What You Need to Know

As of June 9, 2025, the Technical Standards and Safety Authority (TSSA) has introduced administrative monetary penalties for certain elevator-related violations in Ontario. While the rules themselves are not new, what has changed is that fines are now issued when specific non-compliances are found.

So, what does this mean for building owners, property managers, and contractors?

What’s New and What’s Not

It’s essential to recognize that the expectations remain unchanged. The following requirements have long been part of Ontario’s Elevating Devices Regulation (O. Reg. 209/01):

  • Elevating device work must be performed by a registered contractor.
  • Technicians must be licensed and properly supervised.
  • Any incident involving injury or death must be reported to TSSA within 24 hours.

What has changed is how TSSA enforces these rules. As of June 9, failing to meet these obligations may result in financial penalties.

The New Penalty Structure

Depending on your role, the fines can vary:

  • Penalties are issued per occurrence.
  • You have 15 days to file an appeal, and 30 days to pay.
  • TSSA maintains a public registry of all penalties issued.
Who’s Affected?

The TSSA Administrative penalties target residential buildings, including:

  • Rental apartments
  • Condominiums
  • Long-term care homes
  • Student residences

If you’re a building owner, manager, board member, or contractor working in these environments, this change directly affects you.

What You Can Do to Stay Compliant

Here are 4 proactive steps you can take today:

  1. Review Your Incident Reporting Process
    Make sure you and your elevator service provider have a clear protocol for notifying TSSA within 24 hours of any reportable incident.
  2. Verify Contractor Credentials
    Ensure that your elevator contractor is registered with TSSA and authorized to perform installations, maintenance, and alterations.
  3. Confirm Technician Qualifications
    Ask your service provider to confirm that all mechanics are properly licensed, trained, and supervised, especially apprentices or trainees.
  4. Monitor the TSSA Penalty Registry
    Keeping an eye on public enforcement actions helps you benchmark your compliance and avoid future surprises.
How Vertex Elevator Design Inc. Can Help

At Vertex, we believe that safety and compliance should never be an afterthought. We help our clients:

  • Conduct elevator compliance audits
  • Review contractor qualifications and TSSA registrations
  • Guide incident reporting protocols and documentation
  • Provide support during penalty appeals, if needed

We’ve been following these regulatory updates closely and are here to support property owners, developers, and managers across Ontario in navigating this new enforcement environment.

Final Thoughts

The TSSA administrative penalties aren’t about adding red tape; they’re about accountability and transparency. By acting now to ensure compliance, you can avoid costly fines, reputational damage, and potential legal challenges.