Item - 2025.PH21.5

The Chief Planner and Executive Director, City Planning recommends that:

1. The Planning and Housing Committee endorse the contents of this report and the proposed work plan as the basis for public consultation, and request staff report back with final recommendations by the first quarter of 2026.

Commercial vehicles are a familiar sight on Toronto's streets and highways. They include the buses that transport residents all over the city, the delivery trucks that deliver goods, and the construction vehicles that haul the necessary materials to build housing.

Since its adoption by City Council in 2013, Zoning By-law 569-2013 has prohibited commercial vehicles from parking outside of a building in the Residential and Residential Apartment Zone categories. The current regulations were carried over from the former municipal zoning by-laws during the harmonization of the city-wide Zoning By-law. In 2022 and 2024, staff were requested by City Council (MM43.12 and PH12.8, respectively) to review the zoning regulations restricting outdoor parking for commercial vehicles in residential areas. City Council requested staff give appropriate consideration to:

- the needs for vehicle operators to have convenient parking for commercial vehicles available near their residence; and

- the impacts of COVID-19 on working arrangements.

This report provides an overview of the policy and legislative context affecting commercial vehicles; summarizes the policies and regulations that apply in the City of Toronto and other Canadian jurisdictions; identifies issues and opportunities; and sets out a proposed workplan to identify opportunities to sensitively amend the regulations to better address and balance the transportation needs of workers, neighbours, and businesses.

Should Planning and Housing Committee endorse the contents of this report and workplan, staff will undertake further analysis, stakeholder consultation, and will report back by Q1 2026 with final recommendations, including potential changes to the Zoning By-law.

City Planning Division confirms that there are no financial implications resulting from the recommendations included in this report in the current budget year or in future years.

The Chief Financial Officer and Treasurer has reviewed this report and agrees with the information as presented in the Financial Impact Section.