Toronto could restrict jet skis and boats in select waterfront zones this summer

Jet skis and other motorized watercraft could be prohibited from several popular Toronto waterfront areas this summer under a new policy being implemented by the Toronto Port Authority (TPA), as the city responds to growing safety concerns along its shoreline.

City council is set to hear an update this week on efforts to manage an influx of personal watercraft activity, especially in busy areas where swimmers and paddlers gather during the summer. The item will be considered during council meetings on April 22, 23, and 24.

Following a pilot motorized watercraft exclusion zone (MWEZ) at Hanlan's Point Beach in 2025, the TPA has agreed to expand the program for the upcoming boating season. New exclusion zones are set to be introduced at Woodbine Beach and Humber Bay Shores, in addition to continuing the zone at Hanlan's.

Councillor Paula Fletcher has also expressed interest in implementing an MWEZ at Cherry Beach, while members of the city's executive committee have signalled support for similar restrictions at Bluffer's Park Beach, Humber Bay Park, and Marie Curtis Park.

However, those locations fall under the jurisdiction of Transport Canada, a federal agency, which has not approved restrictions there for 2026, although it has encouraged the City to apply for watercraft restrictions at these locations for 2027.

According to city documents, MWEZs are designated areas where vessels with motors are not permitted to enter. City Council is asking the TPA to confirm that these exclusion zones apply to all motorized watercraft, including sailboats with motors, powerboats, and personal watercraft.

Personal watercraft, or PWCs, are defined as vessels less than four metres in length that use an internal combustion engine powering a water-jet pump. They are designed to be operated by a person sitting, standing, or kneeling on the vessel rather than inside it.

Common brands of PWCs include Jet Skis, Sea-Doos, and WaveRunners, to name a few. Importantly, PWCs do not refer to non-motorized, human-powered vessels, including canoes, kayaks, and stand-up paddle boards.

"Toronto has experienced increasing safety risks, compliance challenges, and public concern related to the use of Personal Watercraft (PWCs) along the waterfront, particularly in near‑shore and high‑use areas," a city report reads.

"Unsafe operation of PWCs can conflict with swimmers and paddlers, and unpermitted commercial PWC rental activity in City parks and beaches have highlighted the need for a coordinated, multi‑jurisdictional response that takes into account the various roles and responsibilities of the City, the Toronto Police Service (TPS) Marine Unit, and external partners such as the Toronto Port Authority and Transport Canada."

The City says it has received reports from partner agencies and waterfront users that reference "repeated instances of excessive speed, erratic operation, and close quarters manoeuvring near swimmers, paddlers, and other non-motorized vessels."

If physical markers, such as buoys, are installed to signify the zones, the City is expected to bear the full cost. Large marker buoys are estimated to run for $54,500 each, with a minimum of two required at each of the three locations. Installing two buoys each at Humber Bay Shores, Hanlan's Point Beach, and Woodbine Beach would bring the total estimated cost to approximately $327,000.

The City says it will evaluate the plan's effectiveness during the 2026 boating season to help determine next steps to improve safety along the waterfront.