Toronto Missing Middle Code Reform Push | Watch Today’s Real Estate Updates & Tips

Toronto's push for multiplexes and small apartments has advanced, but Ontario's building code still makes this housing scale difficult to design efficiently.
In Toronto, houses need only smoke alarms and no barrier-free access, while four-storey apartment buildings require elevators, fire alarms, and sprinklers, even with few units.
A recent Toronto-focused code study said two required exit stairs above two storeys can waste space in smaller apartment buildings and limit efficient layouts.
These code details shape whether Toronto's new homes can stay affordable, use lower-carbon materials, include elevators, and better serve families, strollers, and aging residents.
Ontario recently appointed an expert advisory body to review the building code, and Toronto professionals were invited to submit public comments by August 14.