Implementation of O.Reg 1/26 under the Liquor Licence and Control Act, 2019 in the City of Toronto

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The decision

2026-04-22 · Toronto City Council · amended

As filed

City Council on April 22 and 23, 2026, adopted the following: 1. City Council update the delegation of authority to the City Clerk to designate an event a cultural or community event and issue a letter of endorsement to the Alcohol and Gaming Commission of Ontario for requests for bring-your-own event permits, effective April 30, 2026, as set out in Attachment 1 to the supplementary report (April 22, 2026) from the City Clerk.

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2. City Council update the delegation of authority to the City Clerk to include changes to the administrative process for bring-your-own events as set out in Attachment 2 to the supplementary report (April 22, 2026) from the City Clerk. 3. City Council amend City of Toronto Municipal Code Chapter 743, Streets and Sidewalks, Use of, to provide for the sale, possession and/or consumption of alcohol on the public right-of-way during street events, subject to a permit issued by the General Manager, Transportation Services. 4. City Council request the General Manager, Economic Development and Culture to report on any lessons learned from the implementation of bring-your-own event permits as part of the forthcoming report to Council on the City's approach to temporary liquor licensing. 5. City Council request the General Manager, Economic Development and Culture, in consultation with the City Clerk, to distribute information on the "bring-your-own event" liquor application process to cultural and community event producers, including good practices to support small businesses. 6. City Council request the General Manager, Economic Development and Culture, and the Chief Technology Officer, Technology Services, in consultation with the City Clerk, to integrate information of the municipal designation process for "bring-your-own events" into the Guidance for Planning Events in the City webpage.

On the agenda

As the city filed it

On March 17, 2026, the Province of Ontario announced an expansion of the liquor licence permit category for "bring-your-own" events (formerly known as tailgate events) to include cultural and community outdoor events such as neighbourhood festivals, movie screenings, art exhibits, and farmer's markets. This creates new opportunities for local events across Toronto happening this summer, if they wish to participate. In order to implement the expanded permit category created by this new regulation, Toronto City Council needs to establish a process for municipal designation of cultural and community events for the purpose of liquor licensing.

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As such, this item requests the City Clerk and General Manager, Economic Development & Culture to report directly to the next meeting of City Council with the required amendments needed to create a municipal designation process in advance of the regulation coming into force on April 30, 2026. Enabling new ways to save on overhead costs for cultural producers aligns with the objectives of Culture Connects: An Action Plan for Culture in Toronto (2025-2035) and creating new opportunities for local small businesses supports the drivers of Sidewalks to Skylines: A 10-Year Action Plan for Toronto's Economy (2025-2035).

Staff recommended

Councillor Alejandra Bravo recommends that: 1. City Council direct the City Clerk, in consultation with the General Manager, Economic Development and Culture to report directly to the April 22, 2026 meeting of City Council with any required bylaw or delegated authority amendments for the implementation of the regulatory changes made by O. Reg. 1/26 for "bring-your-own events", including: a. Amendments to the Delegation of Authority for the Endorsement of Temporary Liquor Licences (as established by 2019.EX3.7 and amended by 2023.EX3.8) to include "bring-your-own" events; and b.

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A definition of "cultural and community event" for the purposes of liquor licensing to include consideration to permitted Street Events, Special Events in City Parks, and Arts & Music in City Parks Events 2. City Council request the General Manager, Economic Development and Culture, in consultation with the City Clerk, to distribute information on "bring-your-own event" liquor application process to cultural and community event producers, including good practices to support small businesses. 3. City Council request the General Manager, Economic Development and Culture, and the Chief Technology Officer, Technology Services, in consultation with the City Clerk, to integrate information of the municipal designation process for "bring-your-own events" into the Guidance for Planning Events in Toronto webpage.

Considered

2026-04-15 · Executive Committee · amended
Decision as filed
The Executive Committee recommends that: 1. City Council request the General Manager, Economic Development and Culture, in consultation with the City Clerk, to distribute information on "bring-your-own event" liquor application process to cultural and community event producers, including good practices to support small businesses. 2. City Council request the General Manager, Economic Development and Culture, and the Chief
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Technology Officer, Technology Services, in consultation with the City Clerk, to integrate information of the municipal designation process for "bring-your-own events" into the Guidance for Planning Events in the City webpage.
Clerk’s note
The Executive Committee directed the City Clerk, in consultation with the General Manager, Economic Development and Culture, to report directly to the April 22, 2026 meeting of City Council with any required by-law or delegated authority amendments for the implementation of the regulatory changes made by O. Reg. 1/26 for "bring-your-own events", including: a. amendments to the Delegation of Authority for the Endorsement of Temporary Liquor Licences (as established by 2019.EX3.7 and amended by 2023.EX3.8) to include "bring-your-own" events; and b.
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a definition of "cultural and community event" for the purposes of liquor licensing to include consideration to permitted Street Events, Special Events in City Parks, and Arts & Music in City Parks Events.
2026-04-22 · Toronto City Council · amended

On the record

The item as the City filed it

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