Process
The City of The Toronto Municipal Code Chapter 19, Business Improvement Areas section 19-5(A) requires that a formal poll be conducted before passing a by-law to establish a new BIA. Within 30 days of receiving this Notice you are required to give a copy to each commercial and industrial tenant of the property to which the Notice relates.
Current polls:
Closed polls
Ballots
Ballots are mailed out in envelopes marked City Clerk's Office and "Ballot Enclosed".
(click on the image for a bigger view)
The envelope includes the notice (with map), the ballot and a form for adding eligible voters to the BIA poll. A person receiving Notice is entitled to submit one ballot regardless of the number of properties or businesses owned by that person within the proposed area. Ballots must be received by the Clerk by mail, courier, fax, e-mail or hand delivery by 4:30 pm of the last day of the polling period
In order for Council to pass a by-law to establish the proposed BIA a minimum of acceptable ballots must be returned; and greater than 50% of the acceptable ballots returned must be in favour of establishing the proposed BIA.
Ballots will only be accepted if they are received from owners of properties or businesses within the proposed area. If you have purchased this property within the past 12 months, acceptable proof of ownership must be submitted along with the completed ballot and the form Addition to a BIA polling list.
BIA by-law
This site is a summary of the polling process. For full details, please see the Municipal Code, Chapter 19: Business Improvement Areas (PDF).
