Property Standards By-law: Phase II Review and Other Property Items

Considered

• 2025-10-30 · Planning and Housing Committee · amended

  Decision as filed

  The Planning and Housing Committee recommends that: By-law amendments 1. City Council amend City of Toronto Municipal Code Chapter 629, Property Standards, so that it reads generally in accordance with the draft By-law in Attachment 1 to the report (October 16, 2025) from the Interim Executive Director, Municipal Licensing and Standards, with such amendments to come into force on May 1, 2027. 2. City Council adopt a new City of Toronto Municipal Code Chapter 611, Pest Management on Private Property, generally in accordance with the draft by-law in Attachment 2 to the report (October 16, 2025) from the Interim Executive Director, Municipal Licensing and Standards, with such new chapter to come into force on May 1, 2027.

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  3. City Council amend City of Toronto Municipal Code Chapter 629, Property Standards as follows to enable the new Property Standards Committee reporting requirements and delete duplicative provisions, with such amendments to come into force on March 1, 2026: a. Adding a new section § 629-3.2 as follows: § 629-3.2 Reporting. A. The Chair of the Property Standards Committee shall report annually to the Planning and Housing Committee, or its successor, and the report shall include: (1) A summary of the activities of the Property Standards Committee, including the number of items heard in the calendar year across all four hearing panels, and any changes made to the hearing process during the past year; (2) Emerging issues and observations that, in the Property Standards Committee's opinion, should be reviewed by the City of Toronto; and (3) Any other matters that, in the Property Standards Committee's opinion, impact the effective operation of the property standards appeal process. b. Deleting section § 629-10F on clothing drop boxes; c. Deleting section § 629-24 on vacant buildings and property. 4. City Council amend Toronto Municipal Code Chapter 632, Property, Vacant or Hazardous as follows, with such amendments to come into force on March 1, 2026: a. Add the following provision to § 632-4. Fencing of hazardous property: i. Every owner shall ensure that a vacant property that is not a building is secured by fencing or similar devices to prevent unauthorized entry. 5. City Council amend City of Toronto Municipal Code Chapter 835, Vital Services, Discontinuance Of, to align the by-law with the latest authorities in provincial legislation, by making the additions and deletions as follows, with such amendments to come into force on December 1, 2025: a. Make the following changes to § 835-1. Definitions. i. Delete the following definition: COMMISSIONER - The Commissioner of Urban Development Services. ii. Add the following definition: EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR - The Executive Director of Municipal Licensing and Standards or their designate or successor. iii. Delete and replace the definition of "landlord" with the following definition: LANDLORD - Includes: A. The owner of a rental unit or any other person who permits occupancy of a rental unit, other than a tenant who occupies a rental unit in a residential complex and who permits another person to also occupy the unit or any part of the unit. B. The heirs, assigns, personal representatives and successors in title of a person referred to in Subsection A of this definition. C. A person, other than a tenant occupying a rental unit in a residential complex, who is entitled to possession of the residential complex and who attempts to enforce any of the rights of a landlord under a tenancy agreement or the Residential Tenancies Act, 2006, S.O. 2006, c. 17, including the right to collect rent. iv. Delete and replace the definition of Vital Service with the following: VITAL SERVICE - hot or cold water, fuel, electricity, gas or, during the part of each year prescribed by the regulations made under the Residential Tenancies Act,2006, Statutes of Ontario 2006, circa 17, heat. b. Replace all references to "Commissioner" with "Executive Director". c. Delete and replace § 835-10. Offences with the following sections: § 835-10. Entry to inspect. A. In compliance with section 218 of the Residential Tenancies Act, 2006, the Executive Director may, at all reasonable times, enter and inspect a building or part of a building with respect to which this Chapter applies for the purpose of determining compliance with this Chapter or a direction given under § 835-4. B. Despite § 835-10.A., the Executive Director shall not enter a rental unit, (1) unless they have obtained the consent of the occupier of the rental unit after informing them that they may refuse permission to enter the unit; or (2) unless they are authorized to do so by a warrant issued under section 231 of the Residential Tenancies Act. § 835-11. Offences. A. A person, other than a corporation, who contravenes or fails to comply with §§ 835-2, 835-4, 835-5, 835-6 or 835-8 is guilty of an offence for each day or part of a day on which the offence occurs or continues and is liable on conviction to a fine of not more than $50,000. B. A corporation, that contravenes or fails to comply with §§ 835-2, 835-4, 835-5, 835-6 or 835-8 is guilty of an offence and is liable on conviction to a fine of not more than $250,000. C. Every director or officer of a corporation that is convicted of an offence who knowingly concurs in the commission of the offence is guilty of an offence and is liable on conviction to a fine of not more than $50,000. 6. City Council authorize the City Solicitor to introduce the necessary bills to give effect to City Council's decision and City Council authorize the City Solicitor to make any necessary clarifications, refinements, minor modifications, technical amendments, or by-law amendments as may be identified by the City Solicitor, in consultation with the Executive Director, Municipal Licensing and Standards, in order to give effect to Parts 1 to 5, inclusive, above. 7. City Council direct the Executive Director, Municipal Licensing and Standards, in collaboration with the General Manager, Toronto Water and the Medical Officer of Health, to conduct further consultation with relevant parties on the use of regulatory tools to address the issue of lead pipes on private property, and report back in 2027. 8. City Council direct the Executive Director, Municipal Licensing and Standards to report annually on enforcement and compliance activities associated with Chapter 629, Property Standards. 9. City Council amend the qualifications of the Property Standards Committee to include lived experience and/or professional experience related to housing access and tenant protection and request the Executive Director, Housing Secretariat to improve training for members of the Property Standards Committee about housing rights. 10. City Council request the City Manager to coordinate with the Executive Director, Municipal Licensing and Standards, the Fire Chief, the Chief Building Official and Executive Director, Toronto Building and the Toronto Police Services Board to ensure all available resources are explored in cases where leased residential dwellings are reported to be in significant or unsafe conditions of disrepair. 11. City Council reaffirm its direction given in 2024.PH11.8 to the Executive Director, Municipal Licensing and Standards to report on a framework to introduce Administrative Penalties for by-laws enforced by Municipal Licensing and Standards, including Chapter 629, Property Standards, Chapter 354, Apartment Buildings, and other relevant by-laws, and as part of the framework consider the feasibility of establishing a system of escalating penalties for second and subsequent convictions. 12. City Council request the Executive Director, Housing Secretariat to invite the Federal Housing Advocate to present to the Housing Rights Advisory Committee by the first quarter of 2026 on how the housing rights of tenants may be affected by the property standards appeals process established by provincial legislation.

• 2025-11-12 · Toronto City Council · amended