City of Toronto allows for 24-hour delivery to restock store shelves

With an eye on ensuring retailers, such as c-stores, have the products their customers want and need, all retail businesses are exempt from the City of Toronto Noise Bylaw to facilitate after-hour deliveries.

Effective immediately and until further notice, the move is part of the City of Toronto’s response to COVID-19 and is meant to support of businesses and the community: The City’s Noise Bylaw includes the ability to provide an exemption in response to extraordinary circumstances affecting the immediate health, safety or welfare of the community.

“We are taking this action to help Toronto businesses get deliveries and continue to stock their shelves with essential goods for our residents," said Mayor John Tory.  "By exempting retail businesses from the City’s noise bylaw right now, we will ensure that retailers can receive deliveries 24 hours of a day, seven days a week.”

City staff – in consultation with Mayor John Tory’s office – moved quickly to make this immediate change after it was raised by the Retail Council of Canada as a way to allow additional deliveries for retailers the wake of panic-buying and stockpiling.

“To assist in getting goods to market in a more expeditious manner, we applaud the City of Toronto for temporarily lifting time-of-day restrictions on roadways and deliveries for our retailers," said Diane J. Brisebois, president & CEO of the Retail Council of Canada. "As all levels of government work to protect the health of every citizen, we pledge to continue to play a strong supporting role in ensuring access to goods, when and where they are needed.”

The message from governments and retailers is there is no need for people to panic-buy and stockpile, as any bulk purchasing beyond a two-week supply jeopardizes the ability of vulnerable people to access essential food and health supplies.