Review of Toronto’s Street Vending and Artists By-laws

3. City Council amend City of Toronto Municipal Code Chapter 740, Street Vending, by amending section 740-20 so it reads: § 740-20. Transition. If, immediately prior to the coming into force of this chapter, a R55 Curb Lane Vending Permit is in effect under a former City of Toronto by-law or Code Chapter, the R55 Curb Lane Vending Permit shall, until December 31, 2031, be governed by the regulations in effect on May 14, 2014 as long as those conditions and § 740-20.1 continue to be complied with and any required fees are paid in accordance with Chapter 441, Fees and Charges. As of January 1, 2032, the R55 Curb Lane Vending Permits will, without notice, automatically be cancelled. 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, as amended by Parts 5, 6, and 7 below: 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 the second revised Attachment 1 to the revised 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 the second revised Attachment 1 to the revised report (March 24, 2026) from the Interim Executive Director, Municipal Licensing and Standards, amended as follows so it more clearly reads that the allowances for amplified sound in 740-5.2H do not apply on the highways and portions of highways listed in Schedule E: 1. renaming Schedule E "Busker and Sidewalk Artist Amplified Sound Prohibited Areas"; and 2. deleting the paragraph 1; d. rename Chapter 740 "Street Vending and Artists"; and e. amend section 740-3.7, as set out in Second Revised Attachment 1 to the revised report (March 24, 2026) from the Interim Executive Director, Municipal Licensing and Standards, as amended by motion 4, to read as follows: § 740-3.7. Transition. If, immediately prior to the coming into force of this chapter, a R55 Curb Lane Vending Permit is in effect under a former City of Toronto by-law or Code Chapter, the R55 Curb Lane Vending Permit shall, until December 31, 2031, be governed by the regulations in effect on May 14, 2014 as long as those conditions and § 740-3.8 continue to be complied with and any required fees are paid in accordance with Chapter 441, Fees and Charges. As of January 1, 2032, the R55 Curb Lane Vending Permits will, without notice, automatically be cancelled. 5. City Council amend the new Toronto Municipal Code Chapter 740, Street Vending and Artists, as set out in the second revised Attachment 1 to the revised report (March 24, 2026) from the Executive Director, Municipal Licensing and Standards to require that vending within fifteen (15) metres of any doorway, stairwell opening, escalator, elevator, or other access point used by the public to enter or exit a Toronto Transit Commission subway station not be permitted for Artist permits, Short Stop Vending permits, Sidewalk Vending permits and/or Mobile Vending permits. 6. City Council direct that the provision in Part 5 above will not apply to sidewalk vending permits granted before March 1, 2027, provided that the holders of such sidewalk vending permits continue to comply with the terms of their permit and agreement and that such permits are not revoked, terminated or expired before being renewed by the Executive Director, Municipal Licensing and Standards. 7. City Council amend the new Toronto Municipal Code Chapter 740, Street Vending and Artists, as set out in the second revised Attachment 1 to the revised report (March 24, 2026) from the Interim Executive Director, Municipal Licensing and Standards, by: a. amending section 740-1.14A to read as follows to clarify that the Executive Director is authorized to establish a Restricted Zone for all or certain permit type(s) as it deems appropriate: A. In the event that issues arise concerning public nuisance, safety or traffic congestion on a highway, the Executive Director is authorized to designate a Restricted Zone on such highway or portion of a highway for all or certain vending permit types established under this chapter. b. deleting section 740-5.2A(12) and replacing it as follows to clarify that artist permit holders shall not vend in a Restricted Zone: (12) in a Restricted Zone. 8. City Council delete section 313-44.1 from former City of Toronto Municipal Code Chapter 313, Streets and Sidewalks, which contains dated provisions relating to buskers and portrait artists. 9. City Council delete the following entries from Schedule B of former City of Toronto Municipal Code Chapter 313, Streets and Sidewalks. Street Side From To Bay Street East Dundas Street West Queen Street West City highway (7.9 metres wide) adjacent to the original south limit of Dundas Street West All of highway Yonge Street Bay Street City highways adjacent to the original west limit of Yonge Street, being the strips of land 3.1 metres wide and the remnant parts of Teraulay Street, Trinity Street, Louisa Street and Albert Street All of highway Dundas Street West 26.13 metres north of Queen Street West Queen Street West Both Bay Street Yonge Street 10. City Council amend section 1 of Schedule C of former City of Toronto Municipal Code Chapter 313, Streets and Sidewalks, to add the following to the list of highways where activities by buskers is not authorized: Street Side From To Bay Street East Dundas Street West Queen Street West Dundas Street Both Victoria Street Bay Street Yonge Street Both Dundas Street Queen Street East Dundas Square Both Yonge Street Victoria Street Shuter Street Both Victoria Street Yonge Street Victoria Street Both Dundas Street Shuter Street Queen Street West Both Bay Street Yonge Street Albert Street Both Bay Street James St James Street Both Trinity Square Queen Street West 11. City Council amend section 2 of Schedule C of former City of Toronto Municipal Code Chapter 313, Streets and Sidewalks, to add the following to the list of highways where activities by sidewalk artists is not authorized: Street Side From To Bay Street East Dundas Street West Queen Street West Dundas Street Both Victoria Street Bay Street Yonge Street Both Dundas Street Queen Street East Dundas Square Both Yonge Street Victoria Street Shuter Street Both Victoria Street Yonge Street Victoria Street Both Dundas Street Shuter Street Queen Street West Both Bay Street Yonge Street Albert Street Both Bay Street James St James Street Both Trinity Square Queen Street West Interim Amendments to Chapter 545, Licensing 12. 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 13. City Council amend Toronto Municipal Code Chapter 545, Licensing, 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 the revised report (March 24, 2026) from the Interim Executive Director, Municipal Licensing and Standards, to simplify and clarify licence conditions. 14. City Council amend Toronto Municipal Code Chapter 545, Licensing, 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. 15. City Council delete Toronto Municipal Code Chapter 545, Licensing, Article XVII Hawkers and Pedlars. Fee Amendments 16. City Council amend Toronto Municipal Code 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 17. City Council add new permitting and licensing fees to Toronto Municipal Code 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 18. City Council add new fees related to seizures to Toronto Municipal Code 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 19. City Council delete from Toronto Municipal Code 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 20. 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 21. 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. 22. City Council direct the Executive Director, Municipal Licensing and Standards, in collaboration with the Chief Congestion Officer and Executive Director, Strategic Capital Coordination Office and other relevant divisions, along with relevant stakeholders, including local Business Improvement Areas, to monitor the implementation of the proposals in the revised report (March 24, 2026) from the Interim Executive Director, Municipal Licensing and Standards and report back to the appropriate committee, as needed, with any proposed by-law amendments or operational measures required to address noted noise, congestion or other impacts, including on street festivals and other Business Improvement Area-led programming and events. 23. City Council amend Toronto Municipal Code Chapter 743, Streets and Sidewalks, Use of, to align with the provisions in Toronto Municipal Code Chapter 740, Street Vending, by adding the following subsection G to §743-18: 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. 24. City Council amend Toronto Municipal Code Chapter 950, Traffic and Parking, to align with the provisions in Toronto Municipal Code Chapter 740, Street Vending, by: a. deleting §950-400C and replacing it with the following: C. Sales from Vehicles. (1) 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. b. adding the following subsection (c) 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. 25. City Council amend Toronto Municipal Code Chapter 910, Parking Machines and Meters, by adding the phrase ", unless otherwise authorized to park and vend for a longer time under a permit issued in accordance with Toronto Municipal Code Chapter 740, Street Vending", to sections 910-6, 910-9.7 and 910-16. 26. City Council direct the Executive Director, Municipal Licensing and Standards and the General Manager, Transportation Services to consult with Business Improvement Areas, the Toronto Association of Business Improvement Areas and the Toronto Festival Association to understand issues around conflict between street vending permits and street festivals and work to improve communication, dispute resolution and enforcement, where needed. 27. City Council direct the Executive Director, Municipal Licensing and Standards to report to the Economic and Community Development Committee in the fourth quarter of 2027 with: a. a summary of noise-related service requests and associated enforcement outcomes pertaining to street busking, and the status of public education materials for buskers, following the implementation of the by-law changes; b. updates on the outcome of engagement with relevant stakeholders, Business Improvement Areas, and local Councillor offices during the implementation of the by-law; and c. an analysis of the implementation of non-food vending permits, including a recommendation on whether to maintain or remove such permits. 28. City Council direct the Executive Director, Municipal Licensing and Standards to work with the General Manager, Economic Development and Culture and the General Manager, Transportation Services to conduct an analysis of expanding access of the R55 locations to new and additional vendors in alignment with the Inclusive Economic Development Framework, including exploring the feasibility of preserving those locations as mobile vending zones or spaces designated for specific vendors. 29. City Council request the Executive Director, Municipal Licensing and Standards, in consultation with the General Manager, Economic Development and Culture, to monitor 311 complaints and determine if further resources are needed to optimize enforcement and adjust fees if necessary to create a cost recovery, with a report back to the Economic and Community Development Committee in the fourth quarter of 2027. 30. City Council request the Executive Director, Municipal Licensing and Standards, in consultation with the General Manager, Economic Development and Culture, to consult with Toronto Association of Business Improvement Areas, Business Improvement Areas, and vendors on opportunities to identify how vendors with a fixed location can financially contribute to streetscape solutions, programs and local events managed or operated by Business Improvement Areas, and include any findings in the fourth quarter of 2027 report back to the Economic and Community Development Committee. 31. City Council request the Executive Director, Municipal Licensing and Standards, in consultation with the local Councillor, to work with the Financial District Business Improvement Area to develop time-of-day restrictions on amplified sound from buskers in the Financial District and for street vending activities around Union Station to inform the designation of Restricted Zones. 32. City Council request the Executive Director, Municipal Licensing and Standards to report directly to the May 20, 21, 22, 2026 meeting of City Council on options to dissuade amplified disturbances in close proximity to residential neighbourhoods and Sankofa Square, where no donations are requested or no money changes hands. 33. City Council direct the Executive Director, Municipal Licensing and Standards, in collaboration with the General Manager, Transportation Services and relevant stakeholders including the local Councillor and Business Improvement Areas, to identify specific sidewalk locations in Ward 13 to be designated as the only areas where busking may occur, effectively creating 'busk stops'. 34. City Council direct the Executive Director, Municipal Licensing and Standards, to designate Gould Street as a Restricted Zone for Mobile Vendors. Implementation Timing 35. City Council direct that Parts 23, 24 and 25 above, which align other City by-laws with Toronto Municipal Code Chapter 740, Street Vending, come into effect immediately on the date the by-law is adopted. 36. City Council direct that the following by-law amendments come into effect June 15, 2026: a. Part 1 above on repealing the sidewalk vending moratoriums in Wards 10, 11 and 13; b. Part 2 above on permitting Mobile Food Vending Permit holders to operate up to twelve hours per block, within a 24-hour period; and c. Part 3 above on removing the expiry of R55 Curb Lane Vending Permits. 37. City Council direct that Part 16 above on amending Toronto Municipal Code Chapter 441, Fees and Charges, to lower permit fees for Sidewalk Vending Permits and Mobile Vending Permits come into effect January 1, 2027. 38. City Council direct that the following by-law amendments come into effect March 1, 2027: a. Part 4 above to repeal Toronto Municipal Code Chapter 740, Street Vending, and adopt a new Chapter 740, Street Vending and Artists; b. Part 8 above to repeal the busking and artist provisions in former City of Toronto Municipal Code Chapter 313, Streets and Sidewalks; c. Part 12 above to remove the need for Pedlar Assistants to obtain a licence; d. Part 13 above to repeal Toronto Municipal Code Chapter 545, Licensing, Article IV, Refreshments Sold from Vehicles and replace it with a new Article; e. Part 14 above to add a new article to Toronto Municipal Code Chapter 545, Licensing for Refreshment Vendors on Foot; f. Parts 17 and 18 above, on amending Toronto Municipal Code Chapter 441, Fees and Charges, to make permit and licence fee additions, and add fees for retrieval of seized items; and g. Part 20 above to not charge Hawker/Pedlars an application fee if they get a different licence, between March 1, 2027 to March 1, 2028. 39. City Council direct that the following by-law amendments come into effect March 1, 2028: a. Part 15 above on deleting Toronto Municipal Code Chapter 545, Article XVII Hawkers and Pedlars; and b. Part 19 above, on deleting Hawker/Pedlar fees from Toronto Municipal Code Chapter 441, Fees and Charges.