On February 10, 2025, Kitchener City Council took another step toward addressing renovictions, a practice in which tenants are displaced under the guise of property renovations. At the meeting, the Council directed staff to prepare an in‐depth report on a proposed renoviction bylaw. This report is slated for further discussion at the June 2 Planning and Strategic Initiatives committee meeting, a follow‐up to a decision made in June 2024 when the Council approved the Rental Replacement Bylaw and mandated that staff examine similar measures across Ontario.
Ontario Municipality Trends
If implemented, Kitchener will join a growing trend amongst Ontario municipalities of increased tenant protections.
In Toronto, City Council has taken concrete steps to curb renovictions by approving a Rental Renovation Licence bylaw that mandates landlords to secure a building permit, pay a $700 fee, and post a Tenant Information Notice within seven days of issuing an N13 eviction notice. Tenants who wish to return after renovations must be offered comparable temporary housing or monthly rent-gap payments to cover the cost difference of temporary accommodations. For tenants who choose not to return, landlords must provide severance compensation. This bylaw is scheduled to take effect on July 31, 2025.
Ottawa is also taking tangible municipal action. On January 22, 2025, City Council approved a motion to study the feasibility of an anti-renoviction bylaw; staff were instructed to review recent changes to the Residential Tenancies Act and assess the legal and fiscal implications, with a detailed report expected by the second quarter of 2026.
As of January 1, 2025, Hamilton’s Renovation Licence and Relocation By-law took effect, which requires landlords who issue an N13 notice for renovations to apply for a renovation licence within seven days—submitting a detailed report from a licensed engineer or architect to justify the necessity of tenant displacement—and to renew the licence if work exceeds one year. Tenants are also guaranteed a right of first refusal to return at the same rent; landlords must offer temporary accommodations or rent gap payments if needed.
Planned Consultation and Actions
City Council will receive a detailed renoviction bylaw report in June 2025 to assess both the opportunities and challenges, legal and practical. The forthcoming report will be critical in answering key questions about the direction and impacts the bylaw could have. It will provide the foundation for further debate among Council members and community stakeholders.
Kitchener staff have already initiated conversations with municipal counterparts across the province to understand how renoviction measures are being implemented elsewhere. The goal is to balance tenant protection with the realities faced by landlords, ensuring that any local bylaw would be both effective and legally sound.
Potential Impacts on Kitchener
If adopted, Kitchener’s proposed renoviction bylaw would introduce a layer of municipal oversight designed to curb unnecessary tenant displacement.
Kitchener aims to also ensure a fair process for landlords, developing guidelines that prevent misuse of renovation notices while recognizing legitimate property improvements.
This initiative has already sparked discussion among local tenant advocates and landlord associations. While tenant rights groups generally welcome the increased safeguards, some property owners remain concerned about potential administrative burdens and the impact on renovation flexibility. The upcoming bylaw report, however, aims to consider such concerns and questions.
