Effective Monday, January 1, 2024, regulatory oversight of the towing sector will transition from the City of Ottawa to the Province of Ontario’s Ministry of Transportation. All municipalities across Ontario are transitioning to the Province’s towing and storage regulatory regime.
Effective January 1, 2024:
- The City’s municipal licensing framework for the towing sector will be fully replaced with the provincial framework. This includes tow service operators, tow truck drivers and vehicle storage facility operators, and the enforcement thereof.
- All complaints about towing or storage services should be directed to the Ontario Ministry of Transportation. The Ministry of Transportation will share information about the complaint process on their website: ontario.ca/mto. Residents can file complaints by:
- Email: towing@ontario.ca
- Telephone: 416-246-7166
- Toll free (within Ontario): 1-800-387-7736
- Residents can contact 3-1-1 to determine if their vehicle has been towed for a parking infraction by the City or an authorized Private Parking Enforcement Agency.
- All suspected crimes should be reported to Ottawa Police Service.
- Towing and storage providers can apply for provincial certifications and find information on applicable standards and regulations.
Employees in the City’s Emergency and Protective Services Department have worked with the Province to coordinate this transition, which has been implemented in phases since the passing of the Towing and Storage Safety Enforcement Act in 2021.
A report with further information on this transition to provincial governance of the towing sector and its impact on the City’s towing regulations is scheduled for the Emergency Preparedness and Protection Committee in February 2024.
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