Item - 2021.PH21.9

The Planning and Housing Committee recommends that:  

1. City Council amend subsections 363-6.2 and 363-6.3 of the Toronto Municipal Code, Chapter 363, Building Construction and Demolition, in accordance with the amendments set out in Attachment 1 to the report (February 12, 2021) from the Chief Building Official and Executive Director, Toronto Building, subject to such stylistic and technical changes as may be required; and

2. City Council authorize the City Solicitor to prepare the necessary Bills for introduction to City Council to implement the above noted amendments to the Toronto Municipal Code, Chapter 363, Building Construction and Demolition, subject to such stylistic and technical changes as may be required.

The purpose of this report is to recommend that City Council adopt a package of  housekeeping amendments to the demolition control requirements of the Toronto Municipal Code, Chapter 363 (Building Construction and Demolition) ("Chapter 363") in order to improve coordination with Toronto Municipal Code, Chapter 667 (Residential Rental Demolition and Conversion Control) ("Chapter 667") and improve clarity for the public.

The City's requirements and provisions for building permit applications seeking to demolish existing residential buildings within the City of Toronto are established in Chapter 363, Article 6 (Demolition Control). The City also regulates residential rental demolition and conversion through Chapter 667. As a result of these two Municipal Code chapters addressing residential demolition, it is important that the requirements of both chapters are coordinated and administrative processes are aligned between the responsible City divisions - Toronto Building and City Planning - so that the City's housing objectives with respect to residential demolition are supported.

The following proposed amendments are the result of collaborative work carried out by Toronto Building, City Planning and Legal Services. They include:

• Changes to ensure conformity with applicable law requirements, as they relate to the issuance of a residential demolition permit pursuant to Section 33 of the Planning Act.
• Amendments to streamline the coordination efforts between Toronto Building and City Planning with respect to the potential applicability of Chapter 667 and the need for a permit under that By-law.
• Changes to improve overall service delivery and ensure applicants are notified of the potential applicability of Chapter 667.
• Clarification of the Chief Building Official's authority under the Building Code Act, 1992, to issue a demolition permit, and removal of all references to incidental demolition in order to strengthen clarity for the public and ensure consistency with the Planning Act.