Ontario Small Claims Court · Toronto region · claims up to $50,000
Small Claims Court in Toronto.
Toronto claims are filed and heard at 47 Sheppard – Small Claims Courthouse, 47 Sheppard Ave. East. Claims up to $50,000 (Courts of Justice Act s. 23; O. Reg. 626/00 s. 1). The forms are free here, filled from your answers.
The courthouse
47 Sheppard – Small Claims Courthouse
47 Sheppard Ave. East, Toronto, Ontario M2N 5N1
The only Small Claims Court location for the City of Toronto territorial division. Toronto filings go through the Ontario Courts Public Portal (r. 1.05.5), not Small Claims Court Submissions Online.
Hours
Court office: Monday to Friday, 8:30 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.
Counter: Monday to Friday, 9:00 a.m. to 11:00 a.m. and 2:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m.
Read from ontario.ca on 2026-09-14.
Address read from ontario.ca and ontariocourts.ca on 2026-08-23.
Is Toronto the right court?
Rule 6.01 lets you start the action in the territorial division where the cause of action arose, or where a defendant lives or carries on business, or at the court's place of sitting nearest to a defendant. One of those tests must fit this location.
The trial happens where the action started. The court can move it if the balance of convenience substantially favours another place (rule 6.01(2)). A claim cannot be split to fit the $50,000 limit (rule 6.02).
Who files here
The City of Toronto is one territorial division, so every part of the city files at this one location:
- Scarborough
- North York
- Etobicoke
- East York
- York
- downtown Toronto
Rules of the Small Claims Court, r. 1.02(1) "territorial division" (b)(ix); O. Reg. 180/03, Sched. 1, "Toronto".
How to file in Toronto
Ontario Courts Public Portal
Toronto claims are filed through the Ontario Courts Public Portal (rule 1.05.5, in force October 14, 2025), with Case Center for hearing documents (rule 1.05.6).
O. Reg. 332/16, as stored 2026-01-06. Fee waiver: O. Reg. 2/05.
Filing through the Ontario Courts Public Portal
- Since October 14, 2025, every online filing for the Toronto region goes through the Ontario Courts Public Portal (rule 1.05.5). You sign in with an Ontario.ca login.
- Hearing documents go to Case Center (rule 1.05.6).
- Court staff review a submission within 3 business days. The portal cannot be used for a court date that is 3 business days away or less, or for an urgent hearing.
- A portal session ends after 40 minutes without activity, and unsaved work is lost. Have the claim text and the exhibits ready before you start.
- Counter payment: Visa, Mastercard, Interac, cash, cheque, or money order.
Portal support: CourtsPortal@ontario.ca, 647-438-0403 or 1-800-980-4962.
The official filing page on ontario.ca · read 2026-09-14
Court email addresses
- Filings and general questions
- TorontoSCCFilings@ontario.ca
- Scheduling
- Toronto.SmallClaimsTC@ontario.ca
- Hearing method and adjournment requests
- SmallClaimsFilings@ontario.ca
From the Superior Court of Justice court-locations page, read 2026-09-14. Email filing is allowed only when a hearing or deadline is 5 business days away or less.
Getting there
The courthouse is on Sheppard Avenue just east of Yonge Street. Sheppard–Yonge subway station (Line 1 Yonge–University and Line 4 Sheppard) is at 20 Sheppard Avenue West, one block away.
Trials are mostly in person; settlement conferences are mostly by video (SCJ 2024–2025 report). Check the notice before you travel.
The clocks that matter
2 years
Limitation period
From the day you discovered the claim (Limitations Act, 2002, s. 4).
6 months
To serve the claim
From the issue date (rule 8.01(2)). Then file the Affidavit of Service, Form 8A.
20 days
To file a defence
From service (rule 9.01). No defence: the plaintiff can ask for default judgment.
90 days
To the settlement conference
After the first defence is filed (rule 13.01(3)). Every defended case has one.
What people in Toronto sue for
The same money disputes fill every Small Claims list in Ontario. Pick yours: each page has what you must show, the documents that help, the route, and the deadline.
- Unpaid invoice
- Contractor deposit
- Personal loan
- Deposit not returned
- Unpaid wages
- Property damage
- Paid, not delivered
- Roommate owes rent
- Car repair dispute
- Wedding vendor
- Tuition or daycare fees
- Gym membership
- Freelancer not paid
- Subcontractor not paid
- Commercial lease
- E-transfer scam
- Bounced cheque
- Loan to an ex
- Tenant left damage
The Toronto region
10,815 new Small Claims proceedings started in the Toronto region in 2025, out of 65,919 in Ontario (Superior Court of Justice 2024–2025 report, regional statistics, read 2026-09-14).
Places that file at Toronto
Questions people ask about Small Claims Court in Toronto
- Where is the Small Claims Court in Toronto?
- 47 Sheppard – Small Claims Courthouse, 47 Sheppard Ave. East, Toronto, Ontario M2N 5N1, 416-326-3554. Addresses were read from ontario.ca on 2026-08-23.
- Do I have to sue in Toronto?
- Not always. Under rule 6.01 you start the action where the cause of action arose, where a defendant lives or carries on business, or at the court's place of sitting nearest to a defendant. If the Toronto location fits one of those tests, you can file here (O. Reg. 258/98, r. 6.01).
- How do I file a Small Claims claim in Toronto?
- Toronto claims are filed through the Ontario Courts Public Portal (rule 1.05.5, in force October 14, 2025). Hearing documents go through Case Center (rule 1.05.6). The filing fee is $108 for an infrequent claimant (O. Reg. 332/16, as stored 2026-01-06).
- What is the Small Claims Court limit in Toronto?
- The same as everywhere in Ontario: $50,000, not counting interest and costs (Courts of Justice Act s. 23; O. Reg. 626/00 s. 1, as amended by O. Reg. 42/25, in force October 1, 2025). A claim cannot be split into two to fit under the limit (rule 6.02).
- How long do I have to sue in Toronto?
- In most cases, 2 years from the day you discovered the claim (Limitations Act, 2002, s. 4 and s. 5). After the claim is issued, you have 6 months to serve it (rule 8.01(2)); the defendant then has 20 days to file a Defence (rule 9.01).
- What are the counter hours at Toronto Small Claims Court?
- Counter service at 47 Sheppard Avenue East runs Monday to Friday, 9:00 a.m. to 11:00 a.m. and 2:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m. The court office is open 8:30 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. (ontario.ca court locations, read 2026-09-14). Most filings happen online through the Ontario Courts Public Portal, so you rarely need the counter.
- I live in Scarborough, North York, or Etobicoke. Is 47 Sheppard my court?
- Yes, if the venue rule points to Toronto. The City of Toronto is one territorial division (rule 1.02(1)), and 47 Sheppard Avenue East is its only Small Claims Court location. Under rule 6.01 you can also file where the cause of action arose or where a defendant lives or does business, if that is outside Toronto.
- How do I file a Small Claims Court claim in Toronto online?
- Use the Ontario Courts Public Portal (rule 1.05.5, in force October 14, 2025) with an Ontario.ca login. Upload the Plaintiff's Claim (Form 7A) with the documents you rely on, pay the $108 fee by Visa, Mastercard, or debit (O. Reg. 332/16, as stored 2026-01-06), and wait for staff review within 3 business days. Hearing materials later go to Case Center (rule 1.05.6).
- How do I get to Toronto Small Claims Court by transit?
- Sheppard–Yonge station on Line 1 and Line 4 is at Yonge Street and Sheppard Avenue, one block west of the courthouse at 47 Sheppard Avenue East. Trials are mostly in person; settlement conferences are mostly by video (SCJ 2024–2025 report), so check your notice before you travel.
Legal services provided by Mithril Law — Jonathan Kleiman, licensed Ontario lawyer. The free tools are legal information, not legal advice.
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