Public Notice

City of Toronto Act, 2006 Public Notice

 

Business Licence and Permit Applications Action Plan: Chapter 545, Licensing (2025 to 2029)

 

Toronto City Council will be considering recommendations to adopt amendments to City of Toronto Municipal Code Chapter 545, Licensing and Chapter 441, Fees and Charges

 

It is proposed that the amendments be adopted at the City Council meeting to be held on July 23, 24, and 25, 2025, or at a subsequent meeting. If adopted by City Council, the amendments to City of Toronto Municipal Code Chapters will:

 

1.Amend Toronto Municipal Code Chapter 545, Licensing as follows:

 

   a. Delete all provisions that require or might require an applicant or licensee to file a list of services and fees they will offer at their business with Municipal Licensing and Standards and any other provisions that depend on such information.

 

   b. Delete all provisions that require or might require an applicant or licensee to file a list of employees with Municipal Licensing and Standards and any other provisions that depend on such information.

 

   c. Delete all provisions that limit or might limit an applicant, licensee, or employee to only one employer and any other provisions that depend on such information.

 

   d. Delete all provisions that require or might require an applicant, licensee, or employee to undergo a medical examination and any other provisions that depend on such information.

 

2. Amend Toronto Municipal Code Chapter 545, Licensing as follows:

 

   a. Reorganize and make all necessary changes to Article I - General Licensing Provisions to grant Municipal Licensing and Standards, in addition to the Toronto Licensing Tribunal, the authority to place conditions on a business licence before issuing or renewing a licence or at any time during the term of a licence, subject to the following procedure:

 

       1. Municipal Licensing and Standards shall notify the applicant or licensee in writing of the proposed conditions, including the applicant's or licensee's right not to agree to the proposed conditions;

 

      2. If the applicant or licensee agrees to the proposed conditions, in a form and manner prescribed by Municipal Licensing and Standards, Municipal Licensing and Standards may place the conditions on the business licence; and

 

      3. If the applicant or licensee does not agree to the proposed conditions, Municipal Licensing and Standards may deny the application (subject to the applicant's right to request a hearing before the Toronto Licensing Tribunal) or refer the licence to the Toronto Licensing Tribunal for a hearing, as appropriate, at which time Municipal Licensing and Standards may request that the Toronto Licensing Tribunal add the proposed conditions to the licence.

 

   b. Add a provision to Article I - General Licensing Provisions to permit the Toronto Licensing Tribunal to consider a licensee's contravention of such conditions as part of any future hearing related to the licensee and to impose such penalty or further conditions as the Tribunal considers just.

 

3. Amend Toronto Municipal Code Chapter 545, Licensing as follows:

 

   a. Amend Article I – General licensing provisions to require persons or entities wishing to apply for or renew a licence to provide the name, phone number, and email address of a person responsible for responding to all communications from Municipal Licensing and Standards and to require a licensee to immediately update Municipal Licensing and Standards on any changes to such contact information.

 

   b. Amend Article I – General licensing provisions to specify that all communications relating to this chapter between Municipal Licensing and Standards and an applicant or licensee shall be sent via email to the email address most recently provided to Municipal Licensing and Standards as part of the licensing and renewal process under this chapter, except where another method is authorized by the Executive Director; and that any email sent in accordance shall be deemed for the purpose of this chapter to have been received by the addressee on the day it is sent.

 

4. Amend Toronto Municipal Code Chapter 545, Licensing as follows:

 

   a. Amend Article I – General licensing provisions to delete definitions and licence requirements for or related to the following:

 

     1. Boats for hire

     2. School bus driver

     3. Transient trader

     4. Building cleaner

     5. Chimney repairman

     6. Builder of radiation fall-out shelters

     7. Collector for second hand goods

 

   b. Delete Article XIV – Operators of boats for hire.

 

   c. Amend Article XV – Drive-self vehicles for hire; school bus drivers to delete provisions pertaining to school bus drivers.

 

   d. Amend Article XVII – Hawkers and Pedlars to delete provisions pertaining to transient traders.

 

   e. Amend Article XXIII – Salvage yards; second hand goods to delete provisions pertaining to collector for second hand goods.

 

   f. Delete Article XXX – Building cleaners.

 

   g. Amend Article XXXVI – Chimney repairman; persons renovating buildings; construction of radiation fall-out shelters to delete provisions pertaining to chimney repairman and construction of radiation fall-out shelters.

 

5. Amend Toronto Municipal Code Chapter 441, Fees and Charges, Appendix C – Schedule 12, Municipal Licensing and Standards to delete the fees in the following table:

 

Ref No.	Service Fee	Description	Category	Fee Basis	Fee	Annual Adjustment
185	Licence & permit issuance	Application fee: Boats for hire licence	Full cost recovery	Per application	$433.57	Yes
186	Licence & permit issuance	Renewal fee: Boats for hire licence	Full cost recovery	Per application	$285.05	Yes
247	Licence & permit issuance	Application fee: School bus driver licence	Full cost recovery	Per application	$474.52	Yes
248	Licence & permit issuance	Renewal fee: School bus driver licence	Full cost recovery	Per application	$351.16	Yes
341	Licence & permit issuance	Application fee: Transient trader licence	Full cost recovery	Per application	$758.01	Yes
342	Licence & permit issuance	Renewal fee: Transient trader licence	Full cost recovery	Per application	$370.08	Yes
351	Licence & permit issuance	Application fee: Building cleaner licence	Full cost recovery	Per application	$476.08	Yes
352	Licence & permit issuance	Renewal fee: Building cleaner licence	Full cost recovery	Per application	$281.87	Yes
361	Licence & permit issuance	Application fee: Chimney repairman licence	Full cost recovery	Per application	$476.08	Yes
362	Licence & permit issuance	Renewal fee: Chimney repairman licence	Full cost recovery	Per application	$281.87	Yes
399	Licence & permit issuance	Application fee: Collector for second hand goods licence	Full cost recovery	Per application	$738.52	Yes
400	Licence & permit issuance	Renewal fee: Collector for second hand goods licence	Full cost recovery	Per application	$370.08	Yes

 

6. Amend Toronto Municipal Code Chapter 545, Licensing as follows:

 

   a. Amend Article I – General licensing provisions to add to the definition of Commercial Parking Lot "including visitor parking spots for residential buildings," so that it reads:

 

   "Any location, including visitor parking spots for residential buildings, that demands compensation in relation to the use of a parking space, but does not include:

 

     A. Any parking location operated by or under the authority of the Toronto Parking Authority, regulated under Chapter 179, Parking Authority;

 

     B. Any City agency, board, commission, corporation or division;

 

     C. Any parking space rented on a weekly, monthly or yearly basis for one person's exclusive use;

 

     D. Any space located upon the driveway of a residential building that is used for parking on a temporary basis; and

 

     E. Any parking location operated by a registered charitable organization, as defined in subsection 248(1) of the Income Tax Act, R.S.C. 1985, c. 1 (5th Supp.), or successor legislation, that has a registration number issued by the Canada Revenue Agency, or successor agency."

 

   b. Amend Article XLV, 545-530 to specify that despite its provisions, commercial parking lots that consist only of residential visitor parking shall not make any advertisement or display any signage that might indicate the location is used for paid parking or is available to members of the general public, except the signage that must be displayed at each pay station.

 

7. Amend Toronto Municipal Code Chapter 545, Licensing as follows:

 

   a. Amend 545-2(20) to require every operator of a laundry premises to obtain a licence.

 

   b. Delete 545-2(21), which contains a duplicative licence requirement for laundreterias.

 

   c. Add the following definition of "Laundry Premises"

 

      "LAUNDRY PREMISES – Any premises at which laundry services, including wet washing, dry cleaning, laundry collection or return, and self-serve washing machines or dryers are offered or provided to the public, but does not include a premises used solely for laundry collection or return that is operated by a licensed operator of a laundry premises.

 

   d. Amend 545-228, by deleting the existing requirements for a separate licence for each premises owned or occupied by the operator and instead requiring every applicant for a laundry premises operator licence or its renewal to provide a list of premises owned or operated by the applicant that are used solely for laundry collection or return and to immediately notify Municipal Licensing and Standards of changes to this list.

 

   e. Delete 545-229, Maintenance of premises and related equipment and vehicles.

 

   f. Delete 545-230, Hours of operation restricted for certain machinery.

 

   g. Amend 545-231 to require every operator to post their licence in a conspicuous place within the laundry premises.

 

   h. Amend 545-232 to require every operator to post a sign in a conspicuous place at each premises they use solely for laundry collection or return that states the operator's name, email address, mailing address, and telephone number.

 

   i. Delete 545-233, Identification for premises with coin operated machines.

 

   j. Delete 545-234, Premises to be kept clean and tidy.

 

8. Amend Toronto Municipal Code Chapter 545, Licensing as follows:

 

   a. Amend 545-15(B) so that it reads “No driving school operator shall cause or permit driving instruction to be given in or upon the streets, highways and areas described in Subsection A of this section.”

 

9. Amend Toronto Municipal Code Chapter 441, Fees and Charges, Appendix C – Schedule 12, Municipal Licensing and Standards by adding the associated fee in the following table:

 

Ref No.	Service Fee	Description	Category	Fee Basis	Fee	Annual Adjustment
NEW MS517	Licence & permit issuance	NEW Zoning review fee: Business licence application	Full cost recovery	Per application	NEW $239.11	Yes

 

10. Direct that recommendations 1 to 9 come into effect on January 1, 2026.

 

11. Authorize and direct the Executive Director, Municipal Licensing and Standards to extend the term of licences held as of October 1, 2025, for boats for hire; school bus drivers; transient traders; building cleaners; chimney repairmen; collectors of second-hand goods to December 31, 2025, without the need to pay associated licence renewal fees.

 

12. Authorize the City Solicitor, in consultation with the Executive Director, Municipal Licensing and Standards, to make such clarifications, refinements, minor modifications, technical amendments, or other amendments to Chapter 545 as may be necessary to give effect to these recommendations.

 

The proposed amendments are outlined in the report titled " Business Licence and Permit Applications Action Plan: Chapter 545, Licensing (2025 to 2029).” To view or obtain a copy of the report, visit the City's website at:

 

https://secure.toronto.ca/council/agenda-item.do?item=2025.EC22.7

 

At its meeting to be held via video conference and in-person at City Hall, 100 Queen Street West, on July 9, 2025, 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 July 9, 2025, please contact the Committee no later than 12:00 p.m. on July 8, 2025:

 

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:

 

Ginny Adey

Director, Policy and Strategic Support,

Municipal Licensing and Standards

100 Queen Street West, 16th Floor West

Toronto, ON M5H 2N2

Telephone: 416-338-5576

Email: Ginny.Adey@toronto.ca

 

Gadi Katz

Director, Business Licensing and Regulatory Services

Municipal Licensing and Standards

850 Coxwell Avenue, 3rd Floor

Toronto, ON M4C 5R1

Telephone: 416-392-3070

Email: Gadi.Katz@toronto.ca

 

Anna Fernandes

Director, Bylaw Enforcement

Municipal Licensing and Standards

433 Eastern Avenue, Building B, 2nd Floor

Toronto, ON M4M 1B7

Telephone: 416-396-8221

Email: Anna.Fernandes@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 July 9, 2025, which will be forwarded to City Council for its meeting on July 24, 25, and 26, 2025.

 

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 416-397-4592.