By-laws are municipal laws passed or amended by Council.
You can use the by-law status registry to search for by-laws. Some by-laws are scanned and can be seen online. Some are only available in hard copy at the Archives. If you cannot find the by-law you are looking for in the registry, please contact the Archives.
Some by-laws that were passed by the former municipalities before the 1998 amalgamation are still in force. You can read more about them below.
Links in the descriptions below take you to the Archives’ online database, where you can learn more about the municipal governments that passed these by-laws.
For more information about by-laws and the municipal code, visit the Municipal Code and by-laws index page.
City of Toronto 1998-
Toronto by-laws since 1998 are not held at the Archives. These by-laws have been scanned and are accessible on the online.
Former City of Toronto 1834-1997
East York 1924-1997
Series 681; East York by-laws, 1924-1997
- 1924-1966: by-laws are numbered in one continuous series.
- 1967-1977: by-laws are numbered in a new continuous series.
- 1978-1997: by-laws are numbered by year.
- Amending or repealing by-laws are noted on the original by-law.
- Borough by-laws (1967 to 1997) are indexed by subject. There is a selected numeric index from 1924 onward. See the East York By-laws binder in the Research Hall at the Archives.
- By-laws are also available for Leaside (1913-1966).
Etobicoke 1850-1997
Series 657; Etobicoke by-laws, 1876-1997
- 1857-1875: by-laws passed in these years are found in the Council Minutes and in a chronological / numerical listing found in the Research Hall at the Archives.
- 1876-1960: by-laws are numbered in one continuous series.
- 1967-1977: by-laws are numbered in a new continuous series.
- 1978-June 1983: by-laws are numbered by year.
- July 1983-1997: by-laws are numbered by year.
- Microfilm copies of by-laws from 1876 to 1975 are available in the Research Hall.
- Chronological, numerical, subject, and street name indices covering many of Etobicoke’s by-laws are available in the Research Hall.
- Etobicoke’s Zoning Code and zoning maps, which are available on the City’s website, also provide subject access to by-laws.
- Amending or repealing by-laws are noted on the original by-law.
- By-laws also available for Mimico (1911-1966), Long Branch (1915-1966), and New Toronto (1913-1966).
Metropolitan Toronto 1953-1997
Series 899; Metro Toronto by-laws, 1953-1997
- 1953-1969: by-laws are numbered in one continuous series.
- 1970-1997: by-laws are numbered by year.
- Printed copies are found in Appendix B of the bound council minutes, which are indexed and available in the Research Hall at the Archives.
- Amending or repealing by-laws are noted on the original by-law.
North York 1922-1997
North York by-laws since 1922 are have been scanned and are accessible on the city’s website. Please check the bylaw status registry for more information.
Series 1131; North York by-laws, 1922-1997
- 1922-1997: by-laws are numbered in one continuous series.
- There are subject and numeric indexes for the by-laws in the Research Hall at the Archives.
- Amending or repealing bylaws are noted on the original by-law.
Scarborough 1850-1997
Series 672; Scarborough by-laws, 1850-1997
- Scarborough by-laws are numbered in one continuous series.
- Microfiche copies of the by-laws are available in the Research Hall at the Archives.
- There is a bound subject index to the by-laws from 1850 to 1972, but it is not comprehensive. Contact the Archives for assistance.
- Council minutes (see Series 647) also contain copies of by-laws.
- 1958-1989: the by-law appendices are indexed by subject.
- Amending and repealing by-laws ARE NOT noted on the original by-laws.
York 1850-1997
Series 668; York by-laws, 1850-1997
- 1850-1966: by-laws are numbered in one continuous series.
- 1967-June 1983: by-laws are numbered in a new continuous series.
- July 1983-1997: by-laws are numbered in a new continuous series.
- There are three printed indices covering the years 1850 to ca. 1981 relating to both York and Weston by-laws, located in the Research Hall at the Archives. For indexing after 1981 see the York Municipal Code or contact the Archives for assistance.
- By-laws are also available for Weston (1882-1966).
