8 Ontario Laws, Rules and Important Deadlines in November 2026
Ontario November 2026 Update: Electricity Rates, Daylight Saving Time, Utility Protections, Property Taxes and More
November 2026 brings several important changes and deadlines for people living in Ontario. From new electricity prices and increased land registration fees to school council police checks and Toronto property tax programs, residents should be aware of what is changing and when action may be required.
Some changes apply across Ontario, while others are limited to particular cities, communities or eligible groups. Understanding these differences can help households manage expenses, avoid penalties and meet important deadlines.
This guide explains eight Ontario rule changes and key deadlines to know in November 2026, who may be affected and what residents should do next.
Last reviewed: October 25, 2026.
1. Ontario Electricity Prices and Rebates Change on November 1
The Ontario Energy Board (OEB) has announced new electricity prices for eligible households, small businesses and farms under the Regulated Price Plan (RPP), effective November 1, 2026.
The winter pricing schedule includes lower per-kilowatt-hour rates for Time-of-Use, Tiered and Ultra-Low Overnight customers. However, the Ontario Electricity Rebate (OER) will also decrease, so the overall effect on an individual bill will depend on electricity use and the customer’s pricing plan.
New Time-of-Use electricity prices
| Pricing period | Rate from November 1, 2026 |
|---|---|
| Off-peak | 9.1¢/kWh |
| Mid-peak | 14.6¢/kWh |
| On-peak | 18.9¢/kWh |
For residential customers on the Tiered plan, the lower tier will cover the first 1,000 kWh per month during winter, compared with 600 kWh in summer. The Tier 1 price will be 11.2¢/kWh, while electricity used above the threshold will cost 13.2¢/kWh.
The Ultra-Low Overnight plan will have a rate of 3.7¢/kWh during its overnight period, with different rates applying at other times.
Ontario Electricity Rebate falls to 15.7%
The Ontario Electricity Rebate will decrease from 23.5% to 15.7% on November 1. The OEB estimates that, for a typical residential customer using 700 kWh per month, the rebate amount will be about $23 per month under the new percentage, compared with approximately $36 under the previous rate.
This does not automatically mean that every customer’s total bill will increase. The underlying electricity prices are also changing, and the final impact will vary by household.
What should residents do? Review your next electricity bill and compare the pricing options using the Ontario Energy Board’s official electricity rates and bill calculator.
2. Daylight Saving Time Changes in Northwestern Ontario
In most of Ontario, daylight saving time ends at 2 a.m. on Sunday, November 1, 2026, when clocks move back one hour.
There is an important exception this year.
Ontario Regulation 333/26 provides that communities in the part of Ontario west of the 90th meridian will remain on the same time year-round rather than switching back on November 1. The regulation comes into force on that date and is intended to align affected northwestern communities with the time arrangement used in neighbouring Manitoba.
Communities east of the 90th meridian, including Thunder Bay, will continue to follow the ordinary seasonal clock change.
What does this mean for residents?
If you live in northwestern Ontario, check the official time arrangement for your community before changing clocks or making plans across time zones. Residents elsewhere in Ontario should continue to follow the usual November clock change.
This is a regional change, not a province-wide end to seasonal clock changes.
3. Seasonal Overnight Parking Restrictions Begin in Some Ontario Cities
Ontario does not have one province-wide winter overnight parking ban. Instead, municipal bylaws determine when and where residents can park on public streets during winter.
For some municipalities, seasonal restrictions begin in mid-November.
For example:
- London: Its winter overnight parking pass period runs from November 15, 2026, to March 31, 2027, weather permitting. A limited number of free passes are available per vehicle licence plate.
- Ottawa: Winter overnight parking regulations run from November 15 to April 1. Restrictions apply during qualifying snow events, including when Environment Canada forecasts at least 7 cm of snow, subject to the city’s rules and permit arrangements.
Other municipalities have their own start dates, restricted hours, snow-clearing rules and permit systems. Vehicles parked contrary to an active restriction may be ticketed or towed.
What should drivers do? Before leaving a vehicle on the street overnight, check your municipality’s current rules, alerts and posted signs. Do not assume that a permit or exemption in one city applies in another.
Official information: City of London overnight parking and City of Ottawa winter overnight parking information.
4. Ontario’s Winter Electricity and Natural Gas Disconnection Ban Starts November 15
Ontario’s annual winter disconnection ban begins on November 15, 2026, and continues through April 30, 2027.
During this period, electricity distributors and regulated natural gas utilities covered by the Ontario Energy Board’s rules cannot disconnect residential customers for non-payment.
Customers whose services were disconnected for non-payment before the ban may also be eligible for reconnection. Under the applicable rules, occupied homes disconnected for non-payment must be reconnected by December 1, subject to the program’s conditions.
Important limitations
The winter ban does not cancel outstanding balances or erase the obligation to pay utility bills. Interest and other applicable charges may continue to accumulate, and customers could face disconnection when the protection period ends if the outstanding account remains unresolved.
The OEB’s ban also does not automatically cover every multi-unit property. Buildings served by unit sub-metering providers are generally outside the mandatory ban, although some providers voluntarily follow similar protections.
What if you are struggling to pay your utility bill?
Contact your electricity or natural gas provider as early as possible to discuss payment arrangements. Eligible households may also qualify for assistance through programs such as the Low-Income Energy Assistance Program (LEAP) or the Ontario Electricity Support Program.
The winter ban provides important protection, but it is not a substitute for a payment plan.
5. New Police Record-Check Deadlines for Ontario School Council Members
Ontario has expanded police record-check requirements for certain people serving on school councils and parent involvement committees.
Under the updated requirements, members who have never provided a police record check to their school board must do so by November 1, 2026. A new check may also be required if the previous one was provided more than five years ago.
The requirements form part of Ontario’s school-sector screening framework and are intended to support student safety.
Who should take action?
The deadline is particularly relevant to:
- School council members.
- Parent involvement committee members.
- Other covered committee members, where the applicable requirements apply.
The precise process and type of check can depend on the role and school board’s instructions. Contact your school board to confirm what documentation is required, how to submit it and whether an existing check meets the requirements.
Do not assume that the rules apply only to parents who volunteer inside a classroom. School council membership itself can trigger a police record-check requirement, subject to the applicable exceptions.
6. Ontario Land Registration Fees Increase on November 2
Certain land registration service fees in Ontario are scheduled to increase on November 2, 2026.
According to the province’s official fee bulletin, the adjustment for affected Schedule I services ranges from approximately 1.4% to 1.68%. The changes are part of the established annual fee adjustment process.
Examples of the new fees include:
| Land registration service | Total fee from November 2 |
|---|---|
| Electronic registration or deposit of an instrument or plan | $86.42 |
| Copy of a parcel register, including the first page | $37.10 |
The adjustment does not apply to every fee category. The province states that Schedule II and Schedule III fees will not increase as part of this adjustment.
Who should be aware of this change?
These fees may matter to property buyers, sellers, real estate lawyers and others completing land registration or property searches around the effective date.
If you are purchasing a home or completing a property transaction in early November, confirm the applicable fee with your lawyer or registration service provider. These service fees are separate from other closing costs, taxes and land transfer tax.
7. Toronto’s Vacant Home Tax Declaration Portal Opens for the 2026 Year
The City of Toronto has indicated that the declaration period for the 2026 calendar year Vacant Home Tax (VHT) will open at the beginning of November 2026.
Toronto property owners should monitor the city’s official Vacant Home Tax page for portal access, instructions and the deadline for submitting their declaration.
Toronto’s annual declaration requirement generally applies to residential property owners even when a property is occupied by its owner. Owners must provide the required occupancy information or identify whether the property qualifies as vacant or for an exemption.
Separate deadline: 2025 Vacant Home Tax payment
There is also an important payment deadline in November. The third and final instalment for the 2025 Vacant Home Tax is due November 16, 2026, for property owners who received an assessment requiring payment.
Toronto’s current VHT rate for the 2025 taxation year is 3% of the property’s Current Value Assessment. For example, a property with a $1 million assessment could have a tax amount of $30,000 if the full 3% rate applies and no exemption or adjustment is available.
The payment deadline for an existing 2025 assessment is separate from the declaration process for the 2026 calendar year. Do not confuse the two.
What should Toronto homeowners do? Check the City of Toronto’s Vacant Home Tax page for current declaration instructions and verify any outstanding assessment or payment.
8. Deadline for Toronto Property Tax and Utility Relief Programs Is November 2
Eligible Toronto homeowners have until November 2, 2026, to apply for the city’s 2026 property tax and utility relief programs.
These programs are designed to provide support to qualifying residents, including low-income seniors and low-income people living with disabilities. Depending on eligibility, assistance may include property tax increase cancellation or deferral, water rebates or solid waste rebates.
Who may qualify?
Eligibility varies by program, but factors may include age, household income, disability status and whether the property is the applicant’s principal residence.
The city also sets account and application requirements. For example, eligible applicants generally need to meet the applicable property ownership, occupancy, tax-account and utility-account conditions.
Applications must be submitted within the stated deadline, and residents generally need to reapply each year even if they previously received assistance.
How do you apply?
Review the City of Toronto’s official Property Tax, Water and Solid Waste Relief page and confirm which program fits your circumstances.
Do not leave the application until the last minute. If you need supporting documentation, allow time to gather it before November 2.
Ontario Changes and Deadlines in November 2026: At a Glance
| Date | Change or deadline | Who may be affected |
|---|---|---|
| November 1 | New winter electricity prices and Ontario Electricity Rebate | Eligible RPP electricity customers |
| November 1 | Permanent year-round time arrangement begins west of the 90th meridian | Affected northwestern Ontario communities |
| November 1 | Police record-check deadline for certain school council and committee members | Covered school and parent committee members |
| November 2 | Land registration fee adjustments | Property buyers, lawyers and registration-service users |
| November 2 | Deadline for Toronto property tax and utility relief applications | Eligible Toronto residents |
| November 15 | Winter utility disconnection ban begins | Residential customers covered by OEB rules |
| November 15 onward | Seasonal overnight parking rules in certain municipalities | Drivers in affected cities |
| November, opening date to be confirmed by the city | Toronto’s 2026 Vacant Home Tax declaration period | Toronto residential property owners |
| November 16 | Final instalment deadline for applicable 2025 Vacant Home Tax assessments | Property owners with an outstanding VHT assessment |
Dates and conditions should be checked against the relevant official source because local rules, individual eligibility and administrative instructions can differ.
What These November 2026 Changes Mean for Newcomers to Ontario
If you are new to Canada, understanding local rules is part of settling into your new community. Not all the changes above are immigration rules, but some may affect your household budget, housing arrangements or responsibilities in Ontario.
Here are a few practical steps:
1. Review your household expenses. Check your electricity pricing plan and understand when winter utility protections apply.
2. Learn your local municipal rules. Parking restrictions, property tax relief and vacant home declarations can vary by city.
3. Meet deadlines early. If you qualify for a Toronto relief program or must provide a school-related police record check, gather the necessary documents in advance.
4. Verify official information. Social media posts and news summaries can omit important eligibility conditions or exceptions.
5. Keep immigration and municipal rules separate. These Ontario changes do not automatically alter your visa, work permit, study permit or permanent residence eligibility. Immigration programs have their own federal and provincial requirements.
Frequently Asked Questions
What new Ontario laws and rules take effect in November 2026?
The main changes covered in this guide include new winter electricity prices, a permanent time arrangement for parts of northwestern Ontario, school council police record-check requirements, land registration fee adjustments, municipal winter parking rules, winter utility disconnection protections and important Toronto property tax deadlines.
Not every item is a new provincial law. Some are municipal rules, fee adjustments or application deadlines.
When do Ontario winter electricity rates change?
The new Ontario Energy Board Regulated Price Plan electricity rates and winter pricing schedule take effect on November 1, 2026. The Ontario Electricity Rebate will also change to 15.7%. Your actual bill will depend on your consumption and pricing plan.
Can a utility company disconnect my home for unpaid bills during winter in Ontario?
Under the Ontario Energy Board’s rules, covered electricity distributors and regulated natural gas utilities cannot disconnect residential customers for non-payment from November 15, 2026, through April 30, 2027. The ban does not erase the balance owed, and some unit sub-metering arrangements are outside the mandatory protection.
Do all Ontario residents need to change their clocks on November 1?
Most Ontario residents will turn clocks back one hour. However, the new time regulation taking effect November 1 establishes a year-round time arrangement for the part of Ontario west of the 90th meridian. Residents should confirm the applicable rule for their community.
When are Toronto property tax relief applications due?
The deadline for the City of Toronto’s 2026 property tax and utility relief programs is November 2, 2026. Eligibility depends on the specific program and the applicant’s circumstances.
When is the Toronto Vacant Home Tax payment due?
The third and final instalment for applicable 2025 Vacant Home Tax assessments is due November 16, 2026. This is separate from the declaration period for the 2026 calendar year, which is expected to open at the beginning of November.
Do these changes affect Canadian immigration status?
No general immigration-status change is created by the Ontario measures discussed here. Electricity rates, parking rules, property taxes and school council screening requirements have their own purposes and eligibility rules. Visas, permits and permanent residence applications must be assessed under the relevant immigration requirements.
Final Takeaway
November 2026 brings several practical changes for Ontario residents, from electricity pricing and seasonal utility protections to property-related fees and application deadlines.
The most important step is to identify which change applies to your city, household or personal circumstances and act before any deadline passes. For municipal or provincial requirements, rely on the relevant official government source rather than assuming one rule applies across all of Ontario.
If you are planning to visit, study, work, reunite with family or apply for permanent residence in Canada, make sure your immigration planning is based on current requirements and your individual circumstances.
GFK Immigration Inc.
📞 +1 (647) 225-0092
🌐 gfkimmigrationconsultant.com
📍 Oakville, Ontario
This article is for general informational purposes only and does not constitute legal, tax, financial or immigration advice. Rules, rates, deadlines and eligibility criteria may change. Confirm the latest requirements with the relevant government authority or a qualified professional before making decisions.
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