This guide identifies where you can access current and historic bylaws  for the following municipalities:

The Amalgamated City of Toronto has published a Municipal Code of general application bylaws. The former Metropolitan Toronto, and, with the exception of the City of Etobicoke, the former municipalities did not codify or consolidate their bylaws. In most cases, the bylaws are published as an appendix to the council minutes. To locate a bylaw, you must know the year it was passed and either the number or subject of the bylaw.

If the bylaws are required for legal purposes, always contact the appropriate City Clerk’s Office.

Amalgamated City of Toronto (1998 – present)

City of Toronto Municipal Code
: This is a consolidation of the City of Toronto’s general application bylaws such as smoking, animal control and snow removal. It is organized by subject and can be searched by keyword.

Zoning Bylaws: Official Plans are legally binding, statutory documents, which are approved by the Provincial Ministry of Municipal Affairs and Housing under the terms of the Planning Act (RSO 1990, c. P-13). The first Official Plan for the City of Toronto was approved by Council on October 30, 2002. It has not yet been approved by the Province of Ontario and so certain bylaws of the former municipalities remain in force. These may have been updated by the Community Council Committees. For updated zoning information, contact the Clerk’s Office.

City of Toronto web site (www.city.toronto.on.ca) has bylaws from 1998 to present. This list is not complete. The minutes, schedules, and agendas of committees, community councils, boards, and agencies are also available
on the web site. Scott Government Reference: Bylaws are included in the Council minutes. The date or number of the bylaw must be known. Call number: MUN TOR M2 C6.5 M56 (1998-present)

Urban Affairs Library: As a branch of the Toronto Public Library specializing in urban issues, this library collects the bylaws and council minutes the City of Toronto. Please call before visiting to confirm library’s hours and the availability of specific bylaws. Location: Metro Hall, 55 John Street, Toronto. Phone: (416)397-7241

Toronto City Clerk’s Office: Contact the Bylaw Co-ordinator. The City Clerk’s office charges $0.50/page for photocopies. Location: 2-West Tower (2nd Floor), Toronto City Hall, 100 Queen Street West. Phone: (416) 392-4364

Former Metropolitan Toronto

Scott Government Reference : Council minutes, bylaws, and committee reports are published together annually. Bylaws are found in Appendix B. The 1953-1979 volumes are in Storage at Scott Library. Please allow 3-4 days for the materials to be retrieved. The years 1980-1998 are available in Scott Government Reference. Call Number: MUN TOR M2 C6.5 M56.

Urban Affairs Library: Bylaws are found as appendixes to the bound council minutes and include an index. If the year of a bylaw is known, it is easy to locate in these volumes. Location: Metro Hall, 55 John Street, Toronto. Phone: (416)397-724.

Toronto City Clerk’s Office: Contact the Bylaw Co-ordinator. The City Clerk’s Office charges $0.50/page for photocopies. Location: 2-West Tower (2nd Floor), Toronto City Hall, 100 Queen Street West. Phone: (416) 392-4364.

Former City of Toronto

Scott Government Reference : For 1970-1981, bylaws were published in separate volumes (MUN TOR2 C6.1 B96). For 1980-1997, bylaws were published as Appendix B to the Council minutes. For most years, Appendix B is a separate volume, but for 1993-1996, Appendix B is found at the end of each issue of council minutes. There is an annual index to the council minutes, bylaws, and committee reports (appendix C). Bylaws are identified in the index by the prefix 03- . Volumes for 1862-1979 are in Storage at Scott Library, but indexes for these years are available in Scott Government Reference and Issues from 1980-1997 are at Scott Government Reference. Call Number: MUN TOR2 C6.5 M56 In addition, the Osgoode Law Library holds City of Toronto bylaws from 1834-1987. Call Number: KF 5313 ZB3 T76.

Urban Affairs Library : The bylaws and council minutes of the former City of Toronto are available. The former City of Toronto published a loose-leaf municipal code that can be used to locate bylaws by subject. Unfortunately, the
code is poorly indexed. Following amalgamation in 1998, this code was no longer updated even though the Toronto Community Council continues to pass bylaws, including zoning bylaws. The codification is a useful tool for identifying important bylaws. Location. Metro Hall, 55 John Street, Toronto. Phone: (416) 397-7241

Toronto City Clerk’s Office : Contact the Bylaw Clerk. Location: 2-West Tower (2nd Floor), Toronto City Hall, 100 Queen Street West. Phone: (416) 392-6665.

Former City of North York

Scott Government Reference : Council minutes have a list of passed bylaws as an appendix to each meeting. Call number: MUN YORN2 C6.5 M65 1963-1987

Urban Affairs Collection, North York Central Library : The library does not have a complete set of North York bylaws but it does have 2 binders containing a dozen of the most popular North York bylaws (e.g. parking). Call ahead to determine what bylaws are available in this unofficial codification. An updated version of Bylaw 7625, the Zoning
Bylaw, is also available at the reference desk. Bylaw 7625 is in effect until an official plan for the amalgamated city is adopted. Location: 5120 Yonge Street, 4th Floor. Phone: (416)395-5613

City Clerk’s Office, North York Civic Centre : A complete collection of former North York bylaws and those passed by the North York Community Council are available. A bylaw officer is available for assistance.Location: 5100 Yonge Street, North York. Phone: (416)395-7302

Former Cities of Etobicoke, York and Scarborough, Former
Borough of East York

The majority of bylaws for the former city of Etobicoke are found in the Etobicoke Municipal Code. Bylaws not included in the Etobicoke Municipal Code are in the Etobicoke City Council Minutes. The Etobicoke Municipal Code also includes bylaws passed by the Amalgamated Council that apply only to the municipality formerly known as Etobicoke.

York, Scarborough and East York bylaws are found in the Council Minutes. There is no Code for these former municipalities.

Created by W. Hubley, October 2000

Updated by P.Duerr, May 18, 2012