By: Municipal Licensing & Standards, City of Toronto

This document outlines the City of Toronto’s response and remediaition protocol for premises that have been

utilized for the unauthorized production and/or cultivation of illicit substances, including marijuana and

psilocybin mushroom grow operations, methamphetamine and ecstasy (MDMA) laboratories. The agencies

involved in the administration of this protocol are as follows:

• Municipal Licensing and Standards (ML&S)

• Building Division (BLD)

• Toronto Water (WES)

• Toronto Police Services (TPS)

• Toronto Fire Services (TFS)

• Toronto Public Health (TPH)

• Electrical Safety Authority (ESA)

• Toronto Hydro-Electric System Limited (THES)

• Technical Standards and Safety Authority (TSSA)

• Natural Gas Supplier (if applicable)

• Ministry of the Environment (MOE)

• Toronto Real Estate Board (TREB)

The involved agencies will undertake a coordinated public awareness campaign to educate their employees

and the general public regarding the potential risks to the community of premises utilized for the production

and/or cultivation of illicit substances. This public awareness campaign will include information regarding

contact numbers of the involved agencies in order for members of the public to report any suspicious

premises. The involved agencies will refer any reports of suspect premises directly to the Toronto Police

• Toronto Police Service (TPS) Drug Squad conduct criminal investigation of alleged marijuana

grow house/illegal drug laboratory.

• TPS Drug Squad and Divisional personnel obtain a search warrant and attend the premises.

dismantle the marijuana grow house/illegal drug laboratory.

• TPS contacts Toronto Hydro-Electric Service (THES) and request disconnection of the electrical

service.

• TPS to provide THES with the following information:

Lead investigating officer’s name

Officer’s badge number

Division and Unit

TPS contact telephone number re: current investigation

• If TFS respond to a fire caused by an illegal drug laboratory or marijuana grow operation, to

notify TPS.

• Contact THES and request disconnection of electrical service.

• TPS notifies THES regarding marijuana grow op/illicit drug lab by TPS lead investigating officer.

• TPS requests that THES disconnect the electrical service.

• THES advises TPS to have representative on site at time of disconnection.

• THES instructs the Integrated Customer Response (ICR) unit to attend premises.

• ICR attends premises disconnects the electrical service at source.

• THES receives TPS Drug Squad Marijuana Cultivation Report.

• TPS prepares the Drug Squad Marijuana Cultivation Report identifying and gathering written and

photographic evidence regarding any potential risks associated with the premises, such as:

Structural damage

Mould

Foreign substances

Electrical system tampering

Possible theft of power

Chemicals and hazardous materials

Booby Traps

Persons occupying premises, in particular children

• TPS forwards the Drug Squad Marijuana Cultivation Report to THES, ESA, TPH and the

Director of Investigations, ML&S. Pictures, videos or any additional documentation that may

assist in the assessment of premises, may accompany this report.

4.0 Municipal Licensing and Standards Division (ML&S)

• ML&S Director of Investigation Services receives the TPS Drug Squad Marijuana Cultivation

Report.

• Where the Drug Squad Marijuana Cultivation Report indicates the possibility of the presence of

combustible or volatile chemicals or liquids ML&S will contact the TFS and they may investigate

and follow-up on any violations of the Fire Protection and Prevention Act, 1997, S.O. 1997, c. 4.

• ML&S forwards the TPS Drug Squad Marijuana Cultivation Report to the pertinent District.

• ML&S Municipal Standards Officer (MSO) ascertains the identity of the owner of the property.

• MSO attends the premises to ascertain if the premises are occupied, performs a property standards

inspection and secure the building.

• If the MSO finds deficiencies on the exterior of the building and/or surrounding yard a Property

Standards Order, pursuant to §15.2, of the Building Code Act, 1992, S.O. 1992, c.23, is issued to

the property owner for the violation(s).

• MSO placards the premises with a copy of the order and arranges for the order to be placed on

title to the property.

• MSO issues a total of three Property Standards Orders, pursuant to §15.8(1) of the Building Code

Act, 1992, S.O. 1992, c.23, requesting various reports, along with a copy of the Toronto Public

Health (TPH) Interim Guidance Document for Environmental Assessment for Mould in

Marijuana Grow Houses to provide guidance to the environmental engineer/consultant. The

requested reports are as follows;

A report from a professional engineer regarding the condition of the structure, clearly

outlining any potential hazards associated with the premises and a plan for remediation of

the property.

A report from a professional engineer or the Electrical Safety Authority (ESA) regarding the

condition of the electrical system, clearly outlining any potential hazards associated with the

premises and a plan for remediation of the property.

A report from an environmental engineer/consultant regarding the internal conditions, clearly

outlining any potential hazards associated with the premises, its suitability for habitation,

and a plan for remediation of the property.

• The environmental engineer/consultant’s report is forwarded to TPH Regional Public Health

Inspector (PHI) for evaluation of the remediation plan.

• The professional engineer’s/consultants reports regarding the condition of the structure and the

report from a professional engineer or the Electrical Safety Authority, regarding the electrical

system, will be reviewed by ML&S and an Order to Comply will be issued, pursuant to §15.2 of

the Building Code Act, 1992, S.O. 1992, c. 23, requiring the property owner to implement the

remediation plan.

• The Property Standards Order issued pursuant to §15.2 of the Building Code Act, 1992, S.O.

1992, c. 23, shall immediately be registered on the title of the property.

• After the implementation of the remediation plan the professional engineers and/or ESA and the

environmental engineer/consultant will provide a report to ML&S indicating that the remediation

of the property has been satisfactorily completed.

• ML&S forwards the structural engineer’s report, requested pursuant to §15.8(1) of the Building

Code Act, 1992, S.O. 1992, c.23, to BLD for review.

• BLD will advise ML&S, of any hazardous conditions related to the structure (structural stability)

of the premises and any other Building Code deficiencies that may render the premises unsafe.

• BLD may, in certain cases, issue an Unsafe Order, which could be followed by the issuance of an

Order Prohibiting Occupancy pursuant to §15.9(6) of the Building Code Act, 1992, S.O. 1992,

c.23, prohibiting occupancy of the building and requiring remedial action to be taken.

• BLD informs ML&S in writing regarding the issuance or non-issuance by TPH of an order

pursuant to §15.9(6) of the Building Code Act, 1992, S.O. 1992, c.23.

• Upon completion of the remediation of the premises the professional engineer will provide a

report to BLD indicating that the remediation of the property has been satisfactorily completed.

• When notified by ML&S that the Drug Squad Marijuana Cultivation Report indicates the

possibility of the presence of combustible or volatile chemicals or liquids MLS will contact the

TFS and they may investigate and follow-up on any violations of the Fire Protection and

Prevention Act, 1997, S.O. 1997, c. 4.

• TFS will be the designated agency to contact the Technical Standards and Safety Authority

(TSSA) regarding possible fuel safety issues.

• TPH Environmental Response Team (ERT) receives TPS Drug Squad Marijuana Cultivation

Report, which may be accompanied by photographs and/or videos.

• ERT evaluates the written and photographic evidence contained in the TPS Drug Squad

Marijuana Cultivation Report for potential health hazards.

• TPH conducts title search on the premises reported by TPS if an order under the HPPA is to be

issued.

• ERT informs ML&S in writing regarding the issuance or non-issuance by TPH of an order

pursuant to §13 of the Health Protection and Promotion Act, R.S.O. 1990, Chapter H. 7(HPPA).

• Where a health hazard exists or may exists as a result of mould and/or water damage and/or

chemical contamination is identified, TPH will placard the premises and serve an order pursuant

to §13 of the Health Protection and Promotion Act, R.S.O. 1990, Chapter H. 7., on the owner of

the premises, along with a copy of the TPH Interim Guidance Document for Environmental

Assessment for Mould in Marijuana Grow Houses, requiring any one or more of the following:

1. Prohibition of occupancy
2. An environmental engineer/consultant’s report assessing the risks within the premises
3. An environmental engineer/consultant’s remediation work plan (to be approved by TPH)
4. An environmental engineer/consultant’s verification report confirming that the repair work is                                                                   completed in accordance with the approved remediation plan
   

• The ERT forwards the file to the Regional Public Health Inspector (PHI) for review and service of

the order on the owner of the premises, along with a copy of the TPH Interim Guidance

Document for Environmental Assessment for Mould in Marijuana Grow Houses.

• PHI instructs property owner to ensure that the premises remains unoccupied and the placard

prohibiting occupancy remains until TPH removes it.

• Regional PHI to placard the premises within 24 hours of service of the order.

• Regional PHI reviews environmental assessment and remediation plan and confirms with

environmental engineer/consultant that remediation has been completed.

• Where TPH indicates that a health hazard is not identified, TPH will advise ML&S, in writing,

that an order will not be issued pursuant to §13 of the Health Protection and Promotion Act,

R.S.O. 1990, Chapter H. 7.

• TPH will request a copy of the environmental engineer’s/consultant’s report, provided to ML&S,

for their review and comment.

• ERT forwards the file to the Regional PHI for review of the environmental assessment.

• Regional PHI reports, in writing, to ML&S, the property owner and the environmental

engineer/consultant regarding the appropriateness of the remediation plan.

• Regional PHI receives confirmation that the remediation plan has been implemented.

• Confirm Application for Inspection (permit) filed after remediation of the electrical system.

• Inspect property for compliance with the Electrical Safety Code.

• Issue connection authorization to THES.

• Upon receipt of the ESA connection authorization, and payment of the regulated costs incurred,

THES reconnects electrical service.

• Where BLD and/or TPH have issued orders, pursuant to their enabling legislation, ML&S

receives notification, in writing, from BLD and/or TPH indicating that the approved remediation

plans have been implemented.

• Staff of ML&S, TPH and BLD conduct a coordinated on-site of the premises to ascertain that the

building is structurally sound, free of mould and/or water damage and/or chemical contamination

and is safe for human habitation.