Public Notice

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.