Toronto Renters Forum

Reading the City of Toronto website, it was unclear to me whether masks would still be required to be worn in residential buildings past March 21, so I e-mailed the City asking for a clarification and am happy to report that I received a definitive answer (included below).

While many medical professionals recommend that people continue to wear masks in indoor public areas to blunt the rise in cases we will see between now and June, the legal requirement to wear a mask in common areas of the building will expire on Monday.  So to be clear, masks will no longer be required.

Please note that the reply from the City indicates that other COVID-stipulations will continue to apply, such as the requirement that your landlord provides hand sanitisers and cleans high-contact surfaces daily.  Also note that masks will still be required in some other locations, such as on public transit or in hospitals, etc.

Good afternoon William,

I received your inquiry related to the Mask Bylaw from our Strategic Communications Team and wanted to follow-up regarding your question.

The City of Toronto’s Mask Bylaw (Bylaw 541-2020 as amended by Bylaw 664-2020), which requires businesses and organizations to have a masking policy for enclosed areas that are open to the general public, including for common areas of apartment buildings, will expire effective March 21, 2022. These changes coincide with changes to Government of Ontario masking requirements under the Reopening Ontario Act. Toronto residents must continue to comply with any provincial masking requirements.

Please note, the COVID-19-related amendments to Municipal Code Chapter 354: Apartments Building Bylaws, including but not limited to the need to provide hand hygiene stations or alcohol-based sanitizers, to clean frequently-touched surfaces in all open, common areas and to post Toronto Public Health signage, do not expire on March 21, 2022. Thus, these amendments will remain in effect and must continue to be followed until either they are extended by City Council or expire without extension after the conclusion of the next City Council meeting. For more information on the COVID-19-related by-law requirements, please visit COVID-19: Orders & Bylaws – City of Toronto.

Thank you,

Anastasia Demakos-Edmondson
Stakeholder Engagement Lead RentSafeTO
City of Toronto | Municipal Licensing & Standards