O. Reg. 283/26: STANDARDS FOR ROAD DESIGN AND CONSTRUCTION, Public Transportation and Highway Improvement Act
Public Transportation and Highway Improvement Act
STANDARDS FOR ROAD DESIGN AND CONSTRUCTION
Consolidation Period: From August 14, 2026 to the e-Laws currency date.
No amendments.
This is the English version of a bilingual regulation.
Definitions
1. (1) In this Regulation,
“mandatory municipal road construction standard” means an Ontario Provincial Standard Specification document in Volumes 7-8 of the Ontario Provincial Standards for Roads and Public Works that is listed in the Schedule to this Regulation. (“norme obligatoire de construction des routes municipales”)
“municipal road project” means a project for the design, evaluation or construction of a highway within a municipality’s jurisdiction and control; (“projet routier municipal”)
“OPSS.MUNI 100” means the document entitled “OPSS.MUNI 100 – OPSS MUNI General Conditions of Contract”, dated November 2024, in Volumes 7-8 of the Ontario Provincial Standards for Roads and Public Works; (“document OPSS.MUNI 100”)
(2) All documents referred to in this Regulation are published by the Ministry of Transportation and are available on the Ministry of Transportation’s Technical Publications website.
(3) For the purposes of sections 2 and 3, a procurement process commences on the earliest date that a municipality publicly communicates a solicitation, request or tender for qualification, quotation, proposal, comment, consideration or costing, including by directly contacting one or more suppliers.
Mandatory municipal road construction standards and contract terms, July 1, 2027
2. (1) Where a municipality undertakes or causes to be undertaken a municipal road project for which the procurement process commences on or after July 1, 2027 but before July 1, 2028, the municipality shall ensure that,
(a) the design, evaluation and construction for the municipal road project conform to every applicable mandatory municipal road construction standard; and
(b) a contract between the municipality and a contractor for the performance of work relating to the municipal road project does not exclude, modify or substitute a provision in an applicable mandatory municipal road construction standard.
(2) Clause (1) (b) applies despite any statement in a mandatory municipal road construction standard or OPSS.MUNI 100 allowing a contract or other document to apply different provisions than those set out in a mandatory municipal road construction standard.
Mandatory municipal road construction standards and contract terms, July 1, 2028
3. (1) Where a municipality undertakes or causes to be undertaken a municipal road project for which the procurement process commences on or after July 1, 2028, the municipality shall ensure that,
(a) the design, evaluation and construction for the municipal road project conform to every applicable mandatory municipal road construction standard; and
(b) a contract between the municipality and a contractor for the performance of work relating to the municipal road project includes only,
(i) provisions that are set out in OPSS.MUNI 100, and
(ii) provisions that address matters that are not addressed in OPSS.MUNI 100, but no such provision shall,
(A) exclude, modify or substitute a provision in an applicable mandatory municipal road construction standard, or
(B) modify or substitute a provision in OPSS.MUNI 100.
(2) Subclause (1) (b) (i) does not require the contract to include every provision set out in OPSS.MUNI 100.
(3) Subclause (1) (b) (ii) applies despite any statement in a mandatory municipal road construction standard or OPSS.MUNI 100 allowing a contract or other document to apply different provisions than those set out in a mandatory municipal road construction standard or OPSS.MUNI 100.
Note: Section 4 comes into force on January 1, 2027.
Exemptions
4. (1) A municipality may submit a request to the Minister for an exemption from the requirement in section 2 or 3 to conform to a mandatory municipal road construction standard in respect of all or part of the standard by submitting the request to the Minister in the form required by the Minister.
(2) A request referred to in subsection (1) must include the following information:
1. The mandatory municipal road construction standard for which an exemption is being sought.
2. The project to which the exemption would apply.
3. Appropriate supporting documentation and reasons that an exemption is appropriate.
4. A summary of any other facts relevant to the application.
5. Any other information requested by the Minister.
(3) When determining whether to approve a request, with or without conditions, the Minister shall consider any information provided in the request and may consider other relevant information.
(4) The Minister shall determine whether to grant the exemption and if so, what conditions, if any, should apply to the exemption.
(5) The Minister shall give a written copy of the decision described in subsection (4) to the requestor within 10 business days after the decision is made.
(6) The requestor may submit a written request for reconsideration of the decision described in subsection (4) no later than 10 business days after receiving it, together with any additional information that was not previously provided to the Minister.
Reporting
5. (1) Every municipality shall file with the Ministry an annual report on or before April 1 in each year, starting on April 1, 2028.
(2) In a report described in subsection (1), the municipality shall,
(a) list every municipal road project in the municipality in the previous calendar year that was subject to this Regulation; and
(b) for each such project,
(i) state the date on which the procurement process commenced,
(ii) identify every mandatory municipal road construction standard that applied to the project,
(iii) state whether the municipality complied with this Regulation, and
(iv) provide a description of any failures to comply, including the relevant provisions in the mandatory municipal road construction standard or OPSS.MUNI 100 and the reason for non-compliance.
(3) The Minister may publish information in respect of reports required under this section.
6. Omitted (provides for coming into force of provisions of this Regulation).
| Item | Column 1 | Column 2 | Column 3 |
| 1. | General Grading | OPSS.MUNI 206 – Construction Specification for Grading | April 2019 |
| 2. | Pavement (Flexible and Rigid) | OPSS.MUNI 307 – Construction Specification for Patching of Asphalt Pavement | November 2025 |
| 3. | Pavement (Flexible and Rigid) | OPSS.MUNI 310 – Construction Specification for Hot Mix Asphalt | November 2017 |
| 4. | Pavement (Flexible and Rigid) | OPSS.MUNI 311 – Construction Specification for Asphalt Sidewalk, Driveway, and Boulevard, and for Sidewalk Resurfacing | November 2018 |
| 5. | Pavement (Flexible and Rigid) | OPSS.MUNI 312 – Construction Specification for Asphalt Curb and Asphalt Gutter Systems | November 2018 |
| 6. | Pavement (Flexible and Rigid) | OPSS.MUNI 314 – Construction Specification for Untreated Granular Subbase, Base, Surface, Shoulder, and Stockpiling | November 2023 |
| 7. | Pavement (Flexible and Rigid) | OPSS.MUNI 320 – Construction Specification for Open Graded Drainage Layer | November 2020 |
| 8. | Pavement (Flexible and Rigid) | OPSS.MUNI 332 – Construction Specification for Hot In-Place Recycling (HIR) | November 2016 |
| 9. | Pavement (Flexible and Rigid) | OPSS.MUNI 333 – Construction Specification for Cold In-Place Recycled (CIR) Mix | November 2015 |
| 10. | Pavement (Flexible and Rigid) | OPSS.MUNI 353 – Construction Specification for Concrete Curb and Gutter Systems | November 2021 |
| 11. | Drainage, Watermains and Utility | OPSS.MUNI 401 – Construction Specification for Trenching, Backfilling, and Compacting | November 2024 |
| 12. | Drainage, Watermains and Utility | OPSS.MUNI 402 – Construction Specification for Excavating, Backfilling, and Compacting for Maintenance Holes, Catch Basins, Ditch Inlets, and Valve Chambers | November 2024 |
| 13. | Drainage, Watermains and Utility | OPSS.MUNI 404 – Construction Specification for Support Systems | November 2017 |
| 14. | Drainage, Watermains and Utility | OPSS.MUNI 405 – Construction Specification for Pipe Subdrains | November 2017 |
| 15. | Drainage, Watermains and Utility | OPSS.MUNI 407 – Construction Specification for New Maintenance Hole, Catch Basin, Ditch Inlet, and Valve Chamber Installation | November 2021 |
| 16. | Drainage, Watermains and Utility | OPSS.MUNI 408 – Construction Specification for Adjusting or Rebuilding Maintenance Holes, Catch Basins, Ditch Inlets, and Valve Chambers | November 2021 |
| 17. | Drainage, Watermains and Utility | OPSS.MUNI 409 – Construction Specification for Closed-Circuit Television (CCTV) Inspection of Pipelines | April 2025 |
| 18. | Drainage, Watermains and Utility | OPSS.MUNI 410 – Construction Specification for Pipe Sewer Installation in Open Cut | November 2018 |
| 19. | Drainage, Watermains and Utility | OPSS.MUNI 421 – Construction Specification for Pipe Culvert Installation in Open Cut | November 2018 |
| 20. | Drainage, Watermains and Utility | OPSS.MUNI 441 – Construction Specification for Watermain Installation in Open Cut | November 2025 |
| 21. | Drainage, Watermains and Utility | OPSS.MUNI 442 – Construction Specification for Corrosion Protection of New and Existing Watermains | November 2020 |
| 22. | Drainage, Watermains and Utility | OPSS.MUNI 490 – Construction Specification for Site Preparation for Pipelines, Utilities, and Associated Structures | November 2020 |
| 23. | Drainage, Watermains and Utility | OPSS.MUNI 491 – Construction Specification for Preservation, Protection, and Reconstruction of Existing Facilities | November 2017 |
| 24. | Drainage, Watermains and Utility | OPSS.MUNI 492 – Construction Specification for Site Restoration Following Installation of Pipelines, Utilities, and Associated Structures | November 2020 |
| 25. | Drainage, Watermains and Utility | OPSS.MUNI 493 – Construction Specification for Temporary Potable Water Supply Services | November 2019 |
| 26. | Miscellaneous | OPSS.MUNI 501 – Construction Specification for Compacting | November 2017 |
| 27. | Miscellaneous | OPSS.MUNI 510 – Construction Specification for Removal | November 2018 |
| 28. | Miscellaneous | OPSS.MUNI 517 – Construction Specification for Dewatering | November 2021 |
| 29. | Miscellaneous | OPSS.MUNI 539 – Construction Specification for Temporary Protection Systems | November 2021 |
| 30. | Structural | OPSS.MUNI 904 – Construction Specification for Concrete Structures | November 2023 |
| 31. | Structural | OPSS.MUNI 905 – Construction Specification for Steel Reinforcement for Concrete | November 2017 |
| 32. | Structural | OPSS.MUNI 920 – Construction Specification for Deck Joint Assemblies, Preformed Seals, Joint Fillers, Joint Seals, Joint Sealing Compounds, and Waterstops – Structures | November 2023 |
| 33. | Aggregates | OPSS.MUNI 1001 – Material Specification for Aggregates – General | November 2021 |
| 34. | Aggregates | OPSS.MUNI 1002 – Material Specification for Aggregates – Concrete | November 2013 |
| 35. | Aggregates | OPSS.MUNI 1003 – Material Specification for Aggregates – Hot Mix Asphalt | November 2013 |
| 36. | Aggregates | OPSS.MUNI 1004 – Material Specification for Aggregates – Miscellaneous | November 2021 |
| 37. | Aggregates | OPSS.MUNI 1005 – Material Specification for Aggregates – Waterbody | November 2021 |
| 38. | Aggregates | OPSS.MUNI 1006 – Material Specification for Aggregates – Surface Treatment | November 2021 |
| 39. | Aggregates | OPSS.MUNI 1010 – Material Specification for Aggregates – Base, Subbase, Select Subgrade, Granular Surface, Shouldering, Bedding and Backfill Material | April 2025 |
| 40. | Bitumens | OPSS.MUNI 1101 – Material Specification for Performance Graded Asphalt Cement (PGAC) | November 2016 |
| 41. | Bitumens | OPSS.MUNI 1103 – Material Specification for Emulsified Asphalts | November 2025 |
| 42. | Bitumens | OPSS.MUNI 1150 – Material Specification for Hot Mix Asphalt (HMA) | November 2020 |
| 43. | Bitumens | OPSS.MUNI 1151 – Material Specification for Superpave and Stone Mastic Asphalt (SMA) Mixtures | April 2018 |
| 44. | Bitumens | OPSS.MUNI 1152 – Material Specification for Patching Material | November 2025 |
| 45. | Bitumens | OPSS.MUNI 1153 – Material Specification for Emulsified Asphalt Patching Material and Proprietary Cold Patching Material | November 2024 |
| 46. | Seals, Bearings, Waterstops | OPSS.MUNI 1205 – Material Specification for Clay Seal | April 2015 |
| 47. | Cement and Concrete | OPSS.MUNI 1301 – Material Specification for Cementing Materials | November 2018 |
| 48. | Cement and Concrete | OPSS.MUNI 1302 – Material Specification for Water | November 2019 |
| 49. | Cement and Concrete | OPSS.MUNI 1350 – Material Specification for Concrete – Materials and Production | November 2023 |
| 50. | Cement and Concrete | OPSS.MUNI 1351 – Material Specification for Precast Reinforced Concrete Components for Maintenance Holes, Catch Basins, Ditch Inlets, and Valve Chambers | November 2024 |
| 51. | Metal | OPSS.MUNI 1440 – Material Specification for Steel Reinforcement for Concrete | November 2016 |
| 52. | Drainage, Watermains and Utility | OPSS.MUNI 1801 – Material Specification for Corrugated Steel Pipe (CSP) Products | November 2019 |
| 53. | Drainage, Watermains and Utility | OPSS.MUNI 1820 – Material Specification for Circular and Elliptical Concrete Pipe | November 2020 |
| 54. | Drainage, Watermains and Utility | OPSS.MUNI 1840 – Material Specification for Non-Pressure Polyethylene (PE) Plastic Pipe Products | November 2019 |
| 55. | Drainage, Watermains and Utility | OPSS.MUNI 1841 – Material Specification for Non-Pressure Polyvinyl Chloride (PVC) Pipe Products | November 2019 |
| 56. | Drainage, Watermains and Utility | OPSS.MUNI 1842 – Material Specification for Pressure Polyethylene (PE) Pipe Products | November 2020 |
| 57. | Drainage, Watermains and Utility | OPSS.MUNI 1843 – Material Specification for Non-Pressure Polypropylene (PP) Plastic Pipe Products | November 2019 |
| 58. | Drainage, Watermains and Utility | OPSS.MUNI 1850 – Material Specification for Frames, Grates, Covers, and Gratings | November 2020 |
| 59. | Drainage, Watermains and Utility | OPSS.MUNI 1853 – Construction Specification for Rubber Adjustment Units for Maintenance Holes, Catch Basins, and Valve Chambers | November 2025 |
| 60. | Drainage, Watermains and Utility | OPSS.MUNI 1854 – Material Specification for High Density Polyethylene (HDPE) and Expanded Polystyrene (EPS) Adjustment Units for Maintenance Holes, Catch Basins, and Valve Chambers | November 2019 |
| 61. | Drainage, Watermains and Utility | OPSS.MUNI 1860 – Material Specification for Geotextiles | November 2018 |
