Compliance
Before issuing a certificate, Lodixa ensures that the evaluated accommodation meets the minimum required criteria.
Compliance with provincial and local regulations
Each accommodation holding the Lodixa certification must comply with the regulations in force in its province and locality. Lodixa will ensure that certification applications have the necessary documentation confirming the compliance of their accommodation in terms of operating authorization as well as adherence to applicable tax policies.
Assurance
Each certified accommodation must have insurance that aligns with short-term rentals.
Lodixa requires that operators have liability insurance of at least 1 million dollars or more if regulations require it (2 million dollars in Quebec).
Security
In order to provide a safe environment for visitors, Lodixa has established strict minimum security requirements
Structure
The building must comply with the safety standards of the local building code at the time of its construction.
Fire protection
The Lodixa certification requires the presence of at least one smoke detector per floor and a carbon monoxide detector in rooms with a fireplace.
Furthermore, it is requested to provide visitors with an appropriate fire extinguisher (we recommend ABC type extinguishers) on each floor where it is located:
- Kitchen
- Wood fireplace
- BBQ
- Any other equipment posing a fire hazard
Evacuation
All rooms must have at least one window or other opening in addition to the door.
The windows in the bedrooms must be free of fixed retention systems and must be able to open wide enough to allow the passage of an adult.
We also require the presence of emergency exits on at least two sides or two different floors of the building.
The owner must certify that the emergency exits are kept free of obstacles (no presence of objects or snow) and are functional at all times. (No locking system should prevent opening from the inside)
We strongly recommend displaying a clearly visible evacuation plan on the property.
Any accommodation with a sleeping capacity of more than 20 people must comply with local commercial safety requirements for the evacuation of buildings that host the public.
Emergency Communication
In the event that no cellular network is available, a landline or satellite phone must be present and must be able to contact emergency services.
Electricity
In the presence of a spa, the electrical shut-off device must be accessible to the visitor and located within 10 m (30 ft) of the spa or closer if local codes require it.
Childproof electrical outlet covers must be present in all rooms intended to accommodate young children.
Security
No cameras are present inside the property (except to monitor external access and provided that visitors are informed).
The accommodation must be able to be locked from the outside by visitors using a key or code lock. (exception for isolated accommodations in the wilderness)
Environment
Lodixa requires accommodations that meet specific environmental criteria.
Water treatment
To be eligible, the accommodation must be connected to a sewage system or a compliant septic tank with the capacity to accommodate the lodging.
If the accommodation unit does not have water, there must be dry toilets available.
Water supply
The water supply must be potable; if there is no potable water supply, bottles must be provided to visitors.
If non-potable water is also available, the corresponding taps must be identified as such.
Waste management
A collection system must be available with at least one bin for household waste and one bin for recyclable waste.
We also strongly recommend making a reference guide for waste sorting available to visitors.
Snow
The access from the road to the parking lot must be cleared of snow.
The access from the parking to the accommodation must be cleared of snow or shovels must be made available to visitors.
Quality
To proceed with the evaluation of the accommodation for certification, Lodixa will conduct a detailed analysis of all the accommodation and the devices made available to visitors. However, certain minimum requirements must be met.
Kitchen
In the case of accommodation equipped for self-catering, the minimum equipment required is:
- Cooking plate
- Oven
- Microwave
- Sink
- Refrigerator
- Freezer
In the case of accommodation that is not equipped for self-catering, the minimum equipment required is:
- Cooking plate or microwave
- Sink
- Refrigerator
Bathroom
The accommodation must allow visitors to have access to a bathroom containing at least:
- Shower
- Toilet
- Sink
When there is no bathroom in the accommodation unit, the visitor must have access to a bathroom in a nearby building.
Rooms
The rooms must be equipped to accommodate the announced capacity, and at least 50% of the visitors must be able to sleep in rooms with a capacity of 2 adults maximum.
When bedding is not included in the accommodation, the visitor should be able to have this information before confirming the reservation.
Heating
The accommodation must have an automatic or semi-automatic heating system (electric, gas, oil, etc.) that allows for heating the entirety of the accommodation accessible to visitors (excluding garage, shed, and other accessory buildings).
The presence of a self-feeding wood stove (such as pellets) must be able to maintain a comfortable temperature in the accommodation for at least 12 hours without human intervention.