Frequently Asked Questions

Here is a brief guide to some frequently-used City Services. …

“My garbage has not been picked up.  Who do I call?”

Green bin, garbage bins, recycling and yard waste must be put out no later than 7 am on the day of collection. You can have 6 cans/bins/bulky items per household with a maximum weight of 44 lbs per bag/bin/item.  If your garbage/recycling pick up were missed or if you have a large item (i.e. a couch) that needs to be picked up, call 416.338.2010 to arrange for a special pick up.

“My Landlord won’t repair/maintain my unit or building.  Repairs won’t get done even though I have asked for them. What can I do?”

If you haven’t contacted your landlord directly, you should do that first.

If you don’t get a reasonable response or action, you should call Municipal Licensing and Standards at 416.392.0856 and request an inspection.  The inspector can issue a work order that can be followed up with fines or court action if the work is not completed.

“My street is a mess! How can I get it cleaned?”

Councillor Perks and Mayor Miller are working to make our streets clean again, and you can help!

The next time you see a “litter hot spot,” such as an overflowing bin or basket, or an unusually dirty street or sidewalk, please call 39-CLEAN (392-5326) to report it.  39-CLEAN is a special call-in line that’s fast, convenient, and easy to use. It allows you to alert City of Toronto staff to send a clean-up crew to address the problem.

“My neighbour’s property is a mess. Can the City make him or her clean it up?”

The City’s Property Standards By-laws say that all homes must meet minimum standards for safety and tidiness. For instance, weeds and grass must be kept clipped, and garbage and debris must be contained.

If a homeowner does not properly maintain his or her property, the City will send a Property Standards Investigator to the home to identify bylaw infractions. The homeowner will be sent a notice requiring them to make the necessary repairs by a set date. If the homeowner doesn’t comply, the City may take them to court. Other common by-law infractions include missing or broken windows and doors and dilapidated cars being stored on the property.

If you’d like an inspector to visit the property, call Municipal Licensing and Standards at 416-392-0856.

If you have trouble reaching any of these services, please call my office at 416-392-7919.