Several provincial rule changes that took effect Jan. 1 change how Markham property owners can receive their assessments and give municipalities a new way to enforce fire safety.
The province listed the changes in a Dec. 31 backgrounder on laws, regulations and fees in force at the start of 2026. Four of them deal directly with how municipalities such as Markham operate.
Assessment notices can go out electronically
Amendments to the Assessment Act, the Municipal Act and the City of Toronto Act enable the Municipal Property Assessment Corporation to deliver assessment notices to property owners electronically starting in 2026. MPAC's assessments are the base the City of Markham and York Region use to calculate property tax bills.
The province said the change is meant to improve public access to property assessment information.
Penalties for Fire Code violations
A new regulation under the Fire Protection and Prevention Act adds administrative monetary penalties as another enforcement tool. It allows municipalities to levy a penalty on anyone, including tenants, owners and corporations, who is in violation of certain provisions of the Ontario Fire Code. The province said the aim is to strengthen fire safety compliance.
A separate amendment created the first French edition of the Ontario Fire Code.
Financial statements move online
Under the Protect Ontario by Cutting Red Tape Act, municipalities must now post their financial statements on their own websites rather than in print media.
Housing income limits updated
The province also made its annual adjustment to household income limits under the Housing Services Act, based on the latest Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation data. Local service managers use the limits to decide who qualifies for supports such as rent-geared-to-income assistance. For Markham, that service manager is York Region.
None of the changes require residents to take any action right away.
