Limiting municipalities from regulating noise related to the delivery of goods to certain businesses

Through the Main Street Recovery Act, 2020, led by the Ministry of Economic Development, Job Creation and Trade, proposed amendments to the Municipal Act, 2001 and City of Toronto Act, 2006 would limit municipalities from regulating noise related to the delivery of goods to retail establishments, restaurants including cafes and bars, hotels and motels and goods distribution facilities, except as otherwise authorized by regulation.

The changes would also create a new regulation-making authority for the Minister of Municipal Affairs and Housing to authorize municipalities to regulate noise related to the delivery of goods to the specified businesses noted above and to prescribe conditions and limits to the exercise of those powers, including authorizing municipalities to exercise those powers in specified parts of the municipality.

A new Minister’s regulation-making authority is also proposed to further define the categories of businesses identified above.

The proposed changes, if enacted, would come into force at a later date.

If the proposed amendments to the Municipal Act, 2001 and the City of Toronto Act, 2006 are enacted, the government will be consulting broadly, including through the Environmental Registry of Ontario, prior to these changes coming into force and any associated regulations being made.

This notice was posted by the Ministry of Municipal Affairs and Housing, in conjunction with the Ministry of Economic Development, Jobs Creation and Trade.