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Rules, FAQs, & Permit Information

Toronto is a pretty permit-happy place. You need permits for lots of different stuff, like getting married, taking pictures, having a BBQ, selling ice cream, drawing portraits, playing tennis, and just about every other mundane thing you can think of. Fines for not having the appropriate permits can be in the hundreds of dollars.
Although women in Ontario won the right to be topless in public in 1996, a city bylaw remains on the books that says appropriate attire must be worn in parks (and beaches count as parks). Will you get in trouble? Probably not. Toronto is a fairly liberal place and realistically no one will care. If you want to show off the full monty, a section of Hanlan’s Point Beach is the only “clothing optional” beach in Toronto and Ontario, and one of only two clothing optional/nude beaches in all of Canada. The beach is well signed so visitors won’t wander in by accident.
Yes and yes, with the appropriate permits. Whether you want your wedding ceremony or wedding photography performed on the Toronto Islands, you require a permit for either one.
  • Wedding ceremony permits are available for groups of up to 100 people at a rate of $180.77 per hour
  • Wedding photography permits are available for groups of up to 30 people at a rate of $120.52 per 2 hour period (2018 rates), as long appropriate proof of insurance is provided
Wedding photography on Toronto Islands by Your Favourite Photographer
Yes! Toronto has holiday fireworks twice a year, on Victoria Day (always the last Monday before May 25) and Canada Day (July 1). The biggest fireworks displays take place in Toronto’s east end Beaches neighbourhood, which means they’re best viewed from the eastern most portion of the Toronto Islands, on Ward’s Island. Harbourfront Centre, near the Jack Layton Ferry Terminal, displays fireworks on Canada Day which are best viewed from the north shores of Centre Island, Olympic Island, or Algonquin Island.

Anywhere along the north shore of Centre Island, Olympic Island, Algonquin Island, or Ward’s Island are your best bets.

Toronto skyline seen from Toronto Islands

 

Strollers, bicycles, and wheelchairs are all welcome on Toronto Islands ferries. Cars are not permitted on the islands. See the Ferry Information page for more details.
Nope! Although the Toronto Islands and the Billy Bishop Airport (YTZ) share the same land mass, there is no way to travel between the two areas. The airport is fenced off from the rest of the islands and requires separate transport. Access to the airport is provided via a pedestrian tunnel at the foot of Bathurst St.
Yes! However, your dog must remain leashed at all times as there are no off-leash dog areas anywhere on the islands. Dogs are not permitted on any of the beaches on the islands.
Yes, with the appropriate permits, you can have gatherings of 25 to 200 people. There are some restrictions on things like music, decorations, etc. See our page on Toronto Islands Restaurants, Picnics, & BBQs for more information.
Fifteen islands comprise the Toronto Islands: Hanlan’s Point, Hanlan’s Island, Duck Island, Muggs Island, Centre Island, Forestry Island, Olympic Island, RCYC Island, South Island, Snake Island, Algonquin Island, Ward’s Island, South Chippewa Island, North Chippewa Island, and a small unnamed island shaped like a doughnut.

Over many thousands of years, millions of tons of sand have eroded from the Scarborough Bluffs into Lake Ontario, where currents took the sand and deposited it in the Toronto harbour, forming a land mass. The oldest records show a 9 km (5.5 mi) long sand spit sticking out from the bottom of where Woodbine Avenue now is. That’s right, the Toronto Islands actually used to be connected to the mainland and weren’t islands at all!

Eventually that permanent connection was washed away by a storm in 1858 (after being previously damaged in 1852), permanently severing the connection to the mainland.

Unfortunately, the Toronto Islands are now at risk of eroding and eventually disappearing entirely. Thanks to the development of the Leslie St Spit (aka Tommy Thompson Park) to the east which blocks the currents, the Toronto Islands no longer grow in size like they used to. Lake Ontario now beats at the shores of Gibraltar Point, steadily eating away up to 8 metres (26 feet) of the island per year, and it could be severed in two in less than 20 years.

If you need police, fire, or emergency medical care on the Toronto Islands, call 911. Toronto Fire Services operates Station 335 on Ward’s Island. The Toronto Police Marine Unit provides police and EMS services to the islands.
Yes! There are fewer than 300 homes concentrated in the east, on Ward’s Island and Algonquin Island. There’s a public school, a church, and some other limited amenities, though most residents have to travel to the mainland often. It’s not easy to live in one of these homes, however, as they’re only available as 99-year land leases from a Land Trust. What that means is that when a property becomes available (hardly ever), it can’t be listed for sale on the open market. On average, only three properties per year change hands, and the wait list is over 500 people long! Plus, you have to pay $110 just to join the list and $35 a year to stay on it.
While there are no hotels on the island, the closest one on the mainland is located directly next to the Jack Layton Ferry Terminal: The Westin Harbour Castle.

Officially, no. Unofficially, many people do.

Some schools and youth organizations can get special permission to camp on Snake Island.

Yes! With the right permits, you can book a City of Toronto fire pit in various places around the Toronto Islands. The regular fire pit season is May 1 to October 30 each year.
Some water taxi services run after hours service to get you off the island, although often at an added expense.
Hell no, you cannot. First, it’s an exceptionally long swim. Second, the Toronto harbour is heavily trafficked and you would die. Don’t do it.
Yes! If you’d like to dock your boat while visiting the Toronto Islands, you can reserve a slip at the Toronto Island Marina & Yacht Club or reserve a slip at the Island Yacht Club.
Yes, there are a few:

5 Responses

  1. Why are Electric Unicycle not allowed onboard of the ferry? While It allow all other electric transportations such as electric bikes, electric scooters and electric wheelchairs. I was turned away from the ferry dock by the staff telling me that “I cannot board the ferry with an electric powered vehicle”. If it’s about fire safety reasons, then why are some electric transportation allowed, and not the other?

    Reply

  2. If I do not require any special arrangements do I still need a permit to take photos its not wedding nor a party just a post wedding shoot? Also any rules about alcohol?

    Reply

  4. I purchased a ferry ticket for Oct. 10/20 to see the Rogue Wave exhibits but today (Oct. 9/20) the Ontario Government advised against going out for any activities that are non-essential due to Covid numbers increasing. Is it possible to get a refund for the ticket or can it possibly be used for another date?

    Thanks for your help.

    Susan

    Reply

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