The Beaches
The Beaches is an east-end neighbourhood of about 22,000 people, next to Birchcliffe-Cliffside, East End-Danforth, Greenwood-Coxwell and two other neighbourhoods. Most households own their homes. Its main shopping street is Queen St E. It stands out for its many short-term rentals and one of the highest household incomes in the city.
Neighbouring areas link to their pages. City of Toronto neighbourhood boundaries and Toronto Centreline.
Boundaries: Eastern Ave, then Kingston Rd to the north, Victoria Park Ave, then Nursewood Rd to the east, Lake Shore Blvd E, then Lake Ontario to the south and Leslie St to the west.
01 · What’s being built
Rank by proposals →There are 16 active planning proposals in the Beaches, more than most neighbourhoods (54th most in Toronto). One has a hearing coming up (103 Rainsford Rd, Dec 2, 2026). Neighbours can send comments or speak at a hearing. Of the rest, 11 are waiting for a decision and four are under appeal. Another 13 were decided recently.
Hearing coming up (1)
Under appeal (4)
Waiting for a decision (11)
Decided recently (13)
Each proposal has its own page. All applications in progress here · Hearings and comment deadlines
City of Toronto Development Applications and Committee of Adjustment. One entry per site. Decided recently: development files submitted in the last 4 years; Committee of Adjustment decisions in the last 2 years.
Planning rules
Part of the neighbourhood is in the Kingswood Road South heritage conservation district, where changes to building exteriors need heritage approval.
City of Toronto Heritage Conservation Districts and Major Transit Station Areas. Each address report shows the zoning for that lot.
Noise permits
In the last 12 months, 29 noise exemption permits were issued in the Beaches: 29 for amplified sound at events.
City of Toronto Noise Exemption Permits. A permit lets an event or a construction project make noise outside the hours the noise bylaw allows. Address pages list the permits nearby that haven’t ended yet.
02 · Safety
Rank by crime →In 2025, 218 major crimes were reported in the Beaches: 917 per 100,000 residents, 31% below the citywide rate (1,322) and the 117th highest in Toronto. Assaults, break-ins, car thefts and robberies were below the citywide rate. Reports fell from 244 in 2024 to 218 in 2025, mostly car thefts (59 to 39) and assaults (141 to 125).
The Beaches compared with Toronto · rate per 100,000 residents, 2025
| Major crime | Compared with the Toronto rate | Difference |
|---|---|---|
| Thefts over $5,000 | 18% lower50 vs 61 per 100,000 | |
| Break-ins | 21% lower151 vs 190 per 100,000 | |
| Car thefts | 27% lower164 vs 225 per 100,000 | |
| Assaults | 32% lower526 vs 768 per 100,000 | |
| Robberies | 68% lower25 vs 78 per 100,000 |
Major crimes reported per year, by type
Change from 2021 to 2025, by type
| Major crime | 2021 | 2025 | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Assaults | 93 | 125 | up 34% |
| Car thefts | 31 | 39 | up 26% |
| Break-ins | 39 | 36 | about the same |
| Robberies | 17 | 6 | about halved |
| Thefts over $5,000 | 7 | 12 | up 71% |
Other crimes, last 12 months
| Crime | Reported | Per 100,000 residents | Compared with other neighbourhoods |
|---|---|---|---|
| Shootings and firearm discharges | 1 | 5 | Lower than most |
| Bicycle thefts | 22 | 102 | Higher than most |
| Thefts from vehicles | 57 | 265 | Higher than most |
Toronto Police Service: Shootings and Firearm Discharges, Bicycle Thefts and Theft From Motor Vehicle, last 12 months. Police place each incident at the nearest intersection.
Toronto Police Service neighbourhood crime rates: assaults, break-ins, car thefts, robberies and thefts over $5,000. Police place each incident at the nearest intersection. Address reports also count incidents within 500 m.
Traffic safety
Since 2021, ten collisions in the Beaches killed or seriously injured someone, the 68th lowest rate per resident in Toronto. Four involved pedestrians. Most were on Queen St E and Beech Ave.
Toronto Police Service: collisions in which someone was killed or seriously injured, by year. *2026 so far. Rank by serious collisions
03 · Getting around
Inside the neighbourhood, 58 TTC stops are served by the 501 Queen and 503 Kingston Rd streetcars and the 22 Coxwell and 64 Main buses, among others.
Busiest bus and streetcar routes
| Route | Weekday trips each way | Trips | Delays per 1,000 trips |
|---|---|---|---|
| 501 Queen Streetcar | about 247 | 10.7 · high | |
| 22 Coxwell | about 246 | 1.8 | |
| 64 Main | about 204 | 5.6 | |
| 503 Kingston Rd Streetcar | about 169 | 7.2 · high | |
| 92 Woodbine South | about 94 | 1.6 |
TTC and GO schedules for a typical weekday. Trips each way: trips past the route’s busiest stop in the neighbourhood. Each route links to its TTC page (schedule and map).
Delays: incidents the TTC logged as delaying service, Sep 2025 to Sep 2026, per 1,000 scheduled trips. “High” marks the 30 routes (of 200) with the most delays per trip; a typical route has 4.0.
Parking tickets and EV charging
Busiest streets
| Street | Vehicles a day | 85% drive at or under | Counted |
|---|---|---|---|
| Woodbine Ave Walkway S of Queen and W of Woodbine to Woodbine Mews | 30,000 | 64 km/h | Jan 2020 |
| Lake Shore Blvd E Woodbine Beach Park Trl to Woodbine Ave | 25,000 | 64 km/h | Jan 2020 |
| Kingston Rd Waverley Rd to Lee Ave | 11,900 | — | Apr 2017 |
| Eastern Ave Cam Fella Lane to Woodward Ave | 11,600 | 55 km/h | Jul 2018 |
Fastest residential streets
| Street | Vehicles a day | 85% drive at or under | Counted |
|---|---|---|---|
| Kingswood Rd Bracken Ave to Kingston Rd | 892 | 44 km/h | May 2017 |
| Neville Park Blvd | 503 | 42 km/h | Apr 2018 |
| Lee Ave Long Cres to Kingston Rd | 1,400 | 41 km/h | Nov 2018 |
City of Toronto Traffic Volumes, counts since 2016; each street shows its highest count. “Residential” means streets the City classes as local roads. Counts are taken on different streets in different years, so they aren’t ranked.
04 · Schools and child care
Four elementary schools and one Grade 7–8 school are inside the neighbourhood. Of the four with Grade 6 results, all four beat the Toronto average in reading; all four beat the Toronto average in math (Toronto: 87% reading, 54% math). There are 14 licensed child care centres with 1,143 spaces, nine in the $10-a-day program.
Schools in the neighbourhood
Elementary schools
Share of Grade 6 students meeting the provincial standard. Toronto: 87% reading, 54% math.
Ontario Ministry of Education (2026) and EQAO. Nearest the neighbourhood’s centre first. The red tick on each bar is the Toronto average. The nearest school may not be the assigned one; check with the board.
Licensed child care (14)
- Lullaboo Nursery And Childcare Center $10 a day
2316 Queen St E · infants, toddlers, preschool215 spaces - Kew Beach Day Care Co-Op $10 a day
101 Kippendavie Ave · preschool, kindergarten, school-age182 spaces - Balmy Beach Community Day Care Centre $10 a day
14 Pine Ave · preschool, kindergarten, school-age171 spaces - Williamson Road Day Care Centre $10 a day
24 Williamson Rd · kindergarten, school-age116 spaces - Brightpath Academy - The Beach $10 a day
1925 Queen St E · infants, toddlers, preschool111 spaces
05 · Parks, trees and recreation
Rank by parks →The Beaches has 12 parks, five of them with playgrounds: about typical for a Toronto neighbourhood. It has one public pool and one wading pool. Its streets have 6,003 City-owned trees, mostly red oak, Norway maple and green ash: more per resident than most neighbourhoods (57th most per resident in Toronto). The City has 20 road or sidewalk projects planned or under way here.
How much of the neighbourhood is park
| Largest parks and open spaces | Hectares |
|---|---|
| Woodbine Park | 11.8 |
| Beaches Park | 11.1 |
| Ashbridge's Bay Sports Hub | 9.0 |
| Kew Gardens | 7.9 |
| Glen Stewart Park | 7.8 |
City of Toronto Green Spaces: parks, natural areas and conservation land. Hydro corridors, golf courses, cemeteries and road verges aren’t counted.
Park projects
- Kew Gardens New Skating Trail
The City is planning a new recreational ice-skating trail at Kew Gardens.In progress
City of Toronto Park and Recreation Facility Projects.
| Amenity | The Beaches | Typical | Where |
|---|---|---|---|
| Parks and play | |||
| Parks | 12 | 8 | Ashbridge's Bay Sports Hub, Balmy Beach Park, Beach Skatepark and 9 more |
| Playgrounds | 5 | 5 | Balmy Beach Park, Beaches Park, Jeff Sloan Playground and 2 more |
| Community centres | 1 | 1 | Beaches Recreation Centre |
| Splash pads | 2 | 0 | Ashbridge's Bay Sports Hub, Kew Gardens |
| Swimming | |||
| Public pools | 1 | 1 | Beaches Recreation Centre |
| Wading pools | 1 | 0 | Kew Gardens |
| Beaches | 2 | 0 | Balmy Beach Park, Beaches Park |
| Courts and fitness | |||
| Tennis | 0 | 1 | None inside The Beaches. |
| Pickleball | 2 | 0 | Ashbridge's Bay Sports Hub, Kew Gardens |
| Basketball | 2 | 1 | Ashbridge's Bay Sports Hub, Kew Gardens |
| Outdoor fitness equipment | 2 | 0 | Balmy Beach Park, Beaches Park |
| Facilities | |||
| Public washrooms | 7 | 2 | Beaches Recreation Centre, Kew Beach Lawn Bowling Club and 4 more · 4 of 7 open today |
City of Toronto Parks and Recreation Facilities, Tennis Courts, Washroom Facilities and Street Tree Data; Toronto Public Health. Typical: the median Toronto neighbourhood. Open today: as reported by the City this morning. City programs at schools run in a school’s gym or pool and aren’t counted as community centres.
06 · Homes and renovation
Rank by permits →In the last 12 months, 475 building permits were issued, more than almost anywhere in Toronto (6th most in Toronto). Since 2021, owners have been permitted to build 42 garden and laneway suites, more than most neighbourhoods (48th most in Toronto). In all, permits have added 571 homes since 2021, fewer than most neighbourhoods (65th fewest in Toronto); new apartment buildings add more elsewhere.
Per year. *2026 so far. New homes are added by permits, including suites and new buildings.
Green roofs and solar
Since 2010, 7 building permits in the Beaches included a green roof, the 54th most in Toronto. Since 2009, 15 included a solar hot water system.
City of Toronto building permits for green roofs (required on larger new buildings since 2010) and solar hot water systems.
07 · Renting and housing
Rents aren’t published for single neighbourhoods. Across central Toronto (the old City of Toronto, before the 1998 amalgamation), a two-bedroom in a purpose-built rental averaged $2,457 a month in October 2025, $402 more than the Toronto average. More than a third of households here (37%) rent, and 46% of renters spend 30% or more of their income on housing. There are 45 apartment buildings in the City’s RentSafe program, averaging 90 out of 100. There are 104 homes registered as short-term rentals, more than almost anywhere in Toronto (4th most in Toronto). There are no licensed rooming houses and no shelters or respite sites. 30 affordable homes are approved, proposed or being built here, about typical for a Toronto neighbourhood; the largest project is 507 Kingston Rd, with 30 affordable homes.
Average rents, October 2025
CMHC Rental Market Survey. CMHC doesn’t publish rents for single neighbourhoods; these cover central Toronto (the old City of Toronto, before the 1998 amalgamation). Vacancy 3.2% (Toronto 2.8%). Averages include long-term tenants; new listings usually cost more.
08 · People
Rank by income →In 2021, 21,510 people lived here. The median household income was $116,000, the 14th highest in Toronto (above the typical neighbourhood’s $85,000). Among workers, 17% walk or cycle to work, more than three times the typical neighbourhood; 18% commute by transit, below the typical neighbourhood.
21,510 residents in 2021. Most common first languages other than English and French: Spanish 1.2%, German 1%, Italian 0.8%. 2021 Census, from the City’s Neighbourhood Profiles.
09 · Shops and services
There are 197 licensed storefront businesses, mostly restaurants and bars and take-out and food shops. Most are on Queen St E. In the last 90 days, four businesses got new licences; the newest is Tavio Kitchen, a take-out or food shop at 1918A Queen St E.
Licensed storefronts by type
- Restaurants and bars87
- Take-out and food shops51
- Salons and personal services40
- Laundromats and dry cleaners8
- Smoke and vape shops5
Streets with the most
- Queen St E160
- Kingston Rd25
- Leslie St3
- Eastern Ave3
New licences, last 90 days
City business licences, storefront types only. We show operating names, never personal names.
Business improvement areas
The Beach is a Business Improvement Area in the Beaches. A BIA is run by local businesses, who pay a levy for street events, cleaning, decorations and promotion.
City of Toronto Business Improvement Areas.
10 · Heritage, flood risk and local contacts
The Beaches has 133 properties on the Heritage Register, more than most neighbourhoods (19th most in Toronto). About 1.1% of addresses are in a TRCA flood or shoreline hazard area.
- Heritage
- 133 properties on the Heritage Register (17 designated, 116 listed), 19th most in Toronto.
- Flood and shoreline
- 1.1% of its addresses are in a TRCA flood or shoreline hazard area. 5.1% are in TRCA’s regulated area, where some work needs a TRCA permit.
- Lead in tap water
- In M4E, 9 of 488 home tests were above Ontario’s limit (1.8%; Toronto 2.0%). In M4L, 10 of 667 home tests were above Ontario’s limit (1.5%; Toronto 2.0%).
- Councillor
- Brad Bradford · Ward 19 Beaches-East York profile
What residents report to 311
In the last 12 months, 14,990 service requests came from postal areas M4E and M4L, which cover most of the Beaches. The most common:
| Property standards | 555 | |
| Tree emergency clean-up | 529 | |
| Dead wildlife pickup | 511 | |
| Injured wildlife | 475 | |
| Road plowing | 462 | |
| Damaged bin lids | 458 |
City of Toronto 311 Service Requests, October 2025 to October 2026. 311 gives only the first three characters of the postal code, which don’t line up with neighbourhoods, so this isn’t ranked on the leaderboard.
Every figure, with ranks
| Measure | The Beaches | Typical | Rank (1st = most) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Building and change | |||
| Building permits, last 12 months | 475 | 186 | 6th |
| Active planning proposals | 16 | 11 | 54th |
| Garden and laneway suites since 2021 | 42 | 26 | 48th |
| New homes since 2021 | 571 | 795 | 94th |
| Short-term rentals | 104 | 21 | 4th |
| Heritage properties | 133 | 5 | 19th |
| Apartment buildings (RentSafe) | 45 | 18 | 17th |
| Safety, 2025, per 100,000 residents | |||
| Major crime, total | 917 | 1,107 | 117th |
| Assaults | 526 | 637 | 106th |
| Break-ins | 151 | 173 | 93rd |
| Car thefts | 164 | 193 | 96th |
| Robberies | 25 | 70 | 144th |
| Thefts over $5,000 | 50 | 46 | 67th |
| Other crimes, last 12 months, per 100,000 residents | |||
| Shootings and firearm discharges | 5 | 6 | 93rd |
| Bicycle thefts | 102 | 31 | 31st |
| Thefts from vehicles | 265 | 212 | 50th |
| People, 2021 Census | |||
| Residents | 21,510 | 16,813 | 46th |
| Median household income | $116,000 | $85,000 | 14th |
| Households that rent | 36.6% | 45.5% | 120th |
| Renters paying 30%+ on housing | 46.4% | 39.0% | 17th |
| Commute by transit | 17.8% | 25.8% | 141st |
| Walk or cycle to work | 16.7% | 5.3% | 33rd |
| Aged 65 and over | 17.1% | 16.3% | 65th |
| Parks, trees and streets | |||
| Serious collisions since 2021, per 10,000 residents | 4.6 | 5.1 | 91st |
| Parks per 10,000 residents | 5.6 | 5.0 | 67th |
| Playgrounds per 1,000 children | 1.4 | 2.1 | 122nd |
| Street trees per 1,000 residents | 279 | 228 | 57th |
| Affordable homes coming | 30 | 19 | 74th |
| Road and sidewalk projects | 20 | 10 | 28th |
| Park and open space, share of land | 16.3% | 7.8% | 38th |
| Park and open space, hectares per 1,000 residents | 2.7 | 1.6 | 52nd |
| Parking tickets per 1,000 residents, 2025 | 1,060 | 410 | 31st |
| Green roof permits since 2010 | 7 | 4 | 54th |
Source: Building permits, City of Toronto; planning applications; Short Term Rentals Registration; Heritage Register; RentSafeTO. Toronto Police Service, Neighbourhood Crime Rates. Toronto Police Service: Shootings and Firearm Discharges, Bicycle Thefts, Theft From Motor Vehicle. Statistics Canada, 2021 Census, via City of Toronto Neighbourhood Profiles. City of Toronto Parks and Recreation Facilities, Street Tree Data, Green Spaces, parking tickets, green roof permits, road and sidewalk programs, Affordable Housing Pipeline; Toronto Police Service serious collisions. Typical: the middle of Toronto’s 158 neighbourhoods; half have more, half have less. Rank: 1st is the most or highest of 158. · Download CSV
Major crime by year
| Crimes reported | 2021 | 2022 | 2023 | 2024 | 2025 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Assaults | 93 | 117 | 114 | 141 | 125 |
| Break-ins | 39 | 43 | 39 | 30 | 36 |
| Car thefts | 31 | 58 | 58 | 59 | 39 |
| Robberies | 17 | 20 | 18 | 11 | 6 |
| Thefts over $5,000 | 7 | 8 | 16 | 3 | 12 |
| Total | 187 | 246 | 245 | 244 | 218 |
| 2025 rate per 100,000 | The Beaches | Citywide | Rank |
|---|---|---|---|
| Assaults | 526 | 768 | 106th |
| Break-ins | 151 | 190 | 93rd |
| Car thefts | 164 | 225 | 96th |
| Robberies | 25 | 78 | 144th |
| Thefts over $5,000 | 50 | 61 | 67th |
| Total | 917 | 1,322 | 117th |
Rank: 1st is the most of 158.
| Crimes reported | 2025 rate per 100,000 residents | |||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Major crime | 2021 | 2022 | 2023 | 2024 | 2025 | The Beaches | Citywide | Rank (1st = most) |
| Assaults | 93 | 117 | 114 | 141 | 125 | 526 | 768 | 106th |
| Break-ins | 39 | 43 | 39 | 30 | 36 | 151 | 190 | 93rd |
| Car thefts | 31 | 58 | 58 | 59 | 39 | 164 | 225 | 96th |
| Robberies | 17 | 20 | 18 | 11 | 6 | 25 | 78 | 144th |
| Thefts over $5,000 | 7 | 8 | 16 | 3 | 12 | 50 | 61 | 67th |
| Total | 187 | 246 | 245 | 244 | 218 | 917 | 1,322 | 117th |
Source: Toronto Police Service, Neighbourhood Crime Rates.
Permits and new homes by year
| Year | Building permits | New homes |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 609 | 30 |
| 2022 | 718 | 79 |
| 2023 | 572 | 116 |
| 2024 | 519 | 94 |
| 2025 | 442 | 169 |
| 2026 | 417 | 83 |
Source: City of Toronto Building Permits (active and cleared). 2026 so far.
Average rents, October 2025
| Unit | Central Toronto | A year earlier | Toronto |
|---|---|---|---|
| Studio | $1,526 | $1,492 | $1,499 |
| 1 bedroom | $1,914 | $1,842 | $1,763 |
| 2 bedrooms | $2,457 | $2,317 | $2,055 |
| 3 bedrooms or more | $3,195 | $3,194 | $2,361 |
Source: CMHC Rental Market Survey, purpose-built rental apartments. Covers central Toronto (the old City of Toronto, before the 1998 amalgamation); CMHC doesn’t publish rents for single neighbourhoods.
Planning proposals (29)
Hearing coming up (1)
| Address | Proposal | Type | Key date | City file |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 103 Rainsford Rd | New house | Minor variance | Hearing Dec 2 | A0730/26TEY |
Under appeal (4)
| Address | Proposal | Type | Key date | City file |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 290 Waverley Rd | Add a storey | Minor variance | Submitted Feb 2021 | A0133/21TEY |
| 419 Woodbine Ave | 11-storey building · 123 homes | Rezoning | Submitted Mar 2025 | 25 131074 STE 19 OZ |
| 428 Lake Front | Garage or parking | Minor variance | Submitted Nov 2018 | A1090/18TEY |
| 847 Kingston Rd | 11-storey building · 99 homes | Rezoning | Submitted Jun 2015 | 15 171595 STE 32 OZ |
Waiting for a decision (11)
| Address | Proposal | Type | Key date | City file |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 100 Kippendavie Ave | Minor variance | Minor variance | Submitted Sep 2026 | A0659/26TEY |
| 1594 Queen St E | 6-storey building · 30 homes and shops | Rezoning | Submitted Oct 2022 | 22 221795 STE 14 OZ |
| 1684 Queen St E | 6-storey building · 91 homes and shops | Site plan and rezoning | Submitted Nov 2021 | 21 235161 STE 19 SA |
| 17 Rhodes Ave | 4-storey building | Site plan | Submitted May 2022 | 22 145504 STE 14 SA |
| 180 Neville Park Blvd | Minor variance | Minor variance | Submitted Oct 2026 | |
| 2343 Queen St E | Minor variance | Minor variance | Submitted Feb 2021 | |
| 346 Lee Ave | 3 homes | Condominium | Submitted May 2023 | 23 146497 STE 19 CD |
| 52 Balsam Ave | Split the lot | Consent and minor variance | Submitted Feb 2026 | B0023/26TEY |
| 558-560 Kingston Rd | 8-storey building · 57 homes | Rezoning | Submitted Apr 2021 | 21 144776 STE 19 OZ |
| 880-882 Eastern Ave | 12-storey building · 167 homes and shops | Site plan | Submitted May 2022 | 22 141897 STE 14 SA |
Decided recently (13)
| Address | Proposal | Type | Key date | City file |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 11 Hambly Ave | Add a storey | Minor variance | Decided Aug 2026 | A0650/26TEY |
| 14 Hammersmith Ave | Split the lot | Consent | Decided Jul 2025 | B0030/25TEY |
| 236 Glen Manor Dr W | Add a storey | Minor variance | Decided Mar 2025 | A0177/25TEY |
| 25 Selwood Ave | Garage or parking | Minor variance | Decided Nov 2026 | A0646/26TEY |
| 26 Hazel Ave | Consent | Consent | Decided May 2026 | B0020/26TEY |
| 30 Leuty Ave | Garage or parking | Minor variance | Decided Aug 2026 | A0637/26TEY |
| 41 Wineva Ave | Split the lot | Consent | Decided Apr 2026 | B0012/24TEY |
| 42-44 Wineva Ave | Split the lot | Consent | Decided Nov 2025 | B0044/25TEY |
| 50 Laing St | 7-storey building · 130 homes | Site plan | Submitted Dec 2022 | 22 242125 STE 14 SA |
| 52 Herbert Ave | Add a storey | Minor variance | Decided Oct 2026 | A0639/26TEY |
Source: City of Toronto Development Applications and Committee of Adjustment. One row per site. · Download CSV
Apartment buildings (45)
Source: RentSafeTO Apartment Building Evaluation; Residential Fire Inspection Results.
Schools (5)
| School | Grades | Board | Students | Gr. 6 reading | Gr. 6 math | Gr. 10 literacy |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Kew Beach Junior Public School | JK-6 | TDSB | 375 | 100% | 85% | — |
| Williamson Road Junior Public School | JK-6 | TDSB | 545 | 97% | 73% | — |
| St Denis Catholic School | JK-8 | TCDSB | 250 | 96% | 62% | — |
| Balmy Beach Community School | JK-6 | TDSB | 390 | 92% | 62% | — |
| Glen Ames Senior Public School | 7-8 | TDSB | 360 | — | — | — |
Source: Ontario Ministry of Education (2026) and EQAO: share of students meeting the provincial standard. Toronto: 87% Grade 6 reading, 54% math, 84% Grade 10 literacy.
Child care centres (14)
| Centre | Address | Ages | Spaces | $10 a day |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Lullaboo Nursery And Childcare Center | 2316 Queen St E | infants, toddlers, preschool | 215 | Yes |
| Kew Beach Day Care Co-Op | 101 Kippendavie Ave | preschool, kindergarten, school-age | 182 | Yes |
| Balmy Beach Community Day Care Centre | 14 Pine Ave | preschool, kindergarten, school-age | 171 | Yes |
| Williamson Road Day Care Centre | 24 Williamson Rd | kindergarten, school-age | 116 | Yes |
| Brightpath Academy - The Beach | 1925 Queen St E | infants, toddlers, preschool | 111 | Yes |
| Brightpath Academy - The Beach Clubzone | 1921 Queen St E | preschool, kindergarten, school-age | 72 | Yes |
| Alphabet Station | 2206 Queen St E | infants, toddlers, preschool | 54 | Yes |
| The Creative Preschool Of East Toronto - St. Aidan's In The Beach | 2423 Queen St E | preschool | 32 | Yes |
| Lakeside Co-Operative Playschool | 2226 Queen St E | toddlers, preschool | 25 | Yes |
| Boardwalk Montessori School | 1975 Queen St E | toddlers, preschool | 57 | No |
| Castle Park Playschool | 1971 Queen St E | kindergarten, school-age | 34 | No |
| - St. Denis Sunshine | 67 Balsam Ave | school-age | 30 | No |
| Ma Premiere Ecole | 2383 Queen St E | preschool | 28 | No |
| Beaches Montessori School South | 995 Kingston Rd | preschool | 16 | No |
Source: City of Toronto Licensed Child Care Centres.
Busiest bus and streetcar routes
| Route | Type | Trips each way, weekday |
|---|---|---|
| 501 Queen | Streetcar | 247 |
| 22 Coxwell | Bus | 246 |
| 64 Main | Bus | 204 |
| 503 Kingston Rd | Streetcar | 169 |
| 92 Woodbine South | Bus | 94 |
| 31 Greenwood | Bus | 78 |
Source: TTC and GO Transit schedules for a typical weekday. Trips each way: weekday trips past the route’s busiest stop in the neighbourhood.
Parks and recreation
| Amenity | The Beaches | Typical | Where |
|---|---|---|---|
| Parks and play | |||
| Parks | 12 | 8 | Ashbridge's Bay Sports Hub, Balmy Beach Park, Beach Skatepark and 9 more |
| Playgrounds | 5 | 5 | Balmy Beach Park, Beaches Park, Jeff Sloan Playground and 2 more |
| Community centres | 1 | 1 | Beaches Recreation Centre |
| Splash pads | 2 | 0 | Ashbridge's Bay Sports Hub, Kew Gardens |
| Swimming | |||
| Public pools | 1 | 1 | Beaches Recreation Centre |
| Wading pools | 1 | 0 | Kew Gardens |
| Beaches | 2 | 0 | Balmy Beach Park, Beaches Park |
| Courts and fitness | |||
| Tennis | 0 | 1 | None inside The Beaches. |
| Pickleball | 2 | 0 | Ashbridge's Bay Sports Hub, Kew Gardens |
| Basketball | 2 | 1 | Ashbridge's Bay Sports Hub, Kew Gardens |
| Outdoor fitness equipment | 2 | 0 | Balmy Beach Park, Beaches Park |
| Facilities | |||
| Public washrooms | 7 | 2 | Beaches Recreation Centre, Kew Beach Lawn Bowling Club and 4 more · 4 of 7 open today |
Source: City of Toronto Parks and Recreation Facilities, Tennis Courts and Washroom Facilities. Typical neighbourhood: the median across Toronto.
Affordable housing and rental demolitions
| Address | Stage | Affordable homes |
|---|---|---|
| 507 Kingston Rd | Under construction | 30 |
Source: City of Toronto Affordable Housing Pipeline (projects not yet occupied) and Rental Housing Demolition applications approved since 2023.
Street work (20)
| Work | Where | When |
|---|---|---|
| Road resurfacing | Neville Park Blvd, near Queen St E | 2027 |
| Road resurfacing | Columbine Ave, Kingston Rd to Brookmount Rd | Q2 2025 to Q2 2026 |
| Road resurfacing | Columbine Ave, Rainsford Rd to Woodbine Ave | Q2 2025 to Q2 2026 |
| Road resurfacing | Columbine Ave, Brookmount Rd to Rainsford Rd | Q2 2025 to Q2 2026 |
| Road resurfacing | Sycamore Pl, Spruce Hill Rd to Beech Ave | Q2 to Q4 2026 |
| Road resurfacing | Spruce Hill Rd, Sycamore Pl to Pine Ave | Q2 to Q4 2026 |
| Road resurfacing | Spruce Hill Rd, Queen St E to Sycamore Pl | Q2 to Q4 2026 |
| Road resurfacing | Silver Birch Ave, Glenfern Ave to Balmy Ave | Q2 to Q4 2027 |
| Road resurfacing | Silver Birch Ave, Balmy Ave to Queen St E | Q2 to Q4 2027 |
| Road resurfacing | Nursewood Rd, near Queen St E | Q2 to Q4 2027 |
| Road resurfacing | Glenfern Ave, near Silver Birch Ave | Q2 to Q4 2027 |
| Road resurfacing | Silver Birch Ave, Silver Birch Ave to Glenfern Ave | Q2 to Q4 2027 |
| Road resurfacing | Silver Birch Ave | Q2 to Q4 2027 |
| Road resurfacing | Silver Birch Ave | Q2 to Q4 2027 |
| Road resurfacing | Knox Ave, near Eastern Ave | Q3 2024 to Q4 2025 (carried over) |
| Road resurfacing | Knox Ave, near Eastern Ave | Q3 2024 to Q4 2025 (carried over) |
| Laneway rebuild | Beech Ave, Cedar Ave to Pine Ave | Q3 2026 to Q2 2027 (carried over) |
| Road repairs | Hazel Ave, Balsam Ave to Fernwood Park Ave | Q3 2026 to Q2 2027 (carried over) |
| Road repairs | Hazel Ave, Fernwood Park Ave to Beech Ave | Q3 2026 to Q2 2027 (carried over) |
| Road repairs | Fernwood Park Ave, Fir Ave to Hazel Ave | Q3 2026 to Q2 2027 (carried over) |
Source: City of Toronto Road Reconstruction, Road Resurfacing and Sidewalk Construction programs. Dates are the City’s plan and can move.
New storefront businesses, last 90 days (4)
| Business | Type | Address | Licence issued |
|---|---|---|---|
| Tavio Kitchen | Take-out or food shop | 1918A Queen St E | Oct 14, 2026 |
| Gululu Juicery | Take-out or food shop | 2116 Queen St E | Sep 18, 2026 |
| Beauty In the East Medical Spa | Salon or personal services | 1826 Queen St E | Aug 20, 2026 |
| Willow Collective | Restaurant or bar | 2256 Queen St E | Aug 14, 2026 |
Source: City of Toronto Business Licences and Permits, storefront types. Operating names only.
Garden and laneway suites (42)
| Address | Type | Permit |
|---|---|---|
| 104 Silver Birch Ave | Garden suite | Oct 2026 |
| 15 Silver Birch Ave | Garden suite | Aug 2026 |
| 7 Balmy Ave | Laneway or garden suite | Jul 2026 |
| 31 Brookmount Rd | Second suite (such as a basement apartment) | May 2026 |
| 52 Rhyl Ave | Laneway or garden suite | May 2026 |
| 351 Woodbine Ave | Garden suite | Jul 2025 |
| 10 Balmy Ave | Garden suite | Jul 2025 |
| 61 Kippendavie Ave | Garden suite | Jul 2025 |
| 97 Spruce Hill Rd | Laneway suite | Jun 2025 |
| 41 Beech Ave | Garden suite | Jun 2025 |
| 21 Lockwood Rd | Laneway suite | Mar 2025 |
| 15 Brookmount Rd | Laneway suite | Jul 2024 |
| 176 Hammersmith Ave | Second suite (such as a basement apartment) | May 2024 |
| 26 Glen Manor Dr | Second suite (such as a basement apartment) | May 2024 |
| 7 Hambly Ave | Garden suite | Apr 2024 |
| 208 Woodbine Ave | Laneway suite | Mar 2024 |
| 31 Elmer Ave | Garden suite | Mar 2024 |
| 18 Balmy Ave | Garden suite | Mar 2024 |
| 49 Maclean Ave | Garden suite | Feb 2024 |
| 49 Maclean Ave | Garden suite | Feb 2024 |
| 26 Dixon Ave | Laneway suite | Nov 2023 |
| 26 Lark St | Second suite (such as a basement apartment) | Sep 2023 |
| 230 Kenilworth Ave | Laneway or garden suite | Aug 2023 |
| 199 Beech Ave | Laneway suite | Apr 2023 |
| 20 Kewbeach Ave | Laneway suite | Mar 2023 |
| 183 Beech Ave | Laneway suite | Feb 2023 |
| 24 Dixon Ave | Laneway suite | Feb 2023 |
| 48 Kippendavie Ave | Laneway suite | May 2022 |
| 396 Woodbine Ave | Laneway suite | Mar 2022 |
| 49 Columbine Ave | Second suite (such as a basement apartment) | Feb 2022 |
| 77 Northern Dancer Blvd | Second suite (such as a basement apartment) | Dec 2021 |
| 55 Isleworth Ave | Laneway suite | Oct 2021 |
| 185 Boardwalk Dr | Second suite (such as a basement apartment) | Jun 2021 |
| 197 Beech Ave | Laneway suite | Mar 2021 |
| 71 Kippendavie Ave | Second suite (such as a basement apartment) | Feb 2021 |
| 9 Spruce Hill Rd | Second suite (such as a basement apartment) | Jan 2021 |
| 3 Violet Ave | Second suite (such as a basement apartment) | Nov 2020 |
| 41 Columbine Ave | Second suite (such as a basement apartment) | Oct 2020 |
| 12 Glen Stewart Ave | Laneway or garden suite | Jun 2020 |
| 1872 Lake Shore Blvd E | Second suite (such as a basement apartment) | Nov 2017 |
Source: City of Toronto Building Permits, since 2021.
Shootings, bicycle thefts and thefts from vehicles
Other crimes, last 12 months
| Crime | Reported | Per 100,000 residents | Compared with other neighbourhoods |
|---|---|---|---|
| Shootings and firearm discharges | 1 | 5 | Lower than most |
| Bicycle thefts | 22 | 102 | Higher than most |
| Thefts from vehicles | 57 | 265 | Higher than most |
Toronto Police Service: Shootings and Firearm Discharges, Bicycle Thefts and Theft From Motor Vehicle, last 12 months. Police place each incident at the nearest intersection.
Serious collisions by year
| Year | Collisions |
|---|---|
| 2021 | 3 |
| 2022 | 3 |
| 2023 | 2 |
| 2025 | 1 |
| 2026 | 1 |
Source: Toronto Police Service: collisions in which someone was killed or seriously injured. 2026 so far.
Stations, streets, parking and EV charging
Parking tickets and EV charging
Busiest streets
| Street | Vehicles a day | 85% drive at or under | Counted |
|---|---|---|---|
| Woodbine Ave Walkway S of Queen and W of Woodbine to Woodbine Mews | 30,000 | 64 km/h | Jan 2020 |
| Lake Shore Blvd E Woodbine Beach Park Trl to Woodbine Ave | 25,000 | 64 km/h | Jan 2020 |
| Kingston Rd Waverley Rd to Lee Ave | 11,900 | — | Apr 2017 |
| Eastern Ave Cam Fella Lane to Woodward Ave | 11,600 | 55 km/h | Jul 2018 |
Fastest residential streets
| Street | Vehicles a day | 85% drive at or under | Counted |
|---|---|---|---|
| Kingswood Rd Bracken Ave to Kingston Rd | 892 | 44 km/h | May 2017 |
| Neville Park Blvd | 503 | 42 km/h | Apr 2018 |
| Lee Ave Long Cres to Kingston Rd | 1,400 | 41 km/h | Nov 2018 |
City of Toronto Traffic Volumes, counts since 2016; each street shows its highest count. “Residential” means streets the City classes as local roads. Counts are taken on different streets in different years, so they aren’t ranked.
Park space and park projects
How much of the neighbourhood is park
| Largest parks and open spaces | Hectares |
|---|---|
| Woodbine Park | 11.8 |
| Beaches Park | 11.1 |
| Ashbridge's Bay Sports Hub | 9.0 |
| Kew Gardens | 7.9 |
| Glen Stewart Park | 7.8 |
City of Toronto Green Spaces: parks, natural areas and conservation land. Hydro corridors, golf courses, cemeteries and road verges aren’t counted.
Park projects
- Kew Gardens New Skating Trail
The City is planning a new recreational ice-skating trail at Kew Gardens.In progress
City of Toronto Park and Recreation Facility Projects.
Green roofs and solar
Green roofs and solar
Since 2010, 7 building permits in the Beaches included a green roof, the 54th most in Toronto. Since 2009, 15 included a solar hot water system.
City of Toronto building permits for green roofs (required on larger new buildings since 2010) and solar hot water systems.
Noise permits
Noise permits
In the last 12 months, 29 noise exemption permits were issued in the Beaches: 29 for amplified sound at events.
City of Toronto Noise Exemption Permits. A permit lets an event or a construction project make noise outside the hours the noise bylaw allows. Address pages list the permits nearby that haven’t ended yet.
Business improvement area
Business improvement areas
The Beach is a Business Improvement Area in the Beaches. A BIA is run by local businesses, who pay a levy for street events, cleaning, decorations and promotion.
City of Toronto Business Improvement Areas.
Heritage, flood risk and local contacts
- Heritage
- 133 properties on the Heritage Register (17 designated, 116 listed), 19th most in Toronto.
- Flood and shoreline
- 1.1% of its addresses are in a TRCA flood or shoreline hazard area. 5.1% are in TRCA’s regulated area, where some work needs a TRCA permit.
- Lead in tap water
- In M4E, 9 of 488 home tests were above Ontario’s limit (1.8%; Toronto 2.0%). In M4L, 10 of 667 home tests were above Ontario’s limit (1.5%; Toronto 2.0%).
- Councillor
- Brad Bradford · Ward 19 Beaches-East York profile
Source: City of Toronto Heritage Register; Toronto and Region Conservation Authority; City of Toronto lead testing; City of Toronto elected officials.
What residents report to 311
What residents report to 311
In the last 12 months, 14,990 service requests came from postal areas M4E and M4L, which cover most of the Beaches. The most common:
| Property standards | 555 | |
| Tree emergency clean-up | 529 | |
| Dead wildlife pickup | 511 | |
| Injured wildlife | 475 | |
| Road plowing | 462 | |
| Damaged bin lids | 458 |
City of Toronto 311 Service Requests, October 2025 to October 2026. 311 gives only the first three characters of the postal code, which don’t line up with neighbourhoods, so this isn’t ranked on the leaderboard.
One email every Wednesday with what changed in the Beaches: new proposals, demolitions, heritage listings, serious collisions and more. Add up to 4 more neighbourhoods. Free, and no address needed.
More: Neighbourhood leaderboard · Compare the Beaches side by side