Know The Law

Legal Library Category

Municipal & Local Government

Municipal & Local Government holds major-city by-laws and the provincial statutes that give Ontario municipalities their powers, including the Municipal Act, 2001.

How to find a city by-law is in the Municipal learning pages.

378Legal references
378Official sources tracked
2Jurisdictions

Find your city

Check by-laws for the city you live in

Know The Law keeps municipal by-laws and local rules to major cities and regions. Type your city, or choose it below. Smaller municipalities stay out of this list on purpose so the library does not turn into an unmaintainable catalogue of every township.

TorontoOntario OttawaOntario MississaugaOntario BramptonOntario HamiltonOntario LondonOntario MarkhamOntario VaughanOntario KitchenerOntario WindsorOntario Richmond HillOntario OakvilleOntario BurlingtonOntario MiltonOntario Halton HillsOntario Greater SudburyOntario OshawaOntario BarrieOntario CambridgeOntario St. CatharinesOntario GuelphOntario KingstonOntario WhitbyOntario Thunder BayOntario WaterlooOntario AjaxOntario BrantfordOntario PickeringOntario Niagara FallsOntario NewmarketOntario PeterboroughOntario Sault Ste. MarieOntario SarniaOntario WellandOntario BellevilleOntario North BayOntario AuroraOntario Halton RegionOntario Peel RegionOntario York RegionOntario Durham RegionOntario Niagara RegionOntario Waterloo RegionOntario MontrealQuebec CalgaryAlberta EdmontonAlberta WinnipegManitoba VancouverBritish Columbia HalifaxNova Scotia

Just added

Recently added in this area

Canada Deposit Insurance Corporation Resolution Planning By-lawNovember 4, 2026 Canada Deposit Insurance Corporation Resolution Planning By-lawNovember 4, 2026 Rules of the Municipal CourtsNovember 3, 2026 Canada Deposit Insurance Corporation Differential Premiums By-lawOctober 27, 2026 Canada Deposit Insurance Corporation Differential Premiums By-lawOctober 27, 2026 Town of Jasper Streetworks Taxes RegulationsOctober 25, 2026 Interest Payable on Certain Deposits By-LawOctober 14, 2026 Canada Deposit Insurance Corporation Deposit Insurance Policy By-lawOctober 11, 2026 Canada Deposit Insurance Corporation Deposit Insurance Policy By-lawOctober 11, 2026 Victoria Jubilee Bridge Traffic By-lawSeptember 28, 2026 Traditional Municipal Taxes, Limits and CollectionSeptember 28, 2026 Town of Jasper Zoning RegulationsSeptember 27, 2026

Primary law & references

Legislation, rules & legal resources

378 items

Acts and primary rules

Regulations and other instruments

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Toronto Tax Sales Rules

CitationO. Reg. 579/06 JurisdictionOntario Local relevanceToronto Government text current to2026-11-02

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Administrative Penalties

CitationO. Reg. 611/06 JurisdictionOntario Local relevanceToronto Government text current to2026-10-29

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Administrative Penalties

CitationO. Reg. 333/07 JurisdictionOntario Government text current to2026-10-29

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Administrative Penalties

CitationO. Reg. 260/25 JurisdictionOntario Government text current to2026-10-30

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Assets and Liabilities

CitationO. Reg. 143/01 JurisdictionOntario Local relevanceGreater Sudbury Government text current to2026-10-29

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Assets and Liabilities

CitationO. Reg. 144/01 JurisdictionOntario Local relevanceHamilton Government text current to2026-10-29

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Assets and Liabilities

CitationO. Reg. 267/01 JurisdictionOntario Local relevanceKawartha Lakes Government text current to2026-10-29

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Bank Loans

CitationO. Reg. 276/02 JurisdictionOntario Government text current to2026-10-29

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Budget Matters - Expenses

CitationO. Reg. 284/09 JurisdictionOntario Government text current to2026-10-29

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Budget Matters - Expenses

CitationO. Reg. 286/09 JurisdictionOntario Local relevanceToronto Government text current to2026-10-29

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City Services Corporations

CitationO. Reg. 609/06 JurisdictionOntario Local relevanceToronto Government text current to2026-10-29

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Construction Financing

CitationO. Reg. 278/02 JurisdictionOntario Government text current to2026-10-29

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Deemed Municipalities

CitationO. Reg. 412/03 JurisdictionOntario Government text current to2026-10-29

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Financial Activities

CitationO. Reg. 610/06 JurisdictionOntario Local relevanceToronto Government text current to2026-11-02

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Institutions

CitationO. Reg. 372/91 JurisdictionOntario Government text current to2026-11-02

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Licensing Powers

CitationO. Reg. 590/06 JurisdictionOntario Local relevanceToronto Government text current to2026-10-29

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Local Boards

CitationO. Reg. 114/15 JurisdictionOntario Government text current to2026-10-29

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Minor Restructuring

CitationO. Reg. 592/06 JurisdictionOntario Local relevanceToronto Government text current to2026-10-29

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Property Tax Bills

CitationO. Reg. 122/07 JurisdictionOntario Local relevanceToronto Government text current to2026-10-29

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Provincial Priorities

CitationO. Reg. 580/22 JurisdictionOntario Government text current to2026-10-30

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Provincial Priorities

CitationO. Reg. 582/22 JurisdictionOntario Local relevanceToronto Government text current to2026-10-30

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Restructuring Proposals

CitationO. Reg. 216/96 JurisdictionOntario Government text current to2026-11-02

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Tax Ratios - City of Owen Sound

CitationO. Reg. 311/01 JurisdictionOntario Local relevanceOwen Sound Government text current to2026-10-29

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Tax Related Matters

CitationO. Reg. 406/98 JurisdictionOntario Government text current to2026-10-29

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Transient Accommodation Tax

CitationO. Reg. 436/17 JurisdictionOntario Local relevanceToronto Government text current to2026-10-29

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Transition Board

CitationO. Reg. 12/00 JurisdictionOntario Local relevanceHaldimand Government text current to2026-10-29

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Transition Board

CitationO. Reg. 11/00 JurisdictionOntario Local relevanceOttawa Government text current to2026-10-29

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Transition Board

CitationO. Reg. 10/00 JurisdictionOntario Local relevanceHamilton Government text current to2026-10-29

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Transition Board

CitationO. Reg. 9/00 JurisdictionOntario Local relevanceGreater Sudbury Government text current to2026-10-29

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Transition Board

CitationO. Reg. 187/23 JurisdictionOntario Local relevanceMississauga Government text current to2026-10-30

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Transition Matters

CitationO. Reg. 589/00 JurisdictionOntario Local relevanceGreater Sudbury Government text current to2026-10-29

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Transition Matters

CitationO. Reg. 591/00 JurisdictionOntario Local relevanceHaldimand Government text current to2026-10-29

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Transition Matters

CitationO. Reg. 592/00 JurisdictionOntario Local relevanceNorfolk Government text current to2026-10-29

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Transition Matters

CitationO. Reg. 594/00 JurisdictionOntario Local relevanceOttawa Government text current to2026-10-29

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Transition Matters

CitationO. Reg. 596/00 JurisdictionOntario Local relevanceHamilton Government text current to2026-10-29

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Ward Descriptions

CitationO. Reg. 96/00 JurisdictionOntario Local relevanceGreater Sudbury Government text current to2026-10-29

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Ward Descriptions

CitationO. Reg. 407/00 JurisdictionOntario Local relevanceOttawa Government text current to2026-10-29

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Wards

CitationO. Reg. 448/00 JurisdictionOntario Local relevanceHamilton Government text current to2026-10-29

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Wards

CitationO. Reg. 408/18 JurisdictionOntario Local relevanceToronto Government text current to2026-10-30

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About this area

Understanding Municipal & Local Government

Understanding Municipal & Local Government in Ontario

Municipal law is where provincial legislation and local decision-making meet. Ontario municipalities exercise powers given to them by provincial law, and those powers are carried out through municipal councils, local boards, administrative decisions and municipal by-laws.

When researching a local legal issue, it is important to identify both the provincial authority that permits municipal action and the specific municipal by-law, policy, permit, order or decision that applies. The exact rules can differ from one municipality to another even when the underlying provincial framework is the same.

Municipal Powers and By-laws

Municipal councils may pass by-laws only within authority provided by legislation. Depending on the subject and municipality, local by-laws can regulate matters such as property use, public places, parking and traffic, business activity, licensing, local services and community standards.

A local rule should therefore be read together with its enabling legislation. The wording of the by-law, the scope of the municipality's statutory authority and the procedure used to enact or apply the rule can all matter.

By-law Enforcement

Municipal enforcement can involve inspections, notices, compliance or remedial orders, administrative penalties where authorized, or proceedings under Ontario's provincial-offences system. The available enforcement tool and any review or appeal route depend on the legislation and by-law involved.

For a particular charge, order or penalty, start with the document you received. It will usually identify the municipality, the by-law or statutory provision, the alleged contravention and the next procedural step.

Planning, Zoning and Development

Land-use regulation combines a provincial statutory framework with municipal planning instruments such as official plans and zoning by-laws. A development, rezoning, variance or other land-use matter may involve municipal applications, notice requirements, public processes, conditions and review or appeal mechanisms established by law.

Because planning rules are property-specific, the applicable zoning, official-plan designation and current municipal decisions should be checked for the property in question.

Building Permits and Property Standards

Building regulation and municipal property standards are related but distinct areas. Building permits and code compliance govern construction and alterations, while local property-standards regimes may address the maintenance and condition of buildings and land.

Municipalities may use inspections and statutory or by-law enforcement processes where authorized. Orders and other enforcement documents should be reviewed carefully for deadlines, compliance requirements and any available appeal or review process.

Licensing and Local Regulation

Municipalities may regulate and license certain businesses, trades, activities or uses where legislation gives them that authority. Requirements can vary significantly by municipality, so a business or activity that is permitted in one community may be subject to different licensing, zoning or operational rules in another.

Access to Municipal Records

Ontario law provides a framework for access to records held by municipal institutions while also protecting privacy and other interests recognized by statute. Some municipal information is published routinely; other records may require a formal access request and may be subject to statutory exemptions.

Using the Legal Resources Below

The resources below connect this topic to legislation and other legal-reference material tracked by Know The Law. Where instruments have similar or identical titles, use the official citation and source information to distinguish the correct law rather than relying on title alone.