.” And: “The property must operate first and foremost as a full-time residence”. [(City of St. Catharines, Short-term rentals)](https://www.stcatharines.ca/home-property-and-environment/short-term-rentals/) A unit built for long-term tenants is the usual plan. ## Does a renovation in St. Catharines need a permit? Often. “In general, you'll need a building permit to erect, install, extend, alter or repair a building.” [(City of St. Catharines, Do I need a Building Permit)](https://www.stcatharines.ca/applications-licences-and-permits/building-permits/do-i-need-a-building-permit/) The City's own list of jobs, next to Hamilton's, is in [permits for rental renovations](https://www.rebornrenos.com/guides/permits-for-rental-renovations/). ## What do you do in St. Catharines? The same work as everywhere we go: [property turnovers](https://www.rebornrenos.com/properties/turnovers/), repairs, common areas and balconies, new units and full interiors, for landlords, property managers and homeowners. Call [(905) 920-1418](tel:+19059201418), Monday to Saturday, 7 am to 7 pm, or send the details on the [request page](https://www.rebornrenos.com/request/). This is a plain summary of the City's pages, not legal advice. The linked pages and by-laws are what count. Published by Reborn Renos, Beamsville. Updated November 2, 2026. ## A unit in St. Catharines? Call, or send a request with photos. [Call (905) 920-1418](tel:+19059201418) --- Reborn Renos. Call (905) 920-1418. Full site: https://www.rebornrenos.com/