The Investigation Services unit of the Municipal Licensing and Standards (MLS) Division enforces provisions of the Toronto Municipal Code:
- to ensure that business license holders and permit recipients operate in accordance with conditions of permits and licenses;
- to ensure properties are maintained at standards that stall the decay of neighborhoods and increase the quality of life in the City; and
- to ensure that specific safety concerns and emergencies within the authority of the Municipal Code are addressed in a timely manner.
Investigation Services inspects and investigates private property and the public right-of-way, as well as municipally licensed and permitted businesses and premises to ensure compliance with Acts, by-laws and regulations in order to maintain a high level of public safety, neighbourhood integrity and cleanliness, and consumer protection.
Investigation Services is comprised of district-based teams, a licensing enforcement team dealing with mobile business licence investigations and a waste enforcement team.
For more information, please see our Frequently Asked Questions.
Reporting an Incident and/or Requesting an Investigation
Read below and then click here to report an incident or share compliments, complaints or feedback.
When requesting an investigation it is helpful to provide as much information as possible to facilitate conclusive and timely responses by our officers.
If the concern relates to a privately owned property, providing the address is essential. Where no address is available, a description of the location with landmarks (such as nearby intersections) may be helpful. For concerns relating to apartment buildings visit our Apartment Standards web site for additional information.
If the concern relates to limousines, taxicabs, pedicabs or tow trucks the number of the vehicle would be essential. Licence plate numbers, operator's name, make of vehicle and a description of the operator may be helpful.
Every situation is unique and therefore the time needed to gain compliance will vary. In cases where a property owner does not comply in a reasonable time, our officers will issue Notices of Violation, Orders to Comply, Emergency Orders and lay charges as warranted by the situation. Priority is given to those situations where there is a threat to public safety.
Due to freedom of information issues each officer is required to make the best efforts to ensure that the privacy of individuals is maintained during an investigation. This will often affect the amount of information that can be communicated and the details that can be provided during an investigation.
Municipal Code Enforced by Investigation Services
Investigation Services is responsible for enforcement of the Toronto Municipal Code listed here. Click here to read a summary of these chapters or view the Municipal Code chapters below:
Bylaw Compliance Program
The bylaw compliance program responds to complaints and initiates proactive prevention through a range of approaches including inspections, alternative dispute resolution, education and, if necessary, enforcement, prosecution and other legal proceedings.
