Published 18 September 2026 · By Jatin Dua, Broker of Record, RE/MAX Quantum Realty
Condo restrictions sit in three layers: the declaration, the by-laws and the rules. Pet, smoking and rental restrictions are common and generally enforceable, and Toronto separately limits short-term rentals to a principal residence with registration. Read the status certificate package before your condition expires.
Every condo runs on three layers of documents, and they are not equal. Knowing which layer a restriction sits in tells you how hard it is to change and how strictly it will be enforced.
The three layers
- The declaration: the constitution of the corporation. Hardest to change, usually requiring a large majority of owners.
- The by-laws: how the corporation governs itself. Passed by the board and confirmed by owners.
- The rules: day-to-day items such as the moving elevator or pool hours. The board can pass them, and owners can requisition a meeting to challenge them.
All three must be reasonable and consistent with the Condominium Act.
Pets
Pet restrictions are common and enforceable, from weight limits to breed restrictions to no pets at all. Whether yours is enforceable often depends on which layer it is in and how consistently it has been applied. Human rights considerations can apply to service animals, which are treated differently from pets. If a pet matters to you, read the declaration before you make an offer, not after.
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Smoking and cannabis
Many corporations have added smoking restrictions, in units as well as common areas. New restrictions often grandfather existing residents, or don’t, depending on how they were passed. Second-hand smoke complaints are one of the most common disputes in Ontario condos, and the Condominium Authority Tribunal now handles many of them.
Short-term rentals
Most Toronto corporations restrict rentals under a minimum term, often six months or a year, and the City of Toronto separately requires short-term rental operators to register and limits them to a principal residence. If your plan depends on renting the unit nightly, assume it is not allowed until you have read the declaration and checked the City’s rules.
Before you buy
Order and actually read the status certificate package. It includes the declaration, by-laws and rules, the budget, the reserve fund study summary, and disclosure of known claims or special assessments. Give your lawyer time to review it within your condition period.
The takeaway
Read the declaration first if a pet, smoking or renting matters to you, and give your lawyer real time with the status certificate.
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Frequently asked questions
Can an Ontario condo ban pets?
Yes, restrictions are common and generally enforceable, especially when they sit in the declaration. Service animals are treated differently.
Can a condo ban smoking inside units?
Many have, through by-laws or rules. Whether existing residents are grandfathered depends on how the restriction was passed.
Can I Airbnb my Toronto condo?
Usually not. Most corporations set a minimum lease term, and Toronto requires registration and limits short-term rentals to a principal residence.
Where do I find the rules before buying?
In the status certificate package, which your lawyer should review during your condition period.
Sources
- Condominium Authority of Ontario — declarations, by-laws, rules and the Tribunal
- City of Toronto — short-term rentals — registration and principal residence rules
Related reading
- Pre-Delivery Inspection (PDI) Ontario: What to Check Before You Take Possession
- Property Manager vs Self-Managing a Toronto Rental: Costs and Trade-Offs
- Condo insurance in Ontario: the standard unit, the deductible chargeback, and the gap that costs owners five figures
About the author — Jatin Dua, Toronto and GTA real estate broker
I am Jatin Dua, Broker of Record and co-founder of RE/MAX Quantum Realty Inc., Brokerage, Unit 101, 799 The Queensway, Etobicoke. I work with buyers and sellers across Toronto and the GTA, with deep local knowledge of the west end. Four-plus years of active GTA transactions and over $100 million in sales volume. Every market figure here comes from TRREB’s published tables and every rule from RECO or Ontario legislation, so you can check all of it without asking me.
Reach me at connect@jatindua.com or 833-330-1925, or book a call.