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Privately Owned Publicly-Accessible Space Draft Urban Design Guidelines

Published by City of Toronto

This is the City of Toronto’s document, as published on its website on 20 October 2026. The municipality may have changed it since: check the current version at the source. Legal notice

Type: Guide
Published by: City of Toronto
Date: June 2014
Also called: Draft Design Guidelines for Privately Owned Publicly-Accessible Space
For: designer
Building types: All building types
Pages: 40

Overview

Toronto's Draft Design Guidelines for Privately Owned Publicly-Accessible Space (POPS), dated June 2014, a 40-page City Planning document subtitled Creative Place Making to Enhance Urban Life. It explains what POPS are and their role in the open space network, classifies seven types of space, from courtyards and plazas to forecourts and landscaped setbacks, and sets out design topics such as comfort, access, safety and servicing, elements like seating, art and lighting, and POPS signage, with a references list and glossary.

What it covers

Introduction
What are POPS?
Role of Parks & Open Space in City Building
Purpose of the Urban Design Guidelines
How to Use the Urban Design Guidelines
Role of POPS in the Open Space Network
Creating a Network of Open Spaces
Open Space Classifications
Courtyards
Plazas
Gardens
Walkways / Mid-Block Pedestrian Connections
Forecourts
Landscaped Setbacks
Publicly-Accessible Interior Pedestrian Connections
Design
Pedestrian Comfort
Public Safety
Active Edges
Building Servicing
Elements
Seating
Public Art
Soft Landscaping
Paving & Surface Materials
Lighting
Weather Protection
Other Amenities
POPS Signage
Signage Design
Signage Placement
Appendix A - References
Appendix B - Glossary

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