Ontario Place zoning order updated: Block 3 expanded with new Theatre Parcel and East Plaza zones, bridges and uses added

The zoning order for Ontario Place has been significantly amended to expand and redefine Block 3, splitting it into two distinct sub-areas: the Theatre Parcel (where a building footprint of up to 15,250 sq m and a maximum height of 40 metres is permitted) and the East Plaza (up to 4,000 sq m of building coverage, maximum 6 metres and one storey, with exceptions near certain lot lines). Block 3 no longer has a gross floor area cap. New permitted uses on Block 3 include automated banking machines, performing arts studios, and production studios, and both Block 1 and Block 2 may now accommodate uses ancillary to Block 3. Up to two bridges may connect Block 3 to Block 1 or Block 2, with specific width, height, enclosure, and use restrictions for each bridge. Site plan control under the City of Toronto Act now also excludes Block 3. The term 'seasonal buildings and structures' has been renamed 'seasonal buildings, structures and vehicles' and take-out eating establishments are now listed separately from eating establishments throughout the permitted-uses list. Operators and developers planning activity on Ontario Place land should review the updated block boundaries, building coverage limits, height rules, bridge provisions, and permitted-use lists to ensure compliance.

Parking exemption for long-term care facility in Port Hope zoning order has been revoked

The provision that waived the minimum parking requirement for a long-term care facility on this site has been formally revoked and removed from the regulation. All other site-specific zoning rules remain in place: accessory buildings with waste storage must be in a side or rear yard, loading space may be in an exterior side yard, and the Institutional–Urban zone standards apply with a maximum building height of 26 metres for a long-term care facility. Developers or operators planning a long-term care facility on this site should now check whether standard municipal parking requirements under the Port Hope Zoning By-law apply to their project. The change also adds regulatory source citations to each remaining subsection, which is a housekeeping update with no substantive effect.

Ontario seizes control of Billy Bishop Airport lands from City of Toronto and bans further city dealings

Ontario has enacted a new law that allows the provincial Crown to take ownership of specified Billy Bishop Toronto City Airport lands and all buildings, structures, fixtures and improvements on those lands currently owned or controlled by the City of Toronto. Once land is prescribed by the Minister, ownership vests in the Crown and the City loses all authority over it. Effective immediately upon the Act receiving First Reading (retroactively), the City is prohibited from selling, encumbering, or otherwise dealing with any of the identified airport properties, and any attempt to do so is void. The City is also deemed to have assigned its rights and obligations under the 1983 Tripartite Agreement (between Canada, Toronto and the Toronto Port Authority) to the Crown. The Crown must pay the City market-value compensation based on an appraisal, with disputes resolved by binding arbitration, but nearly all other legal claims against the Crown arising from this Act are extinguished. City of Toronto officials should immediately notify the Minister of any pending dealings involving these lands and review their obligations under the Tripartite Agreement.

Metrolinx can request voluntary Building Code assessments and inspections for provincial transit projects

A new section (not yet in force) allows Metrolinx (the Corporation) to voluntarily notify a municipality's chief building official when it plans to construct or demolish a building as part of a provincial transit project. The chief building official must then assess the proposal against the Building Code and related design-professional requirements, and provide a written report within a prescribed period — but the assessment does not cover zoning or site-plan compliance. Metrolinx can also invite inspections at prescribed construction stages and request a written opinion on occupancy readiness. Importantly, the Building Code Act itself does not apply to Metrolinx; this is a voluntary advisory process only, and municipalities bear liability for tortious acts by their officials in carrying it out. New regulation-making powers are added to set fees, timelines, report formats, and exemptions tied to this process.

Toronto's code-of-conduct and accountability rules for councillors overhauled, green-roof and zoning provisions repealed

Several significant changes have been made to the City of Toronto Act. The City's power to require buildings to meet environmental or green-roof construction standards under its own by-laws (section 108.1) has been repealed, and a clarification added that construction standards — including environmental standards — fall under general site-plan exclusions rather than a separate by-law power. The section that explicitly confirmed Toronto's authority to regulate minimum parcel area, density and height in zoning by-laws (section 113(1)) has also been repealed. On the accountability side, a new multi-step process is being introduced (not yet in force) for removing a councillor or local board member from their seat: the City's Integrity Commissioner can recommend removal to the provincial Integrity Commissioner of Ontario, who then conducts an independent inquiry and, if criteria are met, reports to council; a unanimous vote of eligible councillors is required to declare the seat vacant and trigger a four-year disqualification. The code of conduct will shift from a City-established document to one prescribed by the province through regulation. City councillors, local board members, developers seeking site-plan approval, and anyone engaged in municipal accountability proceedings are most affected. Those relying on section 108.1 by-law powers or the section 113(1) zoning authority should review how those matters are now addressed under the general Planning Act and building-code frameworks.

Non-profit retirement homes are now exempt from municipal development charges in Ontario

A new exemption removes development charges for retirement home projects developed by provincially or federally incorporated non-profit corporations in good standing. Any development charge that became payable before the new provision took effect is not covered by the exemption, but future instalment payments that would otherwise have come due afterward are also relieved. Non-profit operators planning or currently building retirement home facilities should review whether their projects qualify and confirm their corporate status under either the Ontario Not-for-Profit Corporations Act, 2010 or the Canada Not-for-profit Corporations Act. Related rules on payment timing for front-ending agreements have also been updated to align with revised instalment provisions. Organizations that may qualify should verify their standing under the applicable not-for-profit statute and consult with their municipality about how the exemption applies to charges already levied.

Ontario removes two regulation-making powers under Building Code Act and clarifies that municipal environmental bylaws can coexist with the Building Code

Two previously existing regulation-making powers have been repealed: the authority to prescribe specific building code provisions and conditions/limits for the purposes of related municipal-act sections no longer exists under the Building Code Act. Separately, a new interpretive provision confirms that municipal bylaws governing construction or demolition of buildings — including bylaws that set construction standards to protect or conserve the environment — are among the bylaws that can apply alongside the Building Code. This means municipalities have explicit legislative backing when they enact environmental construction standards, even though the Building Code still prevails if there is a direct conflict on covered subject-matter. Builders, developers, and municipalities involved in construction projects should review whether local environmental construction bylaws now have a clearer legal footing and adjust compliance processes accordingly.

Ontario Planning Act overhauled: standardized official plan structure, new EV and parking rules, expanded County of Simcoe planning changes

Ontario's Planning Act has been significantly amended by the Building Homes and Improving Transportation Infrastructure Act, 2026. The most sweeping change (not yet in force) requires all Ontario municipalities and planning boards to rewrite their official plans using a mandatory standardized structure — prescribed chapter titles, section numbering, schedule formats, and a fixed set of land use designations (e.g., Neighbourhoods, Mixed Use Areas, Employment Areas). Larger urban centres face a 2028 deadline; all others and planning boards face 2029. Separately, zoning by-laws and site plan agreements can no longer require owners to provide electric vehicle supply equipment in connection with parking facilities, and there is a new cap on minimum lot size requirements for urban residential land outside the Greenbelt. The County of Simcoe is being phased in as an upper-tier municipality without planning responsibilities, initially for Bradford West Gwillimbury, Innisfil and New Tecumseth, with broader expansion to follow by order-in-council. Site plan control provisions have also been narrowed: references to sustainable design elements on adjoining highways are replaced with a health, safety, accessibility and adjoining-lands test, and certain notice requirements for ministerial plan orders have been repealed.

Upcoming wording fix to how Bail Act liens bind registered land — not yet in force

A future amendment (not yet active) will update the language describing when a certificate of lien under the Bail Act can bind registered land. The current text refers broadly to 'any certificate of lien under the Bail Act'; once the new wording takes effect, it will narrow this to certificates of lien 'continued under section 8.4 of the Bail Act.' This is a technical clarification that aligns the Land Titles Act with changes made to the Bail Act. The amendment has no practical effect until proclaimed in force by the Lieutenant Governor in Council. Parties involved in real estate transactions or execution proceedings where Bail Act liens are a factor should watch for the proclamation date.

Protection corridor maps updated for SickKids and St. Michael's Hospital heliport flight paths

The zoning order that restricts building heights near two Toronto hospital heliports has been updated to reference new official corridor maps. The map numbers defining the protected air corridors for The Hospital for Sick Children and St. Michael's Hospital have changed, meaning the geographic boundaries of the height-restriction zones are now determined by the newly filed maps rather than the previous ones. Anyone planning construction, installing cranes, antennas, or other structures near these hospitals should consult the updated maps (now numbered 391 and 392, filed at the Ministry of Municipal Affairs and Housing at 777 Bay Street) to determine whether their project falls within a restricted area. Two housekeeping provisions in the regulation have also been formally revoked. Developers, architects, and project managers with active or planned projects in the vicinity of either hospital heliport should verify compliance against the updated corridor boundaries.

New regulation names specific federal drug offence as trigger for Ontario's illegal drug premises law

A new Ontario regulation identifies one specific federal offence — contravening the provision of the Controlled Drugs and Substances Act that relates to certain drug-related activity — as a "prescribed offence" under Ontario's Measures Respecting Premises with Illegal Drug Activity Act, 2025. This designation is significant because that provincial Act allows authorities to take action against premises where prescribed offences have occurred. Property owners, landlords, and operators of commercial or residential spaces should be aware that a conviction or finding related to this federal offence can now trigger Ontario's premises-based enforcement tools. Businesses and property owners who lease or manage spaces should review their tenant screening and lease compliance practices in light of this connection between federal drug offences and provincial premises powers.

Ontario school boards' capital funding eligibility list updated to January 2026 version

The regulation now references a January 31, 2026 version of the eligibility list that determines which school board capital projects qualify for funding under the Capital Priorities, Land Priorities, Child Care Capital, and EarlyON Child and Family Centres Capital programs. Previously, the regulation pointed to the June 30, 2025 version of that list. This updated reference applies across all four funding streams — school construction, land purchases, child care capital, and EarlyON centres — and affects how funding caps are calculated for each approved project. School boards with active or pending capital projects should confirm their project details against the updated January 2026 list to ensure their reported costs align with the amounts now specified for funding eligibility.

Ontario adds a new retail-sales-tax rebate program for residential property purchases, capped at $50,000

The Act now includes a new rebate stream (section 51.2) that lets the Minister create regulations providing credits or payments to buyers in respect of the federal component of HST paid on residential property. Each rebate is capped at $50,000 per transaction, and any eligibility condition tied to a purchase-and-sale agreement date cannot extend beyond March 31, 2027. Rebates may be paid directly by the province, credited by a supplier on behalf of Ontario, or assigned by the recipient to another person—though the assignor and assignee become jointly and severally liable if the rebate was received without entitlement. Enforcement rules that previously applied only to First Nations rebates (assessments, penalties for false reporting, and fraud offences) now apply equally to this residential-property rebate program. A companion interpretation section (51.0.1) and general rules section (51.3) consolidate shared definitions and repayment obligations across both rebate streams.

Municipalities can now opt out of the small-population rule for resort condominium property tax classification

A provision that had been revoked is replaced with a new rule allowing single-tier or upper-tier municipal councils to pass a by-law waiving the requirement that a resort condominium unit be located in a municipality with a population of 10,000 or less. To use this option, the municipality must have had land in the resort condominium tax class in the preceding taxation year. The by-law automatically applies for the year it is passed and any future years the resort condominium class remains active in that municipality. Upper-tier municipalities can only waive the population rule for a lower-tier municipality if that lower-tier municipality also had qualifying resort condominium land in the prior year. Resort property owners and managers in municipalities that previously could not qualify due to population size should check whether their council has passed or intends to pass such a by-law.

County of Oxford and Township of Norwich authorized to grant development-charge relief to VDK Development Inc.

The regulation has been expanded to allow the County of Oxford and the Township of Norwich to grant assistance to VDK Development Inc. in the form of full or partial exemptions from development charges imposed under the Development Charges Act, 1997. The assistance window is a six-month period starting in mid-2026. The County of Oxford's assistance is capped at $800,000, while the Township of Norwich's is capped at $400,000. This relief can be granted directly or indirectly to the company. Municipalities, developers, and parties involved in development charge planning in Oxford County and Norwich Township should be aware of this new authority and its time-limited nature.

Future-dated amendment notes removed as changes from O. Reg. 123/26 are now in force

The regulation governing occupation of public lands has been updated to incorporate changes that were previously flagged as upcoming amendments taking effect in May 2026. Those future-dated notes have been removed and the new rules are now part of the consolidated text. Key practical changes now in effect include: bridges and short-term bridges being governed under a new separate section from culverts and causeways; mobile wind testing equipment and environmental monitoring equipment being explicitly listed as authorized occupations with their own conditions; a new prohibition on occupying lands that are archaeological sites or areas where artifacts or human remains have been found; a requirement to stop work and notify the Ministry if archaeological artifacts or human remains are discovered during an occupation; and notice to vacate can now be delivered by email in addition to posting, personal delivery, or registered mail. Anyone occupying or planning to occupy public lands under this regulation should review the updated conditions applicable to their specific activity.

Ontario updates public lands work permit rules: new definitions, registration system, artifact/remains duties, and geotechnical exemption

Ontario has consolidated a series of previously announced amendments to the public lands work permit regulation into the main text. Key practical changes include: the definition of 'shore lands' is now based on the high-water mark (not just seasonal inundation), with a new clarification that spring freshet or extreme flooding alone does not make land 'shore lands'; the term 'water crossing' is replaced throughout by the specific terms 'bridge, culvert or causeway'; and the old paper-based notice-of-activity form system for several exempt activities (building on mining claims, erosion control structure repair, etc.) is replaced by an online geographic-point registration process, with work allowed to start 10 days after Ministry confirmation rather than upon receipt of the form. Two new mandatory duties apply to anyone carrying out regulated activities on public lands: all work must stop immediately if an artifact is discovered and the Ministry must be notified by email, and all work must stop if human remains are found and police or a coroner must be notified. A new permit-free exemption is added for geotechnical investigations by test pit, trench or borehole where specified conditions are met. Operators planning dredging, filling, erosion control, vegetation removal, building placement on mining claims, or trail and road construction on public lands should review the updated registration requirements and new stop-work obligations before commencing work.

Ontario renewable energy approvals rules updated: Indigenous terminology, qualified-person assessments, and new biogas exemption

This amendment makes several practical changes to the rules governing Renewable Energy Approvals under the Environmental Protection Act. All references to 'aboriginal communities' have been replaced with 'Indigenous communities' throughout the regulation, which affects consultation lists, notices, document distribution, and reporting obligations for project applicants. The Ministry of Natural Resources and Forestry and the Ministry of Tourism, Culture and Sport are renamed to the Ministry of Natural Resources and the Ministry of Citizenship and Multiculturalism respectively, changing where applicants must submit archaeological and heritage assessment reports and obtain comments. The previous requirement to get written confirmation from the Ministry of Natural Resources that natural heritage assessments were correctly conducted has been replaced by a self-attestation system: applicants must now have a 'qualified person' (as defined in the Natural Heritage Assessment Guide) conduct and attest to assessments, with written confirmation from that qualified person submitted as part of the approval application. A new exemption from the approval requirement is added for small biogas facilities (10 MW or less) located on the site of a business whose primary purpose is not electricity generation, with transition provisions for existing projects and pending applications. Applicants who submitted natural heritage reports to the Ministry of Natural Resources before the six-month transition deadline may complete their applications under the prior rules.

Ontario building code updated to reference revised April 21, 2026 Ontario Amendments document

Ontario's building code regulation now points to a revised version of the "Ontario Amendments to the National Building Code of Canada 2020" dated April 21, 2026, replacing the previous April 1, 2026 dated document. The National Building Code of Canada 2020 (First Printing) itself remains the base code. Anyone involved in new construction or building permit applications should confirm they are referencing the April 21, 2026 version of the Ontario Amendments document rather than the earlier one. The practical effect is that the amendment document adopted as part of Ontario's building code has been updated, and compliance work should be based on the current version.

New law removes bus-parking obligation on Toronto's Block 18C and shields government from related lawsuits

A new Ontario statute eliminates the requirement under a City of Toronto by-law that bus parking be provided on Block 18C, a parcel of land in downtown Toronto near the former SkyDome. The law also bars virtually all legal claims—including damages, injunctions, and contractual remedies—against the Crown, municipalities, and their officials arising from this change or from anything done under the related 2002 Skydome Act (Bus Parking); judicial review and constitutional challenges remain available. The government gains authority to make regulations that can terminate, suspend, or amend any contract or agreement tied to Block 18C's development, generally without paying compensation. Anyone who held rights under existing contracts or the old by-law's bus-parking requirement should take note that those rights may be extinguished or altered by regulation. Parties considering legal action related to Block 18C bus-parking arrangements should be aware that most court, arbitration, and administrative proceedings on this topic are now blocked.

Status Indians now excluded from Ontario's 'foreign national' definition for land transfer tax purposes

The definition of 'foreign national' in Ontario's Land Transfer Tax Act has been updated to explicitly exclude persons registered as Indians under the federal Indian Act. Previously, the definition tracked the federal Immigration and Refugee Protection Act without any carve-out. As a result of this change, registered Indians are no longer treated as 'foreign nationals' or 'foreign entities' under the Act, which affects how the non-resident speculation tax and related provisions apply to them. Registered Indians purchasing land in Ontario should be aware they now fall outside those foreign-entity provisions. Anyone advising on land transfers involving registered Indians should review how this exclusion changes their tax obligations under the Act.

Metrolinx must follow new notice and consultation steps before ordering access to municipal roads and rights of way

Metrolinx now has explicit procedural obligations before it can issue an order requiring access to, or alteration of, a municipal highway or right of way. Before issuing such an order, Metrolinx must make good-faith efforts to meet any technical requirements and give due consideration to a set of listed factors. It must give the provincial Ministry of Transportation at least 20 days' written notice (with a detailed summary of negotiation steps taken), and the affected municipality at least 15 days' notice. If a municipality fails to comply with an order, Metrolinx must notify the Ministry at least 15 days before filing the order in the Superior Court of Justice. Metrolinx may revise or cancel an order, but must give both the Ministry and the affected municipality at least 15 days' advance notice before doing so. Municipalities and Metrolinx project teams involved in transit construction affecting local roads and rights of way need to be aware of these new steps.

New regulation sets design, maintenance, training and record-keeping rules for all elevating work platforms on Ontario construction projects

Ontario has introduced a standalone regulation governing elevating work platforms (EWPs) — including mobile elevating work platforms (MEWPs), mast climbing work platforms and vehicle-mounted aerial devices — on all construction projects. Every EWP must be engineer-designed and certified to the applicable CSA standard, equipped with guardrails and rated-load signage, and inspected daily before use. Owners must keep permanent maintenance and inspection records dating back to the original purchase date or May 1991, whichever is later, and attach an up-to-date inspection tag near the operator's station. Employers must ensure MEWP operators complete a formal theory-and-practical training program valid for five years, with make-and-model familiarization required when training was not specific to the equipment in use; training records must be kept and provided to workers or inspectors on request. Workers operating other types of EWPs must receive oral and written instruction, including a hands-on demonstration, before first use.

Respirator approval rules for designated substances expanded to recognize CSA Group certification

Starting mid-2026, respirators used under Ontario's Designated Substances regulation will be accepted if approved by NIOSH, by the CSA Group (a newly recognized certifier), or by another agency whose protection is judged equivalent to either NIOSH or CSA. Previously, only NIOSH approval or an equivalency opinion was required. For asbestos protection specifically, the filter designation codes are also being updated: the current 'N-100, R-100 or P-100' labelling will be replaced with expanded codes including 'CA-N100, CA-R100 and CA-P100' to align with CSA standards. Employers who supply workers with respirators for designated-substance work should verify that their equipment selections and purchasing specifications reflect the updated approval criteria and filter codes before the changes take effect.

Asbestos rules to accept CSA-certified respirators alongside NIOSH-approved ones starting mid-2026

Amendments scheduled to take effect add the CSA Group (CSA) as an accepted respirator certification body alongside the existing NIOSH standard for asbestos work on construction projects and in buildings. Workers and employers will be able to use respirators approved by either NIOSH or CSA when asbestos exposure controls require respiratory protection. The respirator filter designations in Table 2 are also being updated to reflect current NIOSH and new CSA filter coding conventions (e.g., N100, CA-N100, R100, CA-R100, P100, CA-P100 replacing the older hyphenated codes). Employers and safety managers should review their respirator procurement and worker training to ensure equipment meets either the NIOSH or CSA approval standards once the changes are in force.

Hard hats must meet side-impact standards and section 22 rules tightened; several elevating work platform sections to be revoked

Two sets of future changes have been added to Ontario's construction regulation. First, hard-hat requirements are being upgraded: workers who may be exposed to side-impact hazards will need headwear that meets the Type 2 (CSA Z94.1) or Type II (ANSI Z89.1) standard; all other workers will still need headwear meeting those same standards (but without the side-impact-specific Type 2 requirement). A new rule also requires a chin strap or other retention system whenever site conditions could cause a hard hat to dislodge. Second, the current rules for elevating work platforms covering design, maintenance records, inspection tags, operator training, operating limits, and operator manuals (sections 143–149) are all being revoked, which likely signals replacement by a different regulatory framework. Construction employers and safety officers should assess their current hard hat inventory against the upcoming Type 2/Type II requirements and monitor for any replacement rules on elevating work platforms.

Respirator approval rules updated to recognize CSA Group certification alongside NIOSH

Starting mid-2026, respirators provided to workers can be approved by the CSA Group (CSA) as an alternative to NIOSH approval, not just by NIOSH or a qualified-opinion-backed third party. The amendment adds CSA as a recognized certifying body in the respirator selection requirements and updates the filter designation codes for asbestos work (e.g., 'N-100' becomes 'N100' or 'CA-N100', and equivalent changes for R and P series filters). Employers who select and provide respirators will need to ensure their equipment meets the updated approval and filter labelling standards. Anyone currently specifying respirators for workers—particularly for asbestos exposure—should check that the filter designations in their written programs match the new codes.

Fence-viewer rules for unorganized territory updated: ministry name references removed, notice delivery simplified

This regulation, which governs how boundary fence disputes are resolved on land in territory without municipal organization, has been amended in several housekeeping ways. The definition of 'Minister' has been removed from the regulation text, and references to 'the Ministry of Municipal Affairs' have been replaced with the more generic 'the ministry of the Minister.' Requirements to send certified copies of awards and certificates to owners and occupants 'at their last known place of residence' have been dropped — the obligation to send copies remains, but the specific address qualifier is gone. The location description for prescribed forms on the government website has been simplified by removing the reference to the Ministry of Municipal Affairs and Housing. Landowners and fence-viewers operating under this regulation should be aware that notice and delivery obligations are slightly reworded, though the core dispute resolution process is unchanged.