November 2026 is hitting Ontario residents with one of the heaviest clusters of provincial and municipal changes this fall, touching everything from electricity bills and land registration fees to daylight saving time and school volunteer screening.
Several of these changes take effect on November 1, creating a single day where electricity rates shift, clocks fall back, and new school council rules kick in simultaneously.
Others carry strict deadlines that Toronto homeowners, low-income seniors, and property investors cannot afford to miss later in the month.
This is a full breakdown of every confirmed November 2026 change and deadline directly affecting ordinary Ontario residents, verified against official government sources.
Table of Contents
Ontario Land Registration Fees Increase
The Province of Ontario will raise fees for certain land registration services on November 2, 2026, under the annual Consumer Price Index adjustment that has applied since 2015.
The fee schedule published by the Ontario Land Registration Services Branch shows a 1.4% to 1.68% increase across Schedule I services, replacing the previous rates set in November 2025.
Registering an instrument or plan electronically under the Land Titles Act will cost $86.42, up from the previous total.
A parcel register copy, which is one of the most commonly requested searches during real estate transactions, will cost $37.10 in total after the adjustment.
Fees under Schedule II and Schedule III are not increasing this year.
Anyone closing on a home purchase or completing a property transaction in early November should factor this increase into their closing cost estimates.
New Winter Electricity Rates Effective November 1
The Ontario Energy Board has set new Regulated Price Plan rates that take effect on November 1, 2026, dropping electricity prices by approximately four to seven per cent compared with the previous rates.
Winter Time-of-Use hours also kick in on the same date, with on-peak pricing applying from 7 AM to 11 AM and 5 PM to 7 PM on weekdays.
| TOU Period | Previous Rate | New Rate | Change |
| Off-Peak | 9.8¢/kWh | 9.1¢/kWh | -7.1% |
| Mid-Peak | 15.7¢/kWh | 14.6¢/kWh | -7.0% |
| On-Peak | 20.3¢/kWh | 18.9¢/kWh | -6.9% |
Customers on tiered pricing will pay 11.2¢/kWh for the first 1,000 kWh per month, down from 12.0¢, and 13.2¢/kWh above that threshold, down from 14.2¢.
The winter tier threshold gives residential customers an extra 400 kWh per month at the lower price compared to the summer threshold of 600 kWh.
Ultra-low overnight pricing will drop to 3.7¢/kWh from 3.9¢, while the ULO on-peak rate falls to 37.7¢/kWh from 39.1¢.
Ontario Electricity Rebate Drops From 23.5% to 15.7%
Alongside the rate decrease, the Ontario Electricity Rebate will fall from 23.5% to 15.7% on November 1, a nearly eight-percentage-point reduction.
The OER is a pre-tax credit applied to electricity bills for residential, small business, and farm customers across the province.
For a typical household using 700 kWh monthly, the OEB estimates the rebate will reduce bills by approximately $23 per month, compared with the $36 monthly reduction under the previous 23.5% rebate.
Energy Minister Stephen Lecce stated that the government continues to keep electricity costs down, with the rebate saving an average family nearly $275 annually.
The OEB emphasized that the reduction in the rebate percentage does not necessarily mean higher overall bills, since the underlying per-kilowatt-hour rates are also falling.
Customers can compare pricing plans using the OEB bill calculator to determine which plan best fits their household consumption pattern.
Daylight Saving Time Ends With a Twist in Northwestern Ontario
Daylight saving time ends across most of Ontario at 2 AM on Sunday, November 1, 2026, when clocks fall back one hour to standard time.
The province follows the same schedule it has used since 2007, with DST beginning on the second Sunday in March and ending on the first Sunday in November.
However, communities in Kenora and northwestern Ontario west of the 90th meridian will not turn their clocks back this fall.
The Ontario government announced on October 13, 2026, that it intends to make daylight saving time permanent in these communities, aligning them with Manitoba.
Manitoba announced on September 17 that it would adopt permanent daylight saving time beginning November 1, 2026.
Northwestern Ontario shares business, labour, Indigenous communities, and family ties across the Manitoba border, making time alignment a practical financial decision.
Attorney General Doug Downey confirmed that the change came after extensive consultation with communities and Indigenous leaders throughout the region.
Towns east of the 90th meridian, including Thunder Bay, are expected to remain on eastern time and will turn their clocks back in November.
Ontario passed the Time Amendment Act in 2020, which would allow the entire province to make daylight saving time permanent, but that broader legislation has not been brought into force.
British Columbia, Alberta, and Manitoba have all now ended seasonal clock changes, leaving Ontario, Quebec, and most of Atlantic Canada among the regions still switching twice a year.
Municipal Winter Overnight Parking Restrictions
Municipalities across Ontario begin enforcing seasonal overnight parking bans in November, with start dates and enforcement models varying by city.
Ottawa’s winter overnight parking regulations take effect November 15 and run through April 1, prohibiting vehicles from remaining on streets between 1 AM and 7 AM during declared ban nights.
London, Ontario, begins its winter overnight parking restrictions on November 15, 2026, and continues them through March 31, 2027.
Residents in London can obtain up to 15 free overnight parking passes per licence plate, subject to weather conditions and other restrictions.
Barrie, Guelph, Kingston, and dozens of smaller municipalities across eastern and northern Ontario apply their own versions, with Guelph’s ban running from December 1 through March 31 between 2 AM and 6 AM.
Vehicles parked on the street during an active ban are subject to fines and towing at the owner’s expense.
Residents should check their municipality’s specific bylaws, as some cities issue alert-based bans tied to snowfall forecasts while others enforce blanket seasonal prohibitions regardless of weather.
Winter Electricity and Natural Gas Disconnection Protections
The Ontario Energy Board’s annual winter disconnection ban takes effect on November 15, 2026, and continues through April 30, 2027.
During this period, OEB-regulated electricity and natural gas distributors cannot disconnect residential customers for non-payment.
If a customer was disconnected for non-payment before November 15, their electricity or gas distributor must reconnect them by December 1.
Electricity distributors also cannot install load control devices, which limit how much electricity is supplied to a home, between November 15 and April 30.
The OEB winter disconnection rules do not apply to multi-unit buildings serviced by unit sub-metering providers, although some sub-metering companies have voluntarily agreed to comply.
Customers should understand that bill balances continue to accumulate during the ban period, including late payment interest on overdue amounts.
Residents struggling with energy costs should contact their distributor to arrange a payment plan or explore the Low-Income Energy Assistance Program and the Ontario Electricity Support Program.
New School Council Police Record-Check Requirements
Ontario Regulation 309/26, filed on September 11, 2026, extends mandatory police record-check requirements to parent involvement committee members and school council members for the first time.
Under the regulation, school boards must collect a police record check from school council and parent involvement committee members who have not previously had one no later than November 1, 2026.
This builds on the broader overhaul introduced by Ontario Regulation 298/25 in December 2025, which updated the province’s approach to police record checks across all school board personnel and volunteers under the Education Act.
Under the updated framework, police record checks are valid for five years, and all volunteers must renew them before that expiry.
The type of check required depends on whether the volunteer is in a position of trust or authority with respect to students.
Parents who volunteer for multiple purposes that fall under both a standard check and a Vulnerable Sector Check should obtain only the Vulnerable Sector Check.
The cost of obtaining a police record check is the responsibility of the volunteer, although volunteers are eligible to receive free criminal record checks under the Police Record Checks Reform Act.
Toronto Vacant Home Tax Declaration Portal Opens In November
Toronto’s online portal for submitting Vacant Home Tax declarations for the 2026 taxation year is expected to open in November, although the City has not yet confirmed an exact opening date.
The 2025 VHT declaration period opened on November 1, 2025, with declarations due by April 30, 2026.
Property owners should watch for the official announcement from the City of Toronto confirming the exact opening date for the 2026 declaration cycle.
Separately, a hard payment deadline is approaching for property owners who received a 2025 Vacant Home Tax assessment.
The third and final instalment for the 2025 VHT is due on Monday, November 16, 2026, following earlier instalments on September 15 and October 15.
The Vacant Home Tax rate for 2025 is 3% of the property’s Current Value Assessment. For a property assessed at $1 million, that amounts to a $30,000 tax bill.
Homeowners who fail to submit a declaration by the deadline will have their property automatically deemed vacant and will be charged the full tax regardless of actual occupancy.
False declarations carry fines of up to $10,000 in addition to the applicable tax.
Toronto Property Tax and Utility Relief Programs Deadline
The deadline to apply for the City of Toronto’s 2026 property tax and utility relief programs is Monday, November 2, 2026.
Toronto offers multiple programs designed to reduce the financial burden on vulnerable residents, including the Property Tax Increase Cancellation Program, the Property Tax Increase Deferral Program, the Water Rebate Program, and the Solid Waste Rebate Program.
Eligibility requirements are based on factors such as age, income, and disability status, and the programs are specifically aimed at low-income seniors and low-income individuals living with disabilities.
The Property Tax Increase Cancellation Program cancels eligible annual property tax increases for qualifying homeowners, with the relief amount depending on their property tax assessment and applicable program requirements.
Applications can be submitted online through the City of Toronto portal or by mailing a paper form before the November 2 deadline.
November 2026 Ontario Changes at a Glance
| Date | Change | Who Is Affected |
| November 1 | New winter electricity rates and OER drops to 15.7% | All residential customers |
| November 1 | Daylight saving time ends (clocks fall back 1 hour) | Most Ontario residents |
| November 1 | NW Ontario stays on permanent daylight time | Kenora and communities west of 90th meridian |
| November 1 | School council police record-check deadline | Parent council and PIC members |
| November 2 | Land registration fee increases | Property buyers and real estate lawyers |
| November 2 | Toronto tax and utility relief application deadline | Low-income seniors and disabled homeowners |
| November 2 | Bail Compliance Grant application deadline | Eligible police services and municipalities |
| Early November | Toronto VHT 2026 declaration portal opens | All Toronto residential property owners |
| November 15+ | Municipal winter parking bans begin | Drivers in London, Ottawa, Barrie, and others |
| November 15 | Winter disconnection ban starts | All residential utility customers |
| November 16 | Final 2025 VHT payment instalment due | Toronto homeowners with VHT assessments |
| November 20 | Primary Care Teams funding proposal deadline | Health-care organizations |
| November 27 | Source Water Protection funding deadline | Eligible communities |
| November 30 | FSRA older pension waiver forms expire | Pension administrators and affected spouses |
November 2026 demands more proactive planning from Ontario residents than most months.
Homeowners in Toronto should prepare for the VHT portal opening and ensure their final instalment payment clears before November 16.
Low-income seniors and disabled homeowners in Toronto must submit their property tax relief applications before November 2 or forfeit their 2026 eligibility.
School council parents who have not completed their police record check should contact their school office immediately to begin the process before the November 1 deadline.
Anyone on a Regulated Price Plan should review their electricity pricing option before November 1, since winter consumption patterns and the lower rebate will shift the math on which plan costs less.
Residents in Kenora and northwestern Ontario should confirm with their employers and service providers that their community will not be observing the November 1 clock change.
Drivers in municipalities with seasonal overnight parking bans should move their vehicles off the street before the applicable start date to avoid tickets and towing.
Utility customers behind on their bills should contact their distributor to set up a payment arrangement now, before the disconnection ban begins on November 15, since balances will continue to grow with late-payment interest even while disconnection is suspended.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Will my electricity bill actually go down in November 2026, or does the lower rebate cancel out the rate decrease?
The per-kilowatt-hour rates are dropping by roughly four to seven per cent on November 1, but the Ontario Electricity Rebate is simultaneously shrinking from 23.5% to 15.7%.
The OEB expects a typical household using 700 kWh monthly to save about $23 per month from the rebate, compared with $36 under the previous structure.
Whether your total bill rises or falls depends on your consumption, your pricing plan, and how your winter usage compares to the summer months when a lower tier threshold applied.
Households that heat with electricity or run heavy appliances during peak hours should use the OEB’s online bill calculator to model the actual impact before locking in a pricing plan.
What happens if I miss the Toronto Vacant Home Tax payment deadline on November 16?
Overdue VHT amounts are subject to a penalty of 1.25% on the first day of default and on the first day of each month thereafter, as long as the balance remains unpaid.
The City of Toronto can add unpaid VHT amounts to the property’s tax roll, meaning the outstanding balance accumulates alongside regular property taxes.
Property owners who believe their 2025 Vacant Home Tax assessment is incorrect can submit a Notice of Complaint until December 31, 2026.
The November 16 deadline is the final payment instalment, not the deadline to dispute the assessment.
Do parents on school councils now need a police record check even if they are not volunteering inside classrooms?
Yes, Ontario Regulation 309/26 specifically extends the police record-check requirement to school council members and parent involvement committee members, regardless of whether they have direct classroom contact with students.
The November 1, 2026 deadline applies to individuals who have not previously had a police record check collected by their school board.
Volunteers are eligible for free criminal record checks under the Police Record Checks Reform Act, although Vulnerable Sector Checks typically carry a fee set by the local police service.
Can my utility company cut off my heat or electricity after November 15 if I owe money?
No, the OEB’s winter disconnection ban prohibits electricity and natural gas distributors from disconnecting residential customers for non-payment between November 15, 2026, and April 30, 2027.
If your service was disconnected before November 15, your distributor must reconnect you by December 1.
The ban does not erase your debt, though, and late-payment charges will continue to accumulate throughout the protection period.
Residents in multi-unit buildings served by sub-metering companies should check whether their provider voluntarily follows the ban, since the OEB rule does not legally cover sub-metered units.
Will all of Ontario eventually stop changing clocks, or is this just for northwestern communities?
The November 1, 2026, change applies only to Kenora and northwestern Ontario communities west of the 90th meridian that have historically aligned with Manitoba’s time zone.
The rest of Ontario will continue to change clocks twice a year until the Time Amendment Act of 2020 is brought into force province-wide.
The Ontario government has emphasized the importance of coordinating any provincewide time change with neighbouring jurisdictions such as Quebec and New York.
However, the provincewide provisions of the Time Amendment Act, 2020, have not yet been brought into force, and neither Quebec nor New York has adopted permanent daylight saving time.
Fact-Checked: All dates, rates, fee amounts, and regulatory requirements cited in this article were verified against official Ontario government sources, including the Ontario Land Registration Services Branch bulletin effective November 2, 2026, the Ontario Energy Board rate announcements, Ontario Regulation 309/26 on e-Laws, the City of Toronto Vacant Home Tax program page, and the Ontario IPCT call for proposals, as published in October 2026.
Disclaimer: This article is for informational purposes only and does not constitute legal, financial, or professional advice. Readers should consult a qualified professional or review the official Ontario government programs and services page for guidance specific to their circumstances.
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