City of Toronto Act, 2006 Public Notice
Review of Toronto’s Street Vending and Artists
By-laws
Toronto
City Council will be considering recommendations to adopt amendments to City of
Toronto Municipal Code Chapter 740, Street Vending; Chapter 545, Licensing and
Former City of Toronto; Chapter 441, Fees and Charges; Chapter 313, Streets and
Sidewalks; Chapter 950, Traffic and Parking; Chapter 743, Streets and
Sidewalks, Use of.
It is proposed that the amendments be adopted at
the City Council meeting to be held on April 22, 2026, or at a subsequent
meeting. If adopted by City Council, the amendments to City of Toronto
Municipal Code Chapters will:
Interim Amendments to Chapter 740
1. City Council amend
City of Toronto Municipal Code Chapter 740, Street Vending by deleting section
740-11(the moratorium on new applications for Sidewalk Vending Permits for food
vendors in Wards 10, 11 and 13).
2. City Council amend City of Toronto Municipal
Code Chapter 740, Street Vending by deleting the phrase “five hours” in section
740-17A(6) and replacing it with the phrase “twelve
hours” to permit Mobile
Food Vending permit holders to operate for up to twelve hours on the same block
within a 24 hour period.
3. City Council amend City of Toronto Municipal
Code Chapter 740, Street Vending by deleting the phrases “, until January 1,
2027,” and “As at January 1, 2027, the R55 Curb Lane Vending Permits will,
without notice, automatically be cancelled.” from section 740-20 to remove the expiry date on existing Curb
Lane Vending Permit holders, and allow Curb Lane Vendors to continue operating
under the term of their current R55 Curb Lane Vending permit.
Adoption of a New Chapter 740
4. City Council adopt a new vending
permit regime and amend City of Toronto Municipal Code Chapter 740, Street
Vending and Artists, as follows:
a.
Delete Articles I, II, III, IV, V, VI and VII and
add Articles 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6 and 7 as set out in Attachment 1 to this report
(March 24, 2026) from the Interim Executive Director, Municipal Licensing and
Standards.
b.
Rename Schedule D “Short Stop Vending Permit
Locations”;
c.
Add a new Schedule E, “Artist Permit Restrictions”
as set out in Attachment 1 to this report (March 24, 2026) from the Interim
Executive Director, Municipal Licensing and Standards;
d.
Rename Chapter 740 “Street Vending and Artists”
5. City Council delete section 313-44.1 from former City of Toronto
Chapter 313, Streets and Sidewalks, which contains dated provisions relating to
buskers and portrait artists.
Interim Amendments to Chapter 545,
Licensing
6. City Council remove
the requirement for Pedlar Assistants to obtain a
business licence, as mentioned in 545-226(A).
Adoption of New Articles in Chapter
545, Licensing
7. City
Council amend Toronto Municipal Code, Chapter 545 to repeal Article IV
Refreshments Sold from Vehicles, and replace it with provisions substantially
in the form of draft Article IV Refreshment Vehicles, attached as Attachment 2
to this report (March 24, 2026) from the Interim Executive Director, Municipal
Licensing and Standards, to simplify and clarify licence conditions.
8. City Council amend Toronto Municipal Code, Chapter 545, to add a new
licence requirement for any owner or operator carrying on business as a
Refreshment Vendor on Foot and a corresponding Article that contains the
following requirements:
a. Every owner or
operator of a business selling refreshments for consumption by the public,
traveling on foot without a vehicle, shall:
(1) At the time of
application for a licence:
i.
File with the Municipal Licensing and Standards
Division a detailed scaled drawing of any equipment to be used in the sale of refreshments;
ii.
Produce a written report from the Medical Officer
of Health confirming that the refreshments to be sold and any equipment to be
used in the business are sanitary and suitable for purpose;
(2) Ensure that
containers or apparatuses from which the refreshments are sold are of a type
approved by the Municipal Licensing and Standards Division;
(3) Ensure that
every person selling or handling refreshments is wearing clean clothes, is
clean and neat in appearance, and has clean hands;
(4) Ensure that
any equipment used for dispensing refreshments is clean and sanitary;
(5) At all times
conspicuously display their refreshment vendor licence such that it is visible
to members of the public;
(6) Ensure that
all parts, equipment, and processes used for the preparation, storage, or
dispensing of refreshments meet the requirements of Ontario Regulation 493/17
and are approved by the Medical Officer of Health; and
(7) Obtain
liability insurance with respect to bodily injury and property damage in the
amount of $1,000,000, require that Municipal Licensing and Standards be
notified of any change to the policy within 10 calendar days of such change,
and require that a certificate of the policy be submitted to Municipal
Licensing and Standards as a requirement of any licence application.
9. City Council delete Toronto Municipal Code, Chapter 545, Article XVII
Hawkers and Pedlars.
Fee Amendments
10. City Council amend Chapter 441, Fees and Charges, Appendix C –
Schedule 12, Municipal Licensing and Standards to lower certain street vending
fees by amending the following fees so that they read as in the table below:
|
Ref |
Service Fee |
Description |
Category |
Fee Basis |
Fee |
Annual Adj. |
|
428 |
Licence and Permit Issuance |
Sidewalk
Vending Permit: Major
Arterial Road |
Full Cost
Recovery |
Per
application |
$4,465.84 |
Yes |
|
429 |
Licence and Permit Issuance |
Sidewalk
Vending Permit: Minor
Arterial Road |
Full Cost
Recovery |
Per
application |
$2,429.07 |
Yes |
|
430 |
Licence and Permit Issuance |
Mobile
Vending Permit (12 Month) |
Full Cost
Recovery |
Per
application |
$5,000.00 |
Yes |
|
432 |
Licence and Permit Issuance |
Mobile
Vending Permit (6 Month) |
Full Cost
Recovery |
Per
application |
$2,500.00 |
Yes |
|
433 |
Licence and Permit Issuance |
Mobile
Vending Permit (9 month) |
Full Cost
Recovery |
Per
application |
$3,750.00 |
Yes |
11. City Council add new permitting and licensing fees to Chapter 441,
Fees and Charges, Appendix C – Schedule 12, Municipal Licensing and Standards,
as shown in the table below:
|
Ref |
Service Fee |
Description |
Category |
Fee Basis |
Fee |
Annual Adj. |
|
518 |
Licence and Permit Issuance |
Short Stop
Vending Permit (12 Month) |
Full Cost
Recovery |
Per
application |
$512.66 |
Yes |
|
519 |
Licence and Permit Issuance |
Short Stop
Vending Permit (9 Month) |
Full Cost
Recovery |
Per
application |
$387.50 |
Yes |
|
520 |
Licence and Permit Issuance |
Short Stop
Vending Permit (6 Month) |
Full Cost
Recovery |
Per
application |
$258.33 |
Yes |
|
521 |
Licence and Permit Issuance |
Reduced fee:
Short Stop Vending Permit – Motorized – Fruit and Vegetable Vendor |
City Policy |
Per
application |
$25.63 |
Yes |
|
522 |
Licence and Permit Issuance |
Reduced fee:
Mobile Vending Permit – Fruit and Vegetable Vendor |
City Policy |
Per
application |
$250.00 |
Yes |
|
523 |
Licence and Permit Issuance |
Application
Fee: Refreshment Vendor on Foot Licence |
Full Cost
Recovery |
Per
application |
$140.00 |
Yes |
|
524 |
Licence and Permit Issuance |
Renewal Fee:
Refreshment Vendor on Foot Licence |
Full Cost
Recovery |
Per
application |
$65.00 |
Yes |
|
525 |
Licence and Permit Issuance |
Artist Permit |
Full Cost
Recovery |
Per
application |
$47.58 |
Yes |
12. City Council add new fees related to seizures to Chapter 441, Fees
and Charges, Appendix C – Schedule 12, Municipal Licensing and Standards, as
shown in the table below:
|
Ref |
Service Fee |
Description |
Category |
Fee Basis |
Fee |
Annual Adj. |
|
526 |
Public Spaces |
Chapter 740,
Street Vending Permit – storage fee for portable equipment, small property,
non-motorized refreshment vehicles, carts |
Full Cost
Recovery |
Daily |
$25.08 |
Yes |
|
527 |
Public Spaces |
Chapter 740,
Street Vending Permit – retrieval fee for portable equipment, small property,
instruments |
Full Cost
Recovery |
Per Retrieval |
$100.00 |
Yes |
|
528 |
Public Spaces |
Chapter 740,
Street Vending Permit – retrieval fee for cart |
Full Cost
Recovery |
Per Retrieval |
$200.00 |
Yes |
|
529 |
Public Spaces |
Chapter 740,
Street Vending Permit – retrieval fee for motorized or non-motorized
refreshment vehicle |
Full Cost
Recovery |
Per Retrieval |
Variable |
Yes |
13. City Council
delete from Chapter 441, Fees and Charges, Appendix C – Schedule 12, Municipal
Licensing and Standards, the following, as shown in the table below:
|
Ref |
Service Fee |
Description |
Category |
Fee Basis |
Fee |
Annual Adj. |
|
337 |
Licence and Permit Issuance |
Application fee: Pedlar Assistant licence |
Full Cost Recovery |
Per application |
$474.52 |
Yes |
|
338 |
Licence and Permit Issuance |
Renewal fee: Pedlar Assistant licence |
Full Cost Recovery |
Per application |
$351.16 |
Yes |
|
339 |
Licence and Permit Issuance |
Application fee: Hawker Pedlar on Foot licence |
Full Cost Recovery |
Per application |
$758.01 |
Yes |
|
340 |
Licence and Permit Issuance |
Renewal fee: Hawker Pedlar on Foot licence |
Full Cost Recovery |
Per application |
$370.08 |
Yes |
|
393 |
Licence and Permit Issuance |
Application fee: Hawker/Pedlar licence – with motor vehicle |
Full Cost Recovery |
Per application |
$1,407.83 |
Yes |
|
394 |
Licence and Permit Issuance |
Renewal fee: Hawker /Pedlar licence – with motor vehicle |
Full Cost Recovery |
Per application |
$955.92 |
Yes |
|
395 |
Licence and Permit Issuance |
Application fee: Hawker/Pedlar licence – with push
cart |
Full Cost Recovery |
Per application |
$1,407.83 |
Yes |
|
396 |
Licence and Permit Issuance |
Renewal fee: Hawker / Pedlar licence – with push
cart |
Full Cost Recovery |
Per application |
$955.92 |
Yes |
14. City Council direct the Executive Director, Municipal Licensing and
Standards, to waive the application fee for existing Hawker/Pedlar licensees
transitioning to a Motorized Refreshment Vehicle Licence, Non-Motorized
Refreshment Vehicle Licence, or Refreshment Vendor on Foot Licence between
March 1, 2027 and March 1, 2028, with applicants
required to pay only the applicable renewal fee.
Other Directives
15. City Council direct the Executive Director, Municipal Licensing and
Standards to work with the Executive Director, Environment, Climate and
Forestry, to explore programs, options, incentives or other measures to reduce
emissions generated by street vendors.
16. City Council direct the Executive Director, Municipal Licensing and
Standards in collaboration with the Chief Congestion Office and other relevant
divisions to monitor the implementation of the proposals in this report and
report back to the appropriate committee, as needed, with any proposed bylaw
amendments or operational measures required to address noted noise, congestion
or other impacts.
17. City Council amend
Chapter 743, Streets and Sidewalks, to align with the provisions in Chapter
740, Street Vending, by adding the following subsection to §743-18:
a.
G. Notwithstanding §743-18A(1), a person with a valid permit issued pursuant to
Chapter 740, Street Vending is exempted from the obligation to obtain a permit
to temporarily occupy the street.
18. City Council amend
Chapter 950, Traffic and Parking, to align with the provisions in Chapter 740,
Street Vending by:
a.
Deleting §950-400C and replacing
it with the following:
C. Sales from Vehicles.
(2)
No person who sells, offers for
sale or takes orders for goods, wares, merchandise, produce, refreshments,
beverages or other food from a vehicle shall, for the purpose of carrying on
business, stop the vehicle on any part of the highway without a valid permit
issued under Chapter 740, Street Vending.
(2)
Nothing in this section shall be
deemed to permit the stopping or parking of a vehicle where stopping or parking
is prohibited.
a.
Adding the following subsection to
§950-400D(5): (c) Subsection D(5)
does not apply to a vehicle with a valid permit issued under Chapter 740,
Street Vending that permits parking for longer than three hours.
Implementation Timing
19. City Council direct that recommendations 17 and 18, which align
other city by-laws with Chapter 740, come into effect immediately on the date
the by-law is adopted.
20. City Council direct that the following by-law amendments come into
effect June 15, 2026:
a.
Recommendation 1 on repealing the sidewalk vending
moratoriums in Wards 10, 11 and 13
b.
Recommendation 2 on permitting Mobile Food Vending
Permit holders to operate up to twelve hours per block, within a 24 hour period
c.
Recommendation 3 on removing the expiry of R55 Curb
Lane Vending Permits
21. City Council direct that Recommendation 10 on amending Chapter 441,
Fees and Charges to lower permit fees for Sidewalk Vending Permits and Mobile
Vending Permits come into effect January 1, 2027.
22. City Council direct that the following by-law amendments come into
effect March 1, 2027:
a. Recommendation 4 to repeal
Chapter 740, Street Vending and adopt a new Chapter 740, Street Vending and
Artists
b. Recommendation 5 to repeal the busking and artist
provisions in former City of Toronto Chapter 313, Streets and Sidewalks
c.
Recommendation 6 to remove the need for Pedlar
Assistants to obtain a licence
d.
Recommendation 7 to repeal Chapter 545, Licensing,
Article IV, Refreshments Sold from Vehicles and replace it with a new Article
e.
Recommendation 8 to add a new article to Chapter
545, Licensing for Refreshment Vendors on Foot
f. Recommendations 11 and 12, on amending Chapter 441,
Fees and Charges to make permit and licence fee
additions, and add fees for retrieval of seized items
g. Recommendation 14 to not charge Hawker / Pedlars an application fee if they get a different licence, between March 1 2027 to
March 1 2028.
23. City Council direct that the following by-law amendments come into
effect March 1, 2028:
a. Recommendation 9 on deleting Chapter 545, Article XVII
Hawkers and Pedlars
b. Recommendation 13, on deleting Hawker/Pedlar fees from Chapter 441, Fees and Charges
The proposed amendments are outlined in the
report titled “Review of Toronto’s
Street Vending and Artists By-laws” To view or obtain a copy of the report, visit the City's website at:
https://secure.toronto.ca/council/agenda-item.do?item=2026.EC27.2
At its meeting to be held via video conference and
in-person at City Hall, 100 Queen Street West, on April 9, 2026 at 9:30 a.m., or
as soon as possible thereafter, the Economic and Community Development Committee
of Toronto City Council will hear from any person or by his or her counsel,
agent, or solicitor, who wishes to speak to the matter.
The proposed amendments are subject to the
decisions of the Economic and Community Development Committee and City Council.
Consequently, the proposed amendments may be modified. Additional or other
amendments to the above-noted By-law, including
amendments not contemplated or considered in the proposal by Municipal
Licensing and Standards staff, may occur as a result of
the decisions of the Committee and City Council.
To submit comments or make a presentation to the
Economic and Community Development Committee on April 9, 2026, please contact
the Committee no later than 12:00 p.m. on April 8, 2026:
Economic and Community Development Committee
Toronto City Hall, 100 Queen Street West
10th Floor, West Tower, Toronto, ON, M5H 2N2
Telephone: 416-397-4579; Fax: 416-392-1879
Email: ecdc@toronto.ca
To ask questions regarding the content of the
report, please contact:
Joanna Hazelden, Director (Acting), Policy
and Strategic Support
Municipal Licensing and Standards
Telephone: 416-392-9830
Email: Joanna.Hazelden@toronto.ca
Anna Fernandes, Director, By-law Enforcement
Municipal Licensing and Standards
Telephone: 416-396-8221
Email: Anna.Fernandes@toronto.ca
Kevin Lurkhur, Director (Acting), Business
Licensing and Regulatory Services
Municipal Licensing and Standards
Telephone: 416-338-5079
Email: Kevin.Lurkhur@toronto.ca
Any comments received after the Committee meeting will be forwarded to City
Council.
While the staff report sets out proposed changes,
the Committee and/or City Council may change these proposals and adopt
additional or other amendments that differ from the recommendations set out in
the report. The proposed amendments are subject to the decision of the
Committee and the decision of City Council.
If this matter is postponed at the Committee meeting or City Council
meeting or considered at a subsequent Committee or City Council meeting, no
additional notice will be provided other than the information on the subsequent
Committee or City Council agenda. Please contact the above City officials if
you require notice in these cases.
The Economic and Community Development Committee will make its final
recommendations on April 9, 2026, which will be forwarded to City Council for
its meeting on April 22, 2026.
Notice
to people writing or making presentations to the Economic and Community
Development Committee: The City of Toronto Act, 2006 and the City of
Toronto Municipal Code authorize the City of Toronto to collect any personal
information in your communication or presentation to City Council or its Committees.
The
City collects this information to enable it to make informed decisions on the
relevant issue(s). If you are submitting letters, faxes, e-mails, presentations,
or other communications to the City, you should be
aware that your name and the fact that you communicated with the City will become part of the public record and will appear
on the City’s website. The City will also make your
communication and any personal information in it - such as your postal address,
telephone number, or e-mail address - available to the public, unless you
expressly request the City to remove it.
Many
Committee, Board, and Advisory Body meetings are broadcast live over the
internet for the public to view. If you speak at the meeting
you will appear in the video broadcast. Video broadcasts are archived and
continue to be publicly available.
If
you want to learn more about why and how the City
collects your information, write to the
City
Clerk’s Office, Toronto City Hall, 100 Queen Street West, Toronto ON, M5H 2N2
or by calling 416-397-4579.
Dated at the
City of Toronto on March 31, 2026.
John D. Elvidge
City Clerk