Freedom of Information (FOI) requests are formal requests for records of the City of Toronto. FOI requests should not be submitted for information that is already available on the City website, from a City division by request, or for information that is held by other governments or government agencies.
The Municipal Freedom of Information and Protection of Privacy Act (MFIPPA) establishes a general right of access to the information held by local governments and institutions. The Act also protects the privacy of individual’s personal information that are part of government records. Some limits to the right of access are described in Step 1 Before Making an FOI Request. Read through all sections before you submit an FOI request.
Important note: The City of Toronto does not process FOI requests for records of other institutions including, but not limited to, those listed below. You must contact these institutions directly to request records from them:
The following frequently requested records are not available:
You do not need an FOI request to obtain records that are already available or will be available soon.
Frequently requested information that is available through a direct request to the City division include:
A full list of routinely disclosed information is available on How to Access City Information. There may be a fee charged for some requests.
Please review all sections before submitting your request.
Requests can be submitted online or by mail. Requests can be made in person at the Registry Services counter at either City Hall or North York Civic Centre between 8:30 a.m. and 4:00 p.m.
All requests must be submitted with the non-refundable $5 application fee required under the Municipal Freedom of Information and Protection of Privacy Act. For a full listing of fees, see Fee Schedule for FOI Requests.
If you are requesting records or information that contain your own personal information or personal information via a third party with consent, proof of identity must be provided. Please note that the Ontario Health Card is not an acceptable piece of identification.
FOI requests are not accepted by fax or email.
The City’s internal “Bulk User” policy ensures that all requesters receive an equal level of service, therefore, the City will only process 5 requests per person at a time. Please do not submit more than 5 requests, otherwise, any additional requests filed will be placed on hold.
You can submit the FOI request online.
You can also download the FOI application form and mail it to our office together with a non-refundable $5.00 cheque/money order payable to the City of Toronto.
Mailing address:
City Clerk’s Office
Corporate Information Management Services
City Hall, 13th Floor (West Tower)
100 Queen Str. W.
Toronto, ON, M5H 2N2
Once your request is processed, you will receive a letter containing a decision about your FOI request, any fees owing (e.g. fees for photocopying, computer disks or search time) and how to make a payment for fees.
Requests for information held by the City of Toronto are made to the Access and Privacy Unit of the City Clerk’s Office. Decisions on access to information are subject to independent review by the Information and Privacy Commissioner, Ontario.
If you are not satisfied with the decision made by the City, you can file an appeal with the Information and Privacy Commissioner of Ontario (IPC).
An appeal must be made within 30 calendar days of receiving the decision. To file an appeal you must write to the Information and Privacy Commissioner’s office indicating you are appealing the City’s decision.
Your letter should include a copy of your original FOI request and a copy of the City’s decision letter. Forward your request for an appeal with the appropriate fee to the Commissioner’s office.
The City is responsible for protecting personal information and providing access to information under these provincial Acts.
The Municipal Freedom of Information and Protection of Privacy Act establishes a general right of access to records held by municipal government and local agencies, boards and commissions using these principles:
Ontario Reg. 823, accompanies MFIPPA and provides a list of the fees charged for processing FOI requests.
The Personal Health Information Protection Act (PHIPA) has strict rules designed to protect your personal health information in the City’s custody. The following City divisions are considered Health Information Custodians under this Act:
Contact these City divisions directly to access your personal health information.