Compliance Timelines for the Design of Public Spaces Standard
Your organization must meet all its requirements starting on a certain date, based on its type and size.
The requirements apply when building new or making planned significant alterations to existing public spaces on and after the dates set out below. This allows organizations to include accessibility right at the beginning, in the earliest stages of planning and design.
When do you need to comply?
| Organization Type |
Compliance Starting |
| Government of Ontario and Legislative Assembly | January 1, 2015 |
| Large and small designated public sector organizations | January 1, 2016 |
| Large organizations (50 or more employees) | January 1, 2017 |
Small organizations (1 to 49 employees)
But only for requirements relating to:
- recreational trails and beach access routes
- accessible off-street parking
- obtaining services
| January 1, 2018 |
January 1, 2015
Government of Ontario and Legislative Assembly must comply starting January 1, 2015
January 1, 2016
Large and small designated public sector organizations must comply starting January 1, 2016
January 1, 2017
Large organizations with 50 or more employees must comply starting January 1, 2017
January 1, 2018
Small organizations with 1 to 49 employees must comply starting January 1, 2018, but only with those requirements relating to:
- Recreational trails and beach access routes
- Accessible off-street parking
- Obtaining services
For a description of how organizations are classified under the regulation, please refer to the Organizational Classification Chart opens in a new window.
Refers to the executive of the government and operational branches, including all the ministries of the Government of Ontario and the Office of the Premier.
Refers to the Offices of the Legislative Assembly of Ontario including all the offices of the Members of Provincial Parliament (MPPs), their constituency offices in their ridings and the offices of those appointed on the address of the Assembly, such as the Speaker of the Legislative Assembly of Ontario.
A designated public sector organization with 50 or more employees (such as municipalities, hospitals, universities, colleges of applied arts and technology, district school boards, and organizations that provide public transportation).
A designated public sector organization with one to 49 employees (such as the Ontario Office of the Fairness Commissioner and some municipalities).
Refers to a private or not-for-profit organization that provides goods, services or facilities to the public or to other organizations and has 50 or more employees in Ontario. It does not include the Government of Ontario, Legislative Assembly, or designated public sector organizations.
Refers to a private or not-for-profit organization that provides goods, services or facilities to the public or to other organizations and has one to 49 employees in Ontario. It does not include the Government of Ontario, Legislative Assembly, or designated public sector organizations.
