Property Standards
Sets the minimum maintenance and occupancy standards for all property in Toronto — structural safety, exterior and interior condition, yards, and basic habitability for both homes and commercial buildings.
This chapter is complex. This page summarizes common resident-facing requirements only. Always review the official bylaw for complete requirements.
Plain-English Overview
Chapter 629 sets the minimum maintenance and occupancy standards for property in Toronto — covering structural safety, the exterior and interior condition of buildings, yards, and basic habitability for both rental and owner-occupied homes. It is a large, detailed chapter; the page below highlights common resident-facing topics rather than every section.
Who it applies to: All property owners and occupants in Toronto — residential and commercial.
Top Practical Requirements
Maintain the building exterior
Chapter 629 (property maintenance / exterior provisions)Exterior elements — walls, roofs, eavestroughs, downpipes, cladding, and trim — must be kept in good repair and weather-tight.
Compliance looks like
Repairing damaged siding and a leaking eavestrough.
May be a concern
Rotting cladding, holes in the wall, or a roof in disrepair.
Keep structural and safety elements sound
Chapter 629 (structural / guards and stairs provisions)Stairs, porches, decks, railings, and guards must be safe and in good repair, and the building must be structurally sound.
Compliance looks like
Fixing a wobbly stair railing or a broken porch step.
May be a concern
A loose guardrail or unsafe, collapsing stairs.
Weather-tight windows and doors
Chapter 629 (windows and doors provisions)Windows and doors must be maintained so they are weather-tight and secure.
Compliance looks like
Replacing a broken window and repairing a non-closing door.
May be a concern
Broken windows or doors that won't close or lock.
Yards and minimum standards
Chapter 629 (yards and minimum standards provisions)Yards must be kept free of unsafe accumulations, and rental units must meet minimum standards for habitability (pests, plumbing, etc.). Heat is addressed in Chapter 497.
Compliance looks like
Clearing unsafe debris and addressing a pest problem in a rental.
May be a concern
Unsafe accumulations in the yard or an untreated pest infestation.
Practical Compliance Guide
- 1
Keep up exterior repairs
Address roof, wall, eavestrough, window, and door issues before they worsen.
- 2
Fix safety hazards first
Prioritize stairs, railings, and guards so no one is at risk of a fall.
- 3
Tenants: report and document
If you rent, report maintenance problems to your landlord in writing and keep dated photos.
Serious structural or safety hazards should be raised promptly.
- 4
Escalate to 311 if needed
If standards aren't being met, you can submit a property standards service request to the City.
Common Questions
My landlord won't fix a broken stair railing — what can I do?
Property standards generally require stairs and railings to be safe and in good repair. Report it to your landlord in writing; if it isn't fixed, you can submit a property standards request to the City.
Reference: Chapter 629 (structural/guards provisions)
Document the hazard with dated photos and contact 311.
Is peeling paint or damaged siding a property standards issue?
Exterior surfaces generally must be maintained in good repair, so deteriorated cladding or extensive peeling may be a property standards concern.
Reference: Chapter 629 (exterior provisions)
Photograph the area and, for a rental, notify the owner; otherwise report to 311.
Who is responsible for maintaining the exterior of a rental building?
The property owner is generally responsible for maintaining the building to minimum property standards.
Raise it with the owner; escalate to 311 if not addressed.
What This Chapter Generally Covers
- Maintenance of exterior walls, roofs, eavestroughs, and downpipes
- Safe stairs, porches, decks, railings, and guards
- Weather-tight windows and doors
- Yard upkeep and removal of unsafe accumulations
- Minimum standards for rental and owner-occupied dwellings
Common Examples
- Damaged or deteriorated exterior cladding
- Broken windows or doors
- Defective eavestroughs and downpipes
- Unsafe stairs, porches, or railings
- Peeling paint exposing bare wood
Related Topics
This page summarizes Toronto Municipal Code Chapter 629, Property Standards in plain language for general reference only — it is not legal advice. Always confirm the exact requirement, wording, and any exemptions in the official chapter or with the City of Toronto. This is a large chapter — only common topics are summarized; review the official chapter for complete requirements.
Last reviewed: 2026-06-14
Information on this page is summarized for general reference only and is not legal advice. Always confirm the official requirement using the City of Toronto Municipal Code or other official City sources.