Last updated: May 4, 2022 at 12:07 p.m.
The City of Toronto’s Mask Bylaw, which required business and organizations to have a masking policy for enclosed areas that are open to the general public, as well as masking in common areas of apartment buildings and condominiums, expired effective March 21, 2022, upon changes to Government of Ontario masking requirements under the Reopening Ontario Act. Toronto residents must comply with any provincial masking requirements.
The City’s COVID-19 enforcement team is responsible for ensuring compliance with public health regulations. The team is a joint effort by Municipal Licensing and Standards, Parks, Forestry and Recreation, Toronto Public Health and Toronto Police Service.
Achieving compliance with public health-related orders and regulations has been a priority for the City of Toronto as it continues to respond to the COVID-19 pandemic. Enforcement officers are on patrol across the city at all times and respond to complaints made through 311. Enforcing bylaws is a necessarily complex process that requires investigation, gathering facts and applying legal processes. On a case-by-case basis, the enforcement team works to achieve compliance through education and/or enforcement action. The City recognizes that the public have been asked to significantly adjust their behaviours as requirements and orders have changed throughout the COVID-19 response.
This data provides information based on enforcement activities for the bylaws and orders related to COVID-19. This document will be updated weekly, every Tuesday by 3 p.m.
Please note, data will be reconciled at the end of each month which may result in adjustments to the previously reported weekly figures.
Anti-Black racism is a historic, pervasive, and systemic issue in Toronto, affecting more than 400,000 individuals of African descent or origin who call Toronto home. Anti-Black racism is unacceptable in any form.
In 2020, the City became aware of two separate incidents in High Park and Centennial Park, involving Black residents and bylaw enforcement officers. More information about the investigations into the two incidents and findings are available at Investigations of High Park and Centennial Park Incidents. Both the officers in question are no longer employed by the City of Toronto.
If you feel that you were wrongly ticketed, you have the option of requesting an early resolution meeting with a prosecutor and challenging it in court. You can do this by:
All of the required Provincial Offences Act court forms are available on the City’s website. Completed forms can be emailed to POACourt@toronto.ca or mailed to the address indicated on the back of the ticket.
Once the trial date is scheduled, you will receive a notice by mail of the time and place for your trial. The Court will conduct a trial to decide whether you committed the offence that gave rise to the ticket being issued.
Amendments to Chapter 354, Apartment Buildings, which required apartment building owners and operators to implement COVID-19 measures in apartment buildings, expired on April 8, 2022.
On March 9, 2022, Toronto City Council adopted, with amendments, Item CC41.1, Response to COVID-19 – March 2022 Update to City Council. In doing so, City Council amended Bylaw 541-2020, as amended by Bylaw 664-2020, Toronto’s Mask Bylaw, so that it expired upon the Province of Ontario lifting or amending provincial masking requirements. The Mask Bylaw required business and organizations to have a masking policy for enclosed areas that are open to the general public, as well as in common areas of apartment buildings and condominiums.
The Class Order issued by the Medical Officer of Health on March 3, 2021 under Section 22 of the Health Protection and Promotion Act, was revoked on March 1, 2022.
The Class Order issued by the Medical Officer of Health on April 23, 2021, under Section 22 of the Health Protection and Promotion Act, was revoked on March 1, 2022.
The Letter of Instruction issued by the Medical Officer of Health on January 4, 2021 to all employers in the City of Toronto permitted to be open under the Reopening Ontario Act was revoked on March 1, 2022.
The Medical Officer of Health’s Letter of Instruction regarding Proof of Vaccination for Indoor Sports and Recreational Fitness Facilities issued on October 8, 2021 was revoked on March 1, 2022.
The Class Order issued by the Medical Officer of Health on September 30, 2021, under Section 22 of the Health Protection and Promotion Act, was revoked on March 1, 2022.
COVID-19 requirements for food and drink establishments in Chapter 545, Licensing, were enacted through Bylaw 665-2020 and Bylaw 847-2020 by City Council on July 28, 2020 and October 1, 2020, respectively, and revoked on July 14, 2021.
COVID-19 requirements for physical distancing in parks and public squares were enacted through Bylaw 322-2020 and Bylaw 323-2020 by Mayor Tory on April 2, 2020 and April 3, 2020, respectively and revoked on July 14, 2021.
The Class Order issued by the Medical Officer of Health on May 6, 2021, under Section 22 of the Health Protection and Promotion Act, was revoked on June 5, 2021.
The Class Order issued by the Medical Officer of Health on April 7, 2021, expired on Sunday, April 18, 2021. On April 12, 2021, the Government of Ontario, in consultation with the Chief Medical Officer of Health, made the decision to move elementary and secondary schools to remote learning.
The Class Order issued by the Medical Officer of Health on November 13, 2020, under Section 22 of the Health Protection and Promotion Act, was revoked on November 23, 2020.