A renoviction by-law will be the hot topic at Monday’s council meeting.
Council will be presented with three options on how to address renovictions in the municipality, after administration was tasked with developing a by-law framework addressing evictions for renovations at the February 9 council meeting.
The first option is maintaining the status quo. The second is a public education campaign, which would involve municipal staff tracking renoviction-related data and launching an awareness campaign at an estimated cost of $15,000, funded from the Strategic Development Reserve.
The third option is implementing the proposed Rental Renovation Licence By-law, effective October 1, 2026.
The by-law would require landlords seeking to renovate rental properties requiring vacant possession to obtain a licence at a cost of $500 per unit.
Currently, the Residential Tenancies Act (RTA) governs rental housing in Ontario. Under the Act, landlords can evict a tenant for major renovations or repairs using an N13 notice.
According to the report being presented to Council, an N13 notice is only issued when major renovations or demolition work requires a tenant to vacate the unit. The report notes that tenants are entitled to compensation and, once the work is completed, have the right to return to the unit at the same lawful rent.
The report further explains that while well-intentioned landlords who follow the legislation can achieve positive outcomes for both tenants and long-term building maintenance, there are instances where landlords do not comply with the intended process and may attempt to permanently displace tenants or re-rent the unit at a higher rent rather than allowing the tenant to return.
A Rental Renovation Licence By-law would allow the municipality to determine whether an eviction is legally valid under the RTA, while tenants are currently required to challenge eviction notices after they have been issued.
No deputations will be heard, with administration citing adequate notice and prior engagement opportunities before the June 22 meeting. Through public meetings, two “Let’s Talk C-K” surveys, and written submissions, administration notes tenants are seeking stronger protections, while landlords have raised concerns about over-regulation.
Ontario Landlords Watch has provided a policy brief to Council requesting a pause on implementation of the by-law. Kayla Andrade, the organization’s founder, argues that Ontario already has strong provincial protections against bad-faith evictions and that additional municipal licensing could negatively impact housing supply.
Alternatively, the Advocacy Centre for Tenants Ontario (ACTO) and the Association of Community Organizations for Reform Now (ACORN) have expressed support for implementing the by-law.
The report notes that approving the by-law would come with associated costs. Administration estimates implementation would require approximately $100,000 annually for licensing staff, public education, and marketing initiatives. Municipal staff also indicate that licensing fees would not fully recover program costs.
Council will also vote on directing administrative staff to pursue advocacy efforts with the province, recommending a province-wide approach to reducing renovictions.