Topic
Building permits, zoning and land use
Which governments hold powers over building permits, zoning and land use, and the laws that give them those powers.
Governments covering Toronto · About Toronto
Each power below comes from a law, agreement or official page, linked under it. This page lists the powers each government holds. It does not say how they are used.
Municipal
Provincial
Changes to who holds these powers
Laws and orders, newest first, that changed what the governments covering Toronto may decide about building permits, zoning and land use.
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Limit
Ontario requires official plans and zoning to allow up to three homes per residential lot
The More Homes Built Faster Act, 2022 (Bill 23, S.O. 2022, c. 21) amended the Planning Act so that, on a parcel of urban residential land, municipal official plans and zoning by-laws may not prohibit up to three residential units (for example three in a house, or two in a house and one in an ancillary building), may not require more than one parking space for each of those units, and may not set a minimum floor area for them (Planning Act ss. 16(3) and 35.1). The Act also changed development charges, parkland requirements, site plan control and the planning role of some upper-tier municipalities.
- Applies to
- Every municipality in Ontario
No power over building permits, zoning and land use recorded
Other governments covering Toronto. We have no power over building permits, zoning and land use on record for them. If one holds such a power, tell us.
Other topics
Sources
- ontario.ca · checked Ontario statute named in the power description; section numbers only where confirmed on e-Laws/CanLII 2026-10-11. Tier: toronto For: Building regulation (Toronto City Council)
- ontario.ca · checked Ontario statute named in the power description; section numbers only where confirmed on e-Laws/CanLII 2026-10-11. Tier: toronto For: Land use planning and development (Toronto City Council)
- laws-lois.justice.gc.ca · checked Constitution Act, 1867, ss. 92, 92A, 93, 94A, 95 (Justice Laws website consolidation). For: Municipal institutions (Legislative Assembly of Ontario)
- ola.org · checked Legislative Assembly of Ontario, Bill 23 More Homes Built Faster Act, 2022: Royal Assent text (Schedule 9, Planning Act ss. 16(3), 35.1; commencement s. 25) and explanatory note; read 2026-10-12 For: Ontario requires official plans and zoning to allow up to three homes per residential lot (November 28, 2022)
- ola.org · checked Bill 23 status: Royal Assent received 28 November 2022, S.O. 2022, c. 21 For: Ontario requires official plans and zoning to allow up to three homes per residential lot (November 28, 2022)
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