RentSafeTO Colour-Coded Signs

In October 2025, City Council updated the Apartment Building Standards Bylaw to introduce colour-coded signs for RentSafeTO buildings.

Starting June 15, 2026, building owners and operators must display these colour-coded signs – green, yellow or red. The signs are designed to make building conditions more transparent and easier to understand. It provides clear, accessible information for tenants and the public, helping everyone see how buildings are performing and where improvements may be needed.

Each RentSafeTO building will be assigned a green, yellow or red sign based on its most recent building score.

These colour-coded signs will help tenants and the public better understand the conditions at apartment buildings. Tenants and members of the public can contact 311 to report missing or inaccurate signs.

The building’s score will determine the colour of the sign:

Green (85–100%)

Satisfactory

The building meets most or all City maintenance standards and has few or no violations.

 

 

 

 

Yellow (70–84%)

Needs Improvement

The building meets some City maintenance standards and may have some violations.

 

 

 

 

Red (0–69%)

Needs Significant Improvement

The building meets few City maintenance standards and may have several violations.

Important note: a red sign does not mean that a building is unsafe or uninhabitable, and it does not mean that a building is closed. Rather, a red sign means that the building meets few RentSafeTO maintenance standards and may have several violations. The City will be taking enhanced enforcement action to bring owners into compliance with RentSafeTO maintenance standards

Starting June 15, 2026, building owners and operators will be required to:

  • Post the colour-coded sign near the main entrance of each building, reflecting the most recent colour assigned to the building.
  • Replace the sign within 14 calendar days if building owners and operators are notified that their building’s colour has changed.
  • Inform tenants and prospective tenants of the colour rating that each building has received:
    • Before a lease is signed,
    • After a lease is signed,
    • Once every year.
  • Provide the building’s colour rating to anyone who requests.

The City will mail all three signs to building owners via registered mail. Building owners can expect to receive these signs by early June 2026.

To help building owners comply with these requirements, the City will be providing support and resources, especially during the early rollout.

Building conditions can change over time. If the building’s score moves into a different colour rating, building owners and operators:

  • Will be notified by email and,
  • Must post the new sign within 14 calendar days.

After that time, a bylaw enforcement officer may visit the building to confirm that the correct sign is posted. Not updating the sign may result in a ticket or charges.

To find out building scores, building owners/operators can:

Lost or damaged signs

If signs are lost or damaged, email RentSafeTO@toronto.ca to request replacement signs. There is a replacement fee, which is adjusted annually for inflation. The most current fee is listed on RentSafeTO Fees & Fines.

Targeted engagement

Targeted engagement is conducted at properties where the building score drops by 5% or more for two months in a row due to orders and notices being issued. Starting June 15, 2026 targeted engagement will also be conducted when a building has a red sign for two months in a row.

Requesting a building re-evaluation

Currently, a re-evaluation may be requested within 15 days of a building evaluation, if building owners and operators believe that their building score does not reflect current conditions.

Starting June 15, 2026:

  • Re‑evaluations can be requested at any time during the year, even if the building was not evaluated that year.
  • A re-evaluation can provide a more up-to-date building score to reflect improvements made over time.
  • A re‑evaluation fee applies, and the fee is listed on RentSafeTO Fees & Fines.

Building audits

Currently, only proactive evaluation scores are used to determine which buildings are audited.

Starting June 15, 2026, both proactive evaluation and reactive scores will be used. Buildings with scores in the lowest 2.5% of all evaluated buildings that year will be prioritized for audit.

This change helps the City focus on buildings with the greatest risks and/or ongoing issues.

In May 2026, RentSafeTO staff will be visiting libraries and community centres across the city to connect with residents and share information about upcoming program changes.

These pop up information kiosks will give tenants and community members an opportunity to learn about the new colour coded signage. Sample signs will be available for residents to view and staff will be available to explain:

  • what the new signs mean
  • how they support building safety and maintenance standards
  • how residents can use them to stay informed about the condition of their rental buildings

Information kiosks will be set up on the following dates & locations:

Toronto Public Library Barbara Frum Branch

Saturday May 2, 2026 (9:30 a.m. to 1 p.m.)

Meeting Room A

20 Covington Rd, North York

Toronto Public Library – Davenport Branch

Tuesday May 5, 2026 (3:30 to 7 p.m.)

Meeting Room

1246 Shaw St, Toronto

Toronto Public Library – Richview Branch Library

Monday May 11, 2026 (4 to 7:30 p.m.)

Meeting Room B

1806 Islington Ave., Etobicoke

Toronto Public Library – Scarborough Civic Centre Branch

Wednesday May 13, 2026 (4 to 7:30 p.m.)

Meeting Room 156

Borough Dr, Scarborough

Toronto Public Library – Bloor/Gladstone Branch

Wednesday May 20, 2026 (9:30 a.m. to 1 p.m.)

Auditorium

1101 Bloor St W, Toronto

Toronto Public Library – Wychwood Branch

Wednesday May 20, 2026 (4 to 7:30 p.m.)

Meeting Room

1431 Bathurst St, Toronto

Wellesley Community Center

Tuesday May 26, 2026 (5 to 8:30 p.m.)

Multipurpose Room 5

495 Sherbourne St, Toronto

Toronto Public Library – York Woods Branch

Tuesday June 2, 2026 (5 to 8 p.m.)

Program Room

1785 Finch Ave W, North York