Section 109: Width of vehicle

Ontario

Highway Traffic Act

Part VII: Load and Dimensions

(1) Subject to sections 110 and 110.1, no vehicle including load or contents shall have a greater width than 2.6 metres while on a highway except,

(a) traction engines, which may have a total width not exceeding 2.8 metres; or

(b) road service vehicles and, for the purpose of this Part, road service vehicle includes such a vehicle while travelling to and from a maintenance site or repair centre. R.S.O. 1990, c. H.8, s. 109 (1); 1994, c. 27, s. 138 (9); 2002, c. 18, Sched. P, s. 25 (1).

Width of load

(2) Subject to sections 110 and 110.1, no load on a vehicle shall have a greater width than 2.6 metres while on a highway except,

(a) loads of raw forest products which shall not exceed a total width of 2.7 metres at point of origin and which shall not exceed a total width of 2.8 metres at any time during transit; or

(b) loads of loose fodder. R.S.O. 1990, c. H.8, s. 109 (2); 2002, c. 18, Sched. P, s. 25 (2).

Mirrors not included in width

(3) Where a motor vehicle is equipped with one or more mirrors that extend not more than 30 centimetres beyond either side of the vehicle, the amount of the extension shall not be included in determining the width of the vehicle under subsection (1). 2010, c. 16, Sched. 12, s. 2 (3).

Auxiliary equipment, devices not included in width

(4) Where a motor vehicle or trailer is equipped with auxiliary equipment or an auxiliary device that is mounted to the vehicle and that extends beyond either side of the vehicle, the amount of the extension shall not be included in determining the width of the vehicle under subsection (1) if,

(a) the equipment or device is not designed or used to carry a load; and

(b) the equipment or device does not extend more than 10 centimetres from the side of the vehicle. 2010, c. 16, Sched. 12, s. 2 (3).

(5) Repealed: 2010, c. 16, Sched. 12, s. 2 (3).

Length of vehicle

(6) Subject to sections 110 and 110.1, no vehicle, including load, shall exceed the length of 12.5 metres while on a highway. R.S.O. 1990, c. H.8, s. 109 (6); 2002, c. 18, Sched. P, s. 25 (3); 2009, c. 5, s. 38; 2010, c. 16, Sched. 12, s. 2 (4).

Exception

(6.1) Subsection (6) does not apply to a fire apparatus, a trailer, a bus, a recreational vehicle or a road service vehicle as described in clause (1) (b). 2010, c. 16, Sched. 12, s. 2 (5-7).

Length of combination

(7) No combination of vehicles, including load, coupled together shall exceed the total length of twenty-three metres while on a highway. R.S.O. 1990, c. H.8, s. 109 (7).

Exception

(7.1) Despite subsection (7), a combination of vehicles whose configuration, weight and dimensions are as prescribed by regulation may have a total length while on a highway, including load, that does not exceed 27.5 metres. 1993, c. 34, s. 3 (1); 2015, c. 14, s. 37.

Maximum box length

(8) No combination of vehicles composed of more than one trailer shall have a box length in excess of 18.5 metres while on a highway. 1993, c. 34, s. 3 (2).

Exception

(8.1) Despite subsection (8), a combination of vehicles whose configuration, weight and dimensions are as prescribed by regulation may have a box length that does not exceed 20 metres while on a highway. 1993, c. 34, s. 3 (2).

(8.2)-(9) Repealed: 2009, c. 33, Sched. 26, s. 3 (11).

Maximum length of semi-trailer

(10) Subject to sections 110 and 110.1, no semi-trailer shall have a length with an external measurement, excluding any portion of auxiliary equipment or machinery that extends beyond the front or rear of the semi-trailer and that is not designed or used to carry a load, that exceeds 14.65 metres while on a highway. 1993, c. 34, s. 3 (2); 2002, c. 18, Sched. P, s. 25 (4); 2010, c. 16, Sched. 12, s. 2 (10).

Exception

(10.1) Subsection (10) does not apply to a semi-trailer designed to carry vehicles. 1993, c. 34, s. 3 (2).

Same

(10.2) Despite subsection (10), a semi-trailer used in a combination of vehicles whose configuration, weight and dimensions are as prescribed by regulation may have a length with an external measurement, excluding any portion of auxiliary equipment or machinery that extends beyond the front of the semi-trailer and that is not designed or used to carry a load, that does not exceed 16.2 metres while on a highway. 1993, c. 34, s. 3 (2); 2010, c. 16, Sched. 12, s. 2 (11).

Length of bus, recreational vehicle

(11) No bus or recreational vehicle shall exceed the length of 12.5 metres while on a highway, but an increase in the length of a bus or recreational vehicle caused by the addition of a liquid-filled or other energy-absorbing bumper shall not be included in determining the length of the bus or recreational vehicle. 2010, c. 16, Sched. 12, s. 2 (12).

Same

(11.1) Despite subsection (11),

(a) a recreational vehicle or a bus, other than an articulated bus, that meets the requirements prescribed by regulation may have a length that exceeds 12.5 metres but does not exceed 14 metres; and

(b) an articulated bus that meets the requirements prescribed by regulation may have a length that exceeds 12.5 metres but does not exceed 25 metres. 2010, c. 16, Sched. 12, s. 2 (12).

Restricting length of combination of vehicles

(12) The council of a municipality that was a city on December 31, 2002, may by by-law prohibit the operation of a combination of vehicles having a total length, including load, in excess of 15.25 metres while on a highway or a portion thereof under its jurisdiction designated in the by-law. R.S.O. 1990, c. H.8, s. 109 (12); 2002, c. 17, Sched. F, Table.

Mirror not included in length

(13) Where a vehicle is equipped with one or more mirrors that extend beyond the front of the vehicle, the amount of the extension shall not be included in determining the length of the vehicle under subsection (6), (11), (11.1) or (12). 2010, c. 16, Sched. 12, s. 2 (13)

Aerodynamic device not included in length

(13.1) Where a commercial motor vehicle, other than a bus or recreational vehicle, or trailer is equipped with an aerodynamic device that extends beyond the rear of the vehicle, the amount of the extension shall not be included in determining the length under subsection (6), (6.2), (7), (7.1), (8), (8.1), (10), (10.2) or (12) if,

(a) any portion of the device that is 1.9 metres or less above the ground does not extend more than 0.305 metres beyond the rear of the vehicle or trailer;

(b) any portion of the device that is more than 1.9 metres above the ground does not extend more than 0.61 metres beyond the rear of the vehicle or trailer;

(c) the device is not designed or used to carry a load; and

(d) the device does not cause the vehicle or trailer to cease to meet any standard under the Motor Vehicle Safety Regulations made under the Motor Vehicle Safety Act (Canada). 2010, c. 16, Sched. 12, s. 2 (13).

Height of vehicle

(14) Subject to section 110, no vehicle including load shall have a greater height than 4.15 metres while on a highway. R.S.O. 1990, c. H.8, s. 109 (14).

Exception

(14.1) Despite subsection (14), a vehicle used in a combination of vehicles whose configuration, weight and dimensions are as prescribed by regulation may have a height greater than 4.15 metres but not greater than 4.3 metres while on a highway. 2010, c. 16, Sched. 12, s. 2 (14).

Penalty

(15) Every person who contravenes this section is guilty of an offence and on conviction is liable to a fine of not less than $200 and not more than $1,000 and, in addition, the permit issued for the vehicle under section 7 may be suspended for not more than six months. R.S.O. 1990, c. H.8, s. 109 (15).

Same - commercial motor vehicle

(15.1) Despite subsection (15), every person who contravenes this section is guilty of an offence and, if the offence was committed by means of a commercial motor vehicle, on conviction is liable to a fine of not less than $200 and not more than $20,000 and, in addition, the permit issued for the vehicle under section 7 may be suspended for not more than six months. 1996, c. 20, s. 24; 2014, c. 9, Sched. 2, s. 34.

Regulations

(16) The Lieutenant Governor in Council may make regulations,

(a) defining "recreational vehicle" for the purposes of this section;

(b) prescribing equipment and devices that are or are not auxiliary for the purposes of subsection (4);

(c) prescribing configurations, weight and dimensions of vehicles and combinations of vehicles;

(d) setting limits on dimensions of vehicles and combinations of vehicles, except those dimensions already set out in this Act;

(e) prescribing requirements for components and equipment for vehicles and combinations of vehicles;

(f) prescribing requirements for the purpose of subsection (11.1), including prescribing,

(i) maximum length,

(ii) bus and recreational vehicle type and use,

(iii) load distribution,

(iv) configurations, and

(v) requirements for components, equipment and safety features;

(g) exempting an aerodynamic device from clause (13.1) (a) or (b) and prescribing conditions and circumstances for any such exemption. 2010, c. 16, Sched. 12, s. 2 (15); 2017, c. 2, Sched. 17, s. 8.

(17) Repealed: 2010, c. 16, Sched. 12, s. 2 (15).

Same

(18) The Lieutenant Governor in Council may make regulations exempting any class of vehicles from the application of subsection (10) and prescribing conditions for such exemptions. 2002, c. 18, Sched. P, s. 25 (7).

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© King's Printer for Ontario, 2012-2021. The text is not the official version of Ontario's Highway Traffic Act or associated regulations. For official text, refer to www.ontario.ca/laws.