Controversial Ontario Bill 60 Now Becomes Law
Updated on November 24, 2025, 6:18 PM EST (Toronto Time)
The new Ontario Bill 60, known as the Fighting Delays, Building Faster Act, 2025, has been officially approved after passing its third reading in the Legislative Assembly on November 24, 2025.
Bill 60 is a comprehensive law that modifies 15 existing statutes and introduces the Water and Wastewater Public Corporations Act, 2025.
Once it receives Royal Assent, it will become an official Act of the Ontario Legislature.
This legislation aims to expedite the delivery of housing and infrastructure, alter planning and development regulations, reshape aspects of the landlord-tenant system, and restructure the governance of certain municipal services like water, sewage, and roads.
This guide provides an overview of the changes introduced by the new law, the timeline for implementation, and the potential impact on tenants, landlords, drivers, municipalities, and individuals monitoring the housing sector closely.
Reasons for Introducing Ontario Bill 60
The preamble of Bill 60 outlines the government’s objectives, emphasizing the acceleration of home and infrastructure construction, enhancement of transit efficiency, reinforcement of driver’s licensing oversight, and reduction of delays at the Landlord and Tenant Board.
The legislation was introduced after the government highlighted regulatory obstacles, sluggish planning approvals, and a congested tribunal system as barriers to timely construction and decision-making processes.
Overview of Ontario Bill 60 Amendments
Bill 60 consists of 16 schedules, each amending or establishing different laws. The key areas addressed include:
- Faster provincial transit delivery and coordination of municipal services
- New regulations for development charges and local service policies
- Revisions to the Planning Act, offering more zoning standards flexibility and additional ministerial powers
- Restrictions on municipalities reducing motor-vehicle lanes, except under specific circumstances permitted by provincial regulations
- Introduction of residency and immigration-status verification powers connected to driver’s licenses and Ontario photo cards
- Future transfer of Peel Region’s water and sewage utilities to Mississauga, Brampton, and Caledon
- Establishment of a framework for provincially designated “water and wastewater public corporations” overseeing water and sewage services and fee collection
- Modifications to the Residential Tenancies Act, 2006 impacting eviction notices, late-payment regulations, tenant rights during hearings, and review timelines
- Technical adjustments to transportation, towing, waterfront redevelopment, local roads, and Ontario Water Resources legislation
Implications of Ontario Bill 60
As Bill 60 encompasses various sectors, its impact will vary for different stakeholders. The following sections detail the significant effects on housing, tenants, drivers, municipalities, and infrastructure.
Acceleration of Housing and Infrastructure
1. Faster Transit Construction and Municipal Service Accessibility
The legislation aims to expedite transit projects and related infrastructure by amending the Building Transit Faster Act, 2020 and related laws. Key changes include:
- Expanding the scope of provincial transit project activities to include operation and maintenance in addition to construction
- Replacing the definition of “immediate danger to construction” with a more flexible power for addressing immediate safety risks
- Reducing notice periods for property owners and utilities from 30 days to 15 days in certain scenarios
- Enhancing Metrolinx’s authority to access municipal services and right-of-way for transit projects
These modifications empower provincial transit agencies to swiftly adjust municipal infrastructure interfacing with major transit projects, with streamlined procedures and broader access.
2. Development Charges and Local Service Policies
Schedule 3 of Bill 60 amends the Development Charges Act, 1997, focusing on transparency and structure within municipal development charge practices. Key highlights include:
- Creation of a new “land acquisition class” for services requiring land acquisition, with specific rules for estimating future needs
- Requirement for municipalities to furnish the Minister with development charge background studies and by-laws upon request
- Clarification on reserve fund spending related to service provision and land acquisition
- Mandatory establishment of “local service policies” by municipalities for services delivered at a local level
