The City of Toronto is conducting additional education and enforcement in residential apartment buildings and condominiums where multiple complaints have been received about people not obeying the mask bylaw in enclosed common spaces.

Since January 18, 2021, Toronto has received 1,950 complaints about improper mask usage in shared residential spaces. Of these complaints, 263 locations have received three or more complaints and 12 locations have received more than 10 complaints related to mask wearing. Seventy-five per cent of the complaints are related to residential apartment buildings and twenty-five per cent are related to condominiums.

The City’s RentSafeTO: Apartment Building Standards program’s enforcement team will be issuing letters to the landlords and property managers of each of these locations, reminding them about the requirements under the mask bylaw. The city will also follow up in-person with the landlords and property managers of the12 locations from where more than 10 complaints have been received, to examine the masking policy and documentation, ensure signage is posted throughout the building and conduct a follow-up inspection.

Implemented in August 2020, the by-law for apartments and condominiums requires building owners or operators to have a policy requiring everyone to wear a mask or face covering while in enclosed common spaces, such as elevators, hallways, lobbies, laundry rooms, and any other shared facilities. In addition, building owners are required to:

• post signage at all entrances to enclosed common areas;
• ensure that everyone working at the building has been trained in the policy and bylaw, and;
• provide a copy of the policy for inspection by city bylaw enforcement officers, if requested.