If you are planning to temporarily close the street fully or partially to occupy a curblane, sidewalk or boulevard for a race, run, walk or festival, you must apply for a Street Closure Permit.

 

Please be advised that EventPal is no longer active. All permit applications should be directed to the appropriate division.  Should you have any questions, please call the event support line at 416-395-0490

The Street Closure Permit gives you permission to have the street closed to vehicular traffic for up to four days as long as local access for residents and emergency vehicles is maintained while you hold your event, in accordance with City of Toronto Municipal Code Chapter 743, Use of Streets and Sidewalks.

A report is required to be submitted to Community Council for City Council’s approval under the following conditions:

  • Motor vehicle race on the road;
  • road is closed for more than four days;
  • event requires the closure of an expressway; and
  • there is an irresolvable objection.

You can also apply for a Street Event permit in person by completing the Street Event Application form and submitting it to a Right-of-Way Management District office in your ward.

Anyone can apply to temporarily close a City street, sidewalk or boulevard for an event; however, it is best if the application is submitted by a person holding a responsible position in the organization sponsoring the event who is informed about all of the activities taking place during the event.

Once you decide to close the street for the event, you must advise the City of Toronto of your proposal at least:

  • eight weeks prior to the first day of the proposed closure on any boulevard and on any local road
  • 12 weeks prior to the first day of the proposed closure on a collector road
  • 16 weeks prior to the first day of the proposed closure on an arterial road
  • 52 weeks prior to the first day of the proposed closure on an expressway

The above ensures sufficient time to work out details ensuring the safety of everyone who will be participating in the event, community notification, and City Council approval, if required.

For definitions of road types (local road, collectors road, minor arterial road, major arterial road and expressways) see the City’s Road Classification System and Street Lists.

You can pay the permit fee by cash or cheque or money order payable to the Treasurer, City of Toronto. We also accept Debit, Visa, MasterCard or American Express.

Fee Category Category Definition Examples of Events Per Application Fees Permit Fees per event
Motor Vehicle Races Full or partial road closures/occupation for a motor vehicle race. Honda Indy Toronto $644.81 + HST $12,896.24 + HST
Signature Events Street events which require full or partial road closures/occupation of a Major Arterial, Minor Arterial and Collector roads for two (2) or more consecutive days to a max. four (4) days. Fashion Week, Pride, TD Toronto Jazz Festival (Yorkville),Ukrainian Festival, Nuit Blanche $257.95 + HST $3,224.06 + HST
One (1) Day Events Street events which require full or partial road closures/occupations of Major Arterial, Minor Arterial and Collector roads for one (1) day. Open Streets, St. Patrick’s Day Parade, Toronto Caribbean Carnival, Santa Claus Parades; Easter Parades, Youth Day $128.98 + HST $644.81 + HST
Athletic Events Full or partial road closure/occupation of Expressway, Major Arterial, Minor Arterial and Collector roads for an athletic event. Max. four (4) days. Sporting Life 10K; Marathons; Bike for Brain; Women’s, College Hospital Run; Bum Run $257.95 + HST $4,513.69 + HST
Local Street and Community Events Street events which require full or partial road closures/occupations held on Local roads. Max. four (4) days. Block Parties; school events; smaller BIA events on Local Roads $32.24 + HST $107.17 + HST
Sidewalk, Boulevard and/or Curb Lane Closure of the boulevard, sidewalk and/or curb lane for the purpose of an event or staging required in preparation of an event. Max. four (4) days. Sidewalk Sales, Red Carpet Events, queueing, staging for events $128.98 + HST $386.89 + HST
Farmers’ Market Permission to use the street or part of it for the purpose of staging a park-based farmers’ market, not for use on personal vehicles. Sorauren Park, Withrow Park, Trinity Bellwoods $139.39 + HST n/a
Christmas Decorations Permission to install or sell Christmas decorations on the public right of way $114.05 + HST n/a
Removal, storage and release of an installation or structure The removal, storage + release of an installation to be paid before release $501.14+ HST n/a

 

Business Improvement Applicants Only

Fee Category Category Definition Examples of Events Per Application Fees Permit Fees per event
BIA Signature Events with attendance of more than 100,000 Business Improvement Area applicants only: Street events which require full or partial road closures/occupation of Major Arterial, Minor Arterial and Collector roads for two (2) or more consecutive days to a max. four (4) days. Taste of the Danforth; Taste of Kingsway, Taste of Little Italy; Salsa On St. Clair; Taste of Manila, Chinatown Festival; Polish Festival $244.04 + HST  

$1,525.27 + HST

BIA Signature Events with attendance of 100,000 or less Business Improvement Area applicants only: Street events which require full or partial road closures/occupation of Major Arterial, Minor Arterial and Collector roads for two (2) or more consecutive days to a max. four (4) days. Taste of Lawrence; Big On Bloor; Cabbagetown Festival $244.04 + HST $762.63 + HST
BIA One (1) Day Events Business Improvement Area applicants only: a reoccurring Street Event which requires full or partial road closures/occupations of Major Arterial, Minor Arterial and Collector roads for one (1) day up to four (4) separate days. Event maximum cannot exceed four (4) separate days. Kensington Market Pedestrian Sundays; Pape Summerfest; Thrill of the Grill; Leslieville Beerfest $122.02 +HST $305.07 + HST
BIA Sidewalk, Boulevard and/or Curblane Businesses within and/or Business Improvement Area applicants only: closure of the boulevard, sidewalk and/or curb lane for the purpose of an event, sidewalk sale or staging required in preparation of an event. (Per day) Sidewalk Sales, Red Carpet Events, queueing, staging for events $31.41 + HST $125.60 + HST (per day)

 

All fees are subject to an annual inflationary increase based on the City’s User Fee Policy and change without prior notice. If the City grants permission to temporarily close the road, the applicant will be responsible for the costs associated in carrying out the following items:

  • pay the permit fee
  • pay the application fee for the Noise By-law Exemption request; if applicable
  • hire a police officer(s) or security personnel; if applicable
  • arrange for barricades, road closed signs and any other appropriate traffic signs, or traffic cones for the event and traffic management plan
  • pay for the loss of revenue incurred from the bagging of the parking meters/machine; if applicable
  • pay for additional costs incurred by the City
  • hire a private garbage collection company or arrange for volunteers to collect and remove garbage accumulated during and after the event
  • provide a Certificate of Insurance to the City
  • arrange for equipment (i.e. tents, stages, etc) associated with the event and obtain the appropriate building permit
  • pay the costs associated with the re-routing of TTC Services; if applicable

If you are planning to serve food, you must comply with the regulations outlined by Public Health.

In some cases, the event organizer is responsible for providing washroom facilities (i.e. portable toilets) on site for their event.

If alcoholic beverages are to be served at the event, the event organizer must obtain a permit from the Alcohol and Gaming Commission of Ontario (AGCO).  If you are unsure about the type of licence you require, contact the Alcohol and Gaming Commission of Ontario.  To request the City of Toronto write a letter of municipal significance/non-objection to the AGCO for your event, please visit www.toronto.ca/liquorlicence to download an application form.  If you have any questions, please email liquorlicence@toronto.ca or call the City Clerk’s Office at 416-392-7036.

If you are planning on installing a tent on the road that is erected more than three metres from other structures and occupies a total area of not more than 60 m³ (646 sq.ft.), a building permit is not required. If the size of the tent exceeds an area of 60 m³ (646 sq. ft.), you must obtain a Building Permit from the Permit Services Section of Toronto Building Division.

Provide a Certificate of Insurance which provides third party, bodily injury and property damage liability, having a minimum coverage of $2 million per occurrence. Policy must be written with an insurer that is licensed in the Province of Ontario and will include the City as an additional insured, a cross-liability/severability of interest clause and the insurer shall provide the City with 30 days’ notice in the event that the policy is cancelled.

Submit a Waste Management Plan for collecting, recycling, removing, restoring garbage, litter and debris.

If heating generators are to be used in connection with the tent, please ensure detailed information is provided along with the type of fuel used to operate the generator. If generators are to be used during the event, please ensure they are silent generators.

If there is live or amplified music at the event, please ensure that all music ceases at 11:00 p.m. as a courtesy to your neighbours. A Noise By-law Exemption may be required from Municipal Licensing and Standards.

Once the event is over, please ensure that all debris accumulated during the road closure is collected and removed prior to the street being re-opened to vehicular traffic.

The application for a road closure can be denied if an objection cannot be resolved under the following situations:

  • outstanding fees
  • where a prior Street Event Permit has been applied for or issued for a full street closure within same road within the same Ward and in the same calendar month, unless written approval is received from the Ward Councillor
  • new applicant requests for an event in a traditional location(s) at a traditional time(s) historically occupied by a longstanding major event or organizer.  The longstanding major event has 10 business days after being notified to request their location, then the initial request is denied
  • does not comply with the requirements of the Municipal Code Chapter 743
  • a written objection is received and the objection is valid and irresolvable

The applicant has the right to appeal the refusal of the application by writing to Community Council.