Become a Candidate

Filing a Nomination

To become a candidate in the 2026 municipal election, you must file your nomination in person with the City Clerk. The nomination period is between May 1 and August 21, 2026.

Nominations can be filed in-person at the Toronto Elections office at City Hall (100 Queen St W, First Floor).

To file a nomination, you must provide:

• Nomination paper
• At least 25 declaration of endorsements (mayor and councillor candidates only)
• Acceptable identification
• Nomination filing fee (paid by cash, credit or debit card, certified cheque or money order, payable to ‘Treasurer, City of Toronto’)
  • The filing fee is $200 for candidates running for mayor and $100 for candidates running for councillor or school board trustee
  • Nomination fees are refunded after candidates file the required financial statement

Please note that original signatures are required on all forms.

If an agent is filing a nomination on behalf of a candidate, the agent must provide the above documents as well as their own identification.

Qualifications for Mayor & Councillor

To run for mayor or councillor you must be:

• A Canadian citizen
• At least 18 years of age
• A resident of the City of Toronto, or
• An owner or tenant of land in the City of Toronto, or the spouse of the owner or tenant
• Not legally prohibited from voting
• Not disqualified by any legislation from holding municipal office

Who cannot be a mayor or councillor candidate

The following people are disqualified from being elected as mayor or councillor:

• A judge of any court
• A member of the Provincial Legislature, the Federal House of Commons or Senate who has not resigned from their office by the close of nominations. Proof of resignation must be provided by the close of nominations
• A candidate who failed to file the necessary financial statement or exceeded the prescribed spending limit in the last municipal election or by-election

City of Toronto employees

Employees of the City of Toronto who wish to run for mayor or councillor must take an unpaid leave of absence before filing a nomination paper. Documentation proving leave of absence is required.

Qualifications for School Board Trustee

To run for any of the four school boards you must be:

• A Canadian citizen
• At least 18 years of age
• A resident in the area of jurisdiction of the board
• Not legally prohibited from voting
• Not disqualified by any legislation from holding municipal office

Who cannot be a school board trustee candidate

The following people are disqualified from being elected as a school board trustee, or from holding office on any school board:

• A clerk, treasurer, deputy-clerk or deputy-treasurer of any municipality within the area of jurisdiction of the school board except those on an unpaid leave of absence
• A member of the Provincial Legislature, the Federal House of Commons or Senate who has not resigned from their office by the close of nominations. Proof of resignation must be provided by the close of nominations
• A candidate who failed to file the necessary financial statement or exceeded the prescribed spending limit in the last municipal election or by-election

School board employees

• Employees of any school board (including supply teachers) are disqualified from being elected as school board trustee or from holding office on any school board, except during a leave of absence.
• The employee must be on a leave of absence before filing their nomination paper. Documentation proving leave of absence is required.

Types of school boards

• Toronto District School Board
• Toronto Catholic District School Board
• Conseil scolaire Viamonde
• Conseil scolaire catholique MonAvenir

Area of Jurisdiction (Where You Must Live to Run)

If you want to run for school board trustee, you must live within that school board’s area of jurisdiction.

• For the Toronto District School Board (TDSB) and the Toronto Catholic District School Board (TCDSB), the area of jurisdiction is Toronto.
• In 2022, the boundaries for Conseil scolaire Viamonde and Conseil scolaire catholique MonAvenir expanded beyond Toronto.
  • If the school board boundaries go beyond Toronto, and you want to run for a Toronto school trustee ward, you must file your nomination with the City of Toronto (City Clerk’s Office).

Acceptable Identification for Candidates

Candidates filing a nomination must present current acceptable identification (ID) showing name, qualifying Toronto address and signature. This can be one piece of ID or a combination of two pieces of ID.

One piece of ID showing name, qualifying Toronto address and signature:

• Ontario driver’s licence
• Ontario Health Card (photo card with address)
• Ontario motor vehicle permit (plate portion)
• Cancelled personalized cheque
• Mortgage, lease or rental agreement
• Insurance policy
• Loan or financial agreement with a financial institution
• Document issued or certified by a court in Ontario
• Any other document from the government of Canada, Ontario or a municipality in Ontario or from an agency of such a government
• Any document from a Band Council in Ontario established under the Indian Act (Canada)

OR

Two pieces of ID

First piece of ID showing name and signature

• Ontario driver’s licence
• Ontario Health Card
• Ontario motor vehicle permit (plate portion)
• Canadian passport
• Certificate of Canadian Citizenship
• Certificate of Indian Status
• Veterans Affairs Canada Health Card
• Social Insurance Number Card
• Old Age Security Card
• Credit card
• Debit card
• Employee Identification card
• Student Identification card issued by a post-secondary institution
• Union Identification card or professional licence card
• Cancelled personalized cheque
• Mortgage, lease or rental agreement for property in Ontario
• Insurance policy
• Document issued or certified by a court in Ontario
• Any other document issued by the government of Canada, Ontario or a municipality in Ontario or from an agency of such a government
• Any document from a Band Council in Ontario established under the Indian Act (Canada)

Second piece of ID showing name and qualifying Toronto address:

• Ontario motor vehicle permit (vehicle portion)
• Income tax assessment notice
• Child Tax Benefit Statement
• Statement of Employment Insurance Benefits Paid T4E
• Statement of Old Age Security T4A (OAS)
• Statement of Canada Pension Plan Benefits T4A (P)
• Canada Pension Plan Statement of Contributions
• Statement of Direct Deposit for Ontario Works
• Statement of Direct Deposit for Ontario Disability Support Program
• Workplace Safety and Insurance Board Statement of Benefits T5007
• Property tax assessment
• Insurance statement
• Mortgage, lease or rental statement for property in Ontario
• Credit card, bank account, RRSP, RRIF, RHOSP or T5 statement
• CNIB Card or a card from another registered charitable organization which provides services to persons with disabilities
• Hospital card or record
• Document showing campus residence issued by the office or officials responsible for student residence at a post-secondary institution
• Utility bill for hydro, water, gas, telephone or cable TV or a bill from a public utilities commission
• Cheque stub, T4 or pay receipt issued by an employer
• Transcript or report card from a post-secondary school
• Document issued or certified by a court in Ontario
• Any other document issued by the government of Canada, Ontario or a municipality in Ontario or from an agency of such a government
• Any document from a Band Council in Ontario established under the Indian Act (Canada)

Campaign Finance

When running as a candidate, you must follow campaign finance rules set out in the Municipal Elections Act, 1996. You will also be required to file a financial statement after the election that reflects the money you raised and spent on your campaign.

Some important finance rules to keep in mind include:

• You cannot raise or spend any money on your campaign until you file a nomination paper.
• You must open a bank account for your campaign if you intend to spend any money or accept any contributions.
• Individuals can only contribute a maximum of $1,200 to a candidate for councillor or school board trustee and $2,500 to a candidate for mayor.
• You must collect the full name and address of everyone who contributes money or goods/services to your campaign.
• You cannot accept contributions from corporations or trade unions.
• You must follow spending and contribution limits provided to you when you file your nomination.

Role of Elected Officials

For more information on local governance and the role of mayor and councillor, please visit the City of Toronto’s About Your Local Government webpage