In Toronto, all street vendors, street performers, hawkers and pedlars need a licence to operate. Those who operate on streets or sidewalks may also need a permit. These licences and permits are regulated through three separate bylaws in Toronto: the Street Vending Bylaw, Licensing Bylaw, and Streets and Sidewalks Bylaw. In 2025, the City will be conducting a review of the street vending bylaws.
The review of the bylaws for street vending will aim to balance the needs of various stakeholders and interested parties with safety and vibrancy in the city.
The review will aim to:
As part of the review, the City will be consulting with street vendors, restaurants, businesses, relevant resident associations and business organizations, and the public through mixed consultation methods.
Virtual and in-person consultations will begin in July 2025 and will be facilitated in collaboration with a third-party firm . More details and registration information will be posted on this page soon. In July, online surveys will be available to collect feedback.
Input from the public consultations and online surveys will inform a staff report on proposed bylaw changes. The report is expected to be discussed by Committee and Toronto City Council later in 2025.
You can email streetvendingreview@toronto.ca if you have any questions or comments about the review.
In March 2025, City Council adopted recommendations for a pilot to allow non-motorized trailers to vend in mobile vending zones, with a mobile vending permit, in Ward 11, from April 1 to December 31, 2025.
In May 2018, City Council adopted amendments to remove the moratorium on portrait artist permits, exempt the requirement for portrait artist permit applicants to carry general liability insurance, allow portrait artist permit holders to vend in more areas as set out in Chapter 740-7, and reduce the annual permit fee from $468.17 to $39.73.
Municipal Licensing & Standards collects your personal email address under the legal authority of Toronto City Council Item 2025.EC18.4, as confirmed by the City of Toronto By-law 258-2025, and Toronto City Council Item 2018.LS26.2, as confirmed by the City of Toronto By-law 832-2018. [This information will be used for the administration of a new Municipal Licensing & Standards listserv to share updates, resources, engagement opportunities related to the street vending, street performers, hawkers and pedlars on streets and sidewalks.] Questions about this collection can be directed to Policy Development Officer, Policy & Strategic Support, Municipal Licensing & Standards, 100 Queen Street West, Floor 16W, Toronto, Ontario, M5H 2N2 or by telephone at 416-338-7135.