As blistering hot summers become the new norm in Toronto, city council has introduced a plan to fast-track a bylaw designed to protect renters from unbearable heat. The bylaw would require landlords to ensure that all rental units remain at a maximum temperature of 26ºC, even those units that do not currently have air conditioning.
According to Councillor Josh Matlow, a final version of the so-called “maximum heat bylaw” is expected to arrive by the summer of 2027, two summers earlier than what was originally recommended by city staff.
Tenant organizations have called for a so-called “maximum heat bylaw” for more than a decade but have faced resistance from landlord groups, who claim it would impose unreasonable costs. City staff and some councillors have also delayed its movement, warning that it could cause a spike in the price of rent. Matlow has been pushing for such a bylaw since 2012.
Between June 30 and July 4, Toronto Public Health recorded nearly 40 heat-related emergency department visits as a heat wave hit the city.
This article appeared in the 2026 Summer issue.
