As of March 31, 2024, all multi-tenant (rooming) house operators require a licence. Multi-tenant houses are permitted across all of Toronto and a new Multi-Tenant Houses Licensing Bylaw has introduced consistent standards and regulatory oversight to protect the safety of tenants and respond to neighbourhood concerns. City staff will provide ongoing guidance to operators and sufficient time for them to come into compliance with the new rules. The City will not seek to close existing multi-tenant houses unless an immediate health and safety risk is identified.
As per the City’s bylaw:
Under the Ontario Fire Code, a rooming house has more than four occupants and in these cases the operator must submit a Fire Safety Plan (in addition to other documents required for a licence) to the City.
The following are not multi-tenant houses under the bylaw:
Personal care multi-tenant houses are where meals and services are provided to residents to care for their personal needs and health. Personal care multi-tenant houses must meet additional operating requirements and occupancy standards, such as staffing, meal plans, sanitary conditions, prescription management and more.
Find out more about personal care requirements in the Operator’s Guide.
Multi-tenant houses must be operated according to the Multi-Tenant Houses Bylaw. Operators must comply with enhanced licensing requirements that promote health and safety and new standards for personal care multi-tenant houses. Under the new rules, all operators need a licence and are required to develop property maintenance plans, including processes for tenant service requests, pest management and waste management and collection, to help improve property maintenance standards and ensure that tenant requests are addressed in a timely fashion. Operators also need to comply with the Ontario Building Code, Ontario Fire Code and Ontario Electrical Safety Code and continue to meet their obligations to tenants under the Residential Tenancies Act.
You must:
In addition to requirements established by the City, operators are reminded they must continue to comply with all their obligations as outlined in the Residential Tenancies Act. Find more information about landlord & operator responsibilities.
If you do not comply with the bylaw, you are guilty of an offence and, on conviction, may be fined up to a maximum of $100,000. Violations of other bylaws or legislation may also result in different offences and penalties.
There are two types of licences for multi-tenant house operators:
All operators must provide details about the multi-tenant house and submit the following:
In addition to the above, operators applying for a Type B (personal care) licence must also submit:
Designated Person-in-Charge applying for a Type B (personal care) licence must submit:
Before you can apply for a multi-tenant house licence, as a new operator you will need to undergo a zoning review to show that the property meets the requirements below. If the property complies with zoning requirements, you will get a Zoning Applicable Law Certificate. If the property does not comply, for example if you exceed the maximum number of rooms allowed, you may have to obtain the approval of the Committee of Adjustment for a minor variance.
Once you have received an approved Zoning Certificate, you may need to apply online for a Building Permit. A building permit is also required when changing the use of a building (e.g., single dwelling unit house to multi-dwelling unit house); even if no construction is proposed.
A building permit is required for the construction and/or demolition of a new building, an addition, or material alteration of any building or structure.
Under the Ontario Fire Code, if a multi-tenant house has more than four tenants, the operator must submit a Fire Safety Plan to the City at tfs_plans@toronto.ca. Once the plan is approved, Toronto Fire Services will inspect the property.
*Toronto Community Housing and other non-profit social housing providers are exempt from fees.
Once the licence application and licence fee payment are received, the City will conduct inspections of the multi-tenant house. If all criteria are met, your licence will be issued. If one or more clearances are not met, the City will inform the operator via written notice and may refer your application to the Multi-Tenant House Licensing Tribunal.
Note: If you decide you no longer want to operate your multi-tenant house, you will need to take a series of steps to notify the City and your tenants to minimize the impact.
Register your intent to apply.
Ensure the house meets zoning requirements. If required, zoning adjustments may be made through the Committee of Adjustments.
A building permit is required when changing a single dwelling unit house to multi-dwelling unit house; even if no construction is proposed. Toronto Building will schedule an inspection.
Fire Services will schedule an inspection.
Login to portal. If required, payment should be submitted with application.
Will be scheduled with Municipal Licensing & Services (and Fire Services if occupancy of more than four).
Download the Multi-Tenant (Rooming) Houses: Operator’s Guide for more information on how to apply.
Find templates and resources to help with operator and application requirements.
Licences must be renewed annually. A renewal notice will be sent to you about three months in advance of the renewal date. The licence renewal application follows the same process as an initial application.
A licence can be refused, revoked or suspended if an owner:
The Multi-Tenant House Licensing Tribunal is an independent quasi-judicial body consisting of locally appointed members who will make decisions about multi-tenant house applications and licences that are appealed or referred to the Tribunal.
The Tribunal has the authority to:
The Tribunal does not address issues between landlords and tenants. Issues between multi-tenant house landlords and tenants may be referred to the Landlord-Tenant Board.
Find out more about filing an appeal, hearings and the Tribunal.