How to tell an Act from a regulation

This page is a public educational walkthrough. It is not a retainer, a court form, or a promise about your result. For legal advice, you should contact an appropriate Lawyer or Paralegal specializing in the area of law you need assistance with.

1. An Act is the statute the legislature passed

   It has a chapter number such as S.O. 2006, c. 17.

2. A regulation is made under an Act

   It often has an O. Reg. number. The Family Law Rules are a regulation under the Courts of Justice Act.

3. Open the Act first if you need the power, the regulation if you need the procedure

   Eviction process is not only the RTA title page.

4. Use Start here and A–Z on the Ontario Legislation hub

   Featured Acts sit above obscure regulations.

5. Go to section works on both when the page has numbered provisions

   Rules sometimes use 14.1 instead of 14(1).

Official law on this site: ontario-legislation.

Disclaimer: Know The Law publishes legal information for the public, not legal advice. Court forms, fees and filing channels change. Read the official statute text and the official form page linked from this guide before you act. We do not represent you and we do not file documents for you. For legal advice, you should contact an appropriate Lawyer or Paralegal specializing in the area of law you need assistance with.