RentSafeTO Colour-Coded Signs: What Toronto Landlords Must Post on June 15, 2026
On June 15, 2026, Toronto’s RentSafeTO program turns into a public scorecard. Every covered apartment building displays a coloured entrance sign — green, yellow, or red — visible to every tenant, prospect, and passerby.
Bottom line
- Effective June 15, 2026. Every RentSafeTO-covered building must display a colour-coded sign at the main entrance.
- Green = above 85%. Yellow = 70–84%. Red = 69% or lower, based on the RentSafe Evaluation Tool.
- If your score changes, you have 14 calendar days to replace the sign.
What changes on June 15, 2026
Toronto City Council approved colour-coded signage as a RentSafeTO program update ahead of the June 15, 2026 launch. The rule applies to every building already covered by RentSafeTO. The sign at the main entrance now publicly displays the building’s most recent audit result. See the City of Toronto’s RentSafeTO Colour-Coded Signs page and the March 27, 2026 Council update report for the official program changes.
What buildings RentSafeTO covers
RentSafeTO covers Toronto apartment buildings with three or more storeys AND ten or more units. Condominium buildings are not in scope. Coverage is set under Toronto Municipal Code Chapter 354 (Property Standards) and administered by Municipal Licensing and Standards (MLS). Building owners must register annually.
The three colours and what they mean
The sign reflects the building’s most recent score from the RentSafe Evaluation Tool. Three tiers:
Above 85%
Building meets most or all City maintenance standards. Few or no violations.
70%–84%
Building meets some standards. May have some violations.
69% or lower
Serious health and safety violations. Priority for follow-up.
How your score is calculated
The RentSafe Evaluation Tool scores buildings across 50 categories. Categories are split into high-risk, moderate-risk, and cosmetic. The March 2026 Council update increased the weight of high-risk categories, so issues that pose direct health and safety concerns now move the score more than cosmetic items do. Audits combine proactive inspections and reactive responses to complaints, then roll up into the composite score.
Where the sign goes and how to update it
The colour-coded sign must be posted near the main entrance, reflecting the most recent colour assigned to the building. Whenever the City notifies the owner that the colour has changed, the owner has 14 calendar days to swap the sign for the new colour. Keep a record of every notification and the corresponding replacement date.
The colour is public. Tenants see it on entry. Prospects see it before they sign a lease. Inspectors see it when they walk up. A red sign affects vacancy rates, market rents on turnover, and how Municipal Licensing and Standards prioritises follow-up.
What to do if your building is yellow or red
The score reflects audit findings tied to specific items in the RentSafe Evaluation Tool. The route back to green is finite work, then a re-inspection request after the items are resolved. A practical sequence:
Pull your building's audit report
Get the most recent City inspection record. Every deduction shows up as a category line item. Without the report you are guessing.
Sort items by category weight
High-risk items move the score the most. Fix those first. Cosmetic items still count, but the return on time is smaller per fix.
Document the remediation
Take dated photos before and after. Save invoices, work orders, contractor sign-off. The City verifies on re-inspection.
Request a re-inspection
Contact RentSafeTO via the City's online channel after the cited items are resolved. A passed re-inspection updates the score and the colour.
Replace the sign within 14 days of the new colour
When the City confirms the new colour, swap the sign on the main entrance within the 14-calendar-day window.
Penalties and what enforcement looks like
Toronto Municipal Code Chapter 354 governs property standards and the related signage rules. Failure to post or maintain the colour-coded sign exposes the owner to orders of compliance and Administrative Monetary Penalties under the bylaw. Specific dollar amounts are set by the bylaw schedule and the individual order. Repeat or serious non-compliance can escalate to prosecution. The colour itself does not create new penalties; the obligation is to post and update the sign.
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Ontario Landlord Evidence Guide
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Frequently asked questions
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