Ontario Municipal Records

Municipal Records

 * Finding Municipal Records Research Guide
 * The Archives of Ontario has a significant collection of local government records, dating from approximately 1821 to 1971. The collection contains records from all regions of the province. However, it is not comprehensive. There are more records from southern municipalities than other areas of the province. The Archives’ collection includes some township and village records at the county level. Municipal records can include minutes and by-laws, assessment and collectors rolls, and general financial and administrative records.

A discussion of ways to use municipal records in family history research is in:


 * Walsh, Mark. Municipal Archives and Genealogy, pp. 67-75, in Debra Butler Honor, edhistory itor. In the Footsteps of the Habitants. Toronto, Ontario: The Ontario Genealogical Society, 1986. WorldCat

Writing for Records
Records for the rest of the more than 800 municipalities in the province must be obtained from the municipal offices or regional archives holding them. Addresses for all incorporated municipalities and some archives and government offices in Ontario are in the appropriate sections of:


 * Canadian Almanac and Directory. Toronto, Ontario: Canadian Almanac &amp; Directory Publishing Company, annual. (FHL book ; not on microfilm.)

Confirming the Municipality’s Name
In searching the Archives’ municipal records, keep in mind that: • A municipality’s name and its administrative levels may have changed. Click here to view a permanent on-line exhibit, The Changing Shape of Ontario: A Guide to Boundaries, Names, and Regional Government. • Many small Ontario communities were never incorporated as municipalities but included a post office or railway station. These places often are known by locally-recognized names.