9 Toronto by-laws you might not know you’re breaking in the city

Idling

If you’ve ever idled your car — leaving the engine running while the car isn’t in motion — in Toronto, you might have broken a by-law.

The city’s Idling Control By-law limits idling to no more than one minute in 60 minutes.

Every person who contravenes this by-law is guilty of an offence and is liable to pay a fine if convicted.

That fine could be up to $5,000!

This doesn’t apply to vehicles or boats that must remain motionless because of an emergency, traffic, weather conditions or mechanical difficulties that are out of the driver’s control.

Fireworks

Setting off fireworks in Toronto is a longstanding tradition on stat holidays but there are rules about when you can do that in the city.

With Toronto’s fireworks by-law, you can’t discharge any consumer fireworks in the city except on Victoria Day, Canada Day or any day you’ve been issued a special occasions fireworks discharge permit.

Also, on Victoria Day and Canada Day, you’re not allowed to discharge any consumer fireworks in the city after 11 p.m.

Snow and ice removal

There is a snow and ice removal by-law in Toronto that regulates when you have to clear snow and ice.

“The owner or occupant of a property must clear steps, landings, walks, driveways, parking spaces, ramps and similar areas of a yard of snow and ice within 24 hours of a snowfall,” the by-law stated.

Doing this is meant to ensure safe access for people and vehicles.

Whenever those areas become slippery again after the removal of snow and ice, the owner or occupant is required to “immediately and as often as necessary” cover the surface with salt, sand or another material.

Swearing

If you’ve ever sworn — or cursed, cussed, or any other synonym — in a park in Toronto, you probably broke a by-law without even knowing it.

That’s because there’s a by-law from the Toronto Municipal Code about where you can’t swear.

While at a park in the city, you’re not allowed to “indulge in riotous, boisterous, violent, threatening, or illegal conduct or use profane or abusive language.”

Noise

There are noise by-laws in Toronto that regulate where and when you can’t make noise

No person shall emit, cause or permit the emission of continuous amplified sound, measured with a sound level meter in an outdoor living area:

• that has a sound level exceeding 50 dB(A) or 65 dB(C) from 11 p.m. to 7 a.m. or 55 dB(A) or 70 dB(C) from 7 a.m. to 11 p.m.

Also, causing or permitting persistent noise made by an animal that you keep or use is not allowed under this by-law.

Those noises include barking, calling, whining or other similar persistent sounds.

No person shall emit, cause or permit the emission of sound from construction or the operation of construction equipment that’s audible:

• from 7 p.m. to 7 a.m. the next day — except until 9 a.m. on Saturdays
• all day on Sundays and statutory holidays

You’re not allowed to emit, cause or permit the emission of sound resulting from unnecessary vehicle noise.

That includes sounding a horn, revving an engine, squealing tires, banging, clanking, and more.

Also, you’re not allowed to make, cause or permit noise — at any time — that is unreasonable and persistent.

Every person who fails to comply with this by-law is guilty of an offence and is liable to pay a fine of no more than $100,000 if convicted.

You can apply for an exemption permit from these noise prohibition or limitation rules though.

Single-use plastics

If you own a business, there is a single-use plastics and paper by-law.

No retail business establishment operator shall provide or permit the provision of a single-use accessory food item to a customer unless:

• first asking the customer if they want a single-use accessory food item and the customer responds that they do
• first receiving a request from the customer for a single-use accessory food item
• a customer obtains a single-use accessory item from a self-serve accessory food item station

Single-use accessory food items include utensils, straws, stir sticks, spill plugs, napkins, condiment cups and packets, cup sleeves, and cup trays.

No retail business establishment operator is allowed to provide or permit the provision of a single-use paper shopping bag to a customer unless:

• first asking the customer if they want a single-use paper shopping bag and the customer responds that they do
• first receiving a request from the customer for a single-use paper shopping bag

If you fail to comply with this by-law, you’re guilty of an offence and liable to a fine of between $500 and $100,000 upon conviction.

Dog walking

Have you ever heard of Toronto’s by-law about dog walking?

Well, it regulates how many dogs you can walk at one time while at a park in the city.

According to the by-law, while in a park:

• no person shall have control of more than six dogs
• no person shall have control of more than three dogs unless authorized by a commercial dog walker permit

Smoking

You’re probably aware of Ontario laws for smoking but you might not know about a by-law from the Toronto Municipal Code about smoking in city parks.

While in a park, no person can smoke within the boundaries of and a nine-metre radius surrounding these places within a park:

• a sports field
• a playground safety surface or playground equipment
• a wading pool basin or splash pad safety zone
• a skateboard or BMX park
• a ski hill
• an outdoor swimming pool or deck
• a covered picnic shelter or gazebo
• an outdoor theatre space
• a public washroom

Also, while in a park no person is allowed to smoke:

• within any zoo or farm area
• on a swimming beach
• in a service line or waiting area

Garage sales

Did you know that there’s actually a by-law about garage sales in Toronto?

According to this by-law, “No more than two garage sales may be held in any year from a premises located in any residential zone.”

Also, a garage sale isn’t allowed to exceed two consecutive days.