New bylaws for Toronto nightlife come into effect on 1st January 2025

A new set of bylaws for Toronto’s nightclubs and nightlife industry will come into effect on 1st January, Toronto City News reports.

According to politicians, the new laws are being introduced in an effort to help spread out Toronto’s nightlife industry from just one downtown neighbourhood to a wider area across the city.

Among the key new laws introduced are an expectation that all nightclubs be housed in non-residential buildings and only on the first floor or in the basement of said buildings. Any new venue planning to open in the city must also ensure that it is the only nightlife venue in the building housing it.

Further new laws will see business license categories renamed and an increase in the maximum number of areas that venues are permitted to use for entertainment of their attendees.

The laws have been introduced after a lengthy process of reviews of licensing and zoning regulations by Toronto City Hall, which began in 2018. City residents and nightlife industry figures were reportedly consulted for their views in the years that followed.

A significant step to the introduction of these new bylaws was taken in December 2023 when the city council allowed clubs to be opened in any commercial part of the city.

Read DJ Mag’s recent feature on Toronto’s evolving electronic music underground here.

At the start of this year, the local Montreal government revealed that it plans to introduce a 24-hour nightlife district.