Municipal Law Program

MLP consists of four courses:

• Unit 1: Introduction to Municipal Law
• Unit 2: Municipal Torts
• Unit 3: Municipal Contracts
• Unit 4: Municipal Land-Related Law

The readings and assignments provide opportunities to apply legal concepts and analyze legal scenarios. As you progress through the program, you will learn to recognize a range of situations in which municipal staff and members of council must be sensitive to the legal implications of a decision or action. This type of awareness will help you determine how far to proceed before seeking legal counsel.

MLP Unit 1: Introduction to Municipal Law
Unit 1 provides a general context of the law and the legal framework governing municipalities and their organization and operation. It includes an overview of the Municipal Act, 2001, municipal bylaws, and how to define, draft, enforce, and defend them, as well as a discussion of municipal records. 

MLP Unit 1 Outline (PDF) 

MLP Unit 2: Municipal Torts 
Unit 2 examines tort law in the context of municipal liability. It addresses issues related to liability in enforcement activities, public works activities, and recreational activities, liability in matters dealing directly with municipal politicians, and remedies under tort law. The unit concludes with insurance, including their acquisition and the process of making claims. 

MLP Unit 2 Outline (PDF) 

MLP Unit 3: Municipal Contracts 
Unit 3 focuses on contract law and its application to municipalities. The unit covers topics such as the formation of contracts and their statutory framework, types of contracts, elements of a contract, the basic procedure of drafting a contract, and the principles surrounding its termination.  

MLP Unit 3 Outline (PDF) 

MLP Unit 4: Municipal Land-related Law 
Unit 4 starts with land ownership and other interests in land, followed by descriptions, plans, and surveys in Ontario. It then examines the Planning Act, including topics such as zoning, site plan control, land division, and community planning permits. The unit further discusses liens on land, municipal tax collection, and the Building Code Act, 1992. 

MLP Unit 4 Outline (PDF)

Note: Taking one unit at a time is strongly recommended if you work full-time. Taking the units in order is also recommended, but not required.

MLP can be taken in either correspondence or Zoom format. (See the Education Programs page for differences between the two formats). 

Each of the four units has its own reading and assignment requirements. A minimum grade of 51% on the final assignment and a minimum overall course grade of 60% are required to pass each unit. 

If you are pursuing the DMA, the four units must be completed within three years.

• Correspondence format: $385.00 +HST per unit
• Zoom format: $475.00 +HST per unit

All course materials are included in the tuition fees. The textbook is provided to all registrants as a PDF document in our online learning platform, AMCTO Connect. A hard copy of the textbook can be purchased for an additional $40.00 +HST when you register for the course.

MLP is one of the programs that we offer under the status of a Certified Educational Institution. Tuition fees for this program are tax-deductible. However, textbook fees are not.

All cancellation requests must be sent in writing by email.

• For correspondence format, a refund levy of $100.00 +HST per unit will be applied to cancellations received prior to the first scheduled assignment due date. No refunds will be granted for cancellations received after the first assignment due date.
• For Zoom format, a refund levy of $100.00 +HST per unit will be applied to cancellations received up to two weeks (14 days) prior to the first Zoom class. No refunds will be granted for cancellations received within 13 days or less of the first Zoom class.

Registrations and payments cannot be transferred to a later date. There are no refunds for the hard copy textbook and returns are not accepted.

You may be eligible to apply for exemption from an MLP unit if: 

• You are enrolled in the AMCTO Diploma in Municipal Administration (DMA) program; and

• You completed an equivalent academic course in Ontario that meets the criteria under section 5(b) of the DMA Terms of Reference; or  

• You graduated with a J.D. or LL. B from an accredited Canadian university and your work experience meets the criteria under section 5(h) of the DMA Terms of Reference. 

If the above does not apply, but you have a minimum of five years of relevant Ontario municipal experience in a senior supervisory role, you may be eligible to apply to challenge a unit instead of taking the full course. Approved applicants are required to submit a paper and write an exam for each unit being challenged. A minimum grade of 70% must be attained to gain credit for the unit. 

The fee to challenge a unit is $250.00 +HST.  

Contact us if you wish to apply for an exemption or a challenge.