Marketing Levy
The Province of Nova Scotia has granted municipalities the authority to implement a marketing levy bylaw to support local tourism promotion and development. The Municipality of the District of Argyle has enacted the Short Term Accommodation Marketing Levy By-law, which requires a mandatory 3% marketing levy on stays of 30 days or less at registered accommodations. This bylaw took effect on May 1, 2025.
You can view the full bylaw here.
Levy Remittance Process
To support accommodation providers with the implementation of the marketing levy, the Municipality of the District of Argyle has partnered with the Ontario Restaurant Hotel & Motel Association (ORHMA). ORHMA brings extensive experience in managing municipal accommodation levies across Canada and is a trusted industry leader in levy administration, compliance, and reporting. Their involvement ensures a smooth process and clear guidance for operators, while supporting tourism growth in our region.
Levy Reporting Portal for MODA
Click here to visit the Portal: ORHMA
ORHMA Contact Information
Email: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
Phone: 905-361-0268
When contacting ORHMA, please include your full name, business address, and indicate that your property is located within the Municipality of the District of Argyle.
Frequently Asked Questions
Q: What is a marketing levy?
A: A marketing levy is a fee collected from guests staying at registered accommodations. It is a standard practice across Canada and helps fund local tourism marketing efforts.
Q: How does the bylaw work?
A: Registered accommodation operators in Argyle collect a 3% levy from guests and remit the collected funds monthly. The Municipality of Argyle then allocates these funds to our designated Destination Marketing Organization (Yarmouth and Acadian Shores Tourism Association) to promote tourism in our region.
Q: How much is the marketing levy?
A: The levy is 3% of the accommodation purchase price, plus HST. The “purchase price” includes the full cost of the stay, including optional fees and service charges accepted in exchange for the accommodation.
Q: Who pays the levy?
A: Guests staying in registered tourist accommodations within the Municipality of Argyle are responsible for paying the levy. This applies to stays of 30 days or less.
Q: Why implement a tourism marketing levy?
A: The levy generates funding to strengthen tourism marketing, attract more visitors, and enhance partnership opportunities, which helps grow the local economy.
Q: How do I remit and pay the levy?
A: ORHMA is responsible for collecting the levy on behalf of the Municipality of Argyle. You can contact them using the information above, or use the ORHMA Levy Reporting Portal to submit your remittances.