The most important municipal records for genealogical research are tax assessment rolls. Depending on the time period, the rolls may list landowners, occupiers, and other adults in the household, with addresses, occupations, ages and other data about the buildings and occupants. Because they were created each year, you may be able track changes in family circumstances. Bear in mind that the rolls were created the year before they were to be used.
Original, published, microfilmed, photocopied and digitized municipal records are held in a number of different repositories. This list will show the holdings of each institution. The City of Toronto Archives has the most complete collection and a useful series of finding aids onsite. If you can’t get to the City of Toronto Archives, FamilySearch.org has an extensive digitized collection of pre-1900 assessment rolls. You’ll need to sign up for a free FamilySearch account to access the images. Microfilm available at repositories other than the City of Toronto Archives is from FamilySearch.
TOWN OF YORK:
Minutes and lists: 1797 to 1823 is held in manuscript form in Special Collections at the Toronto Reference Library. It was transcribed and published as: Mosser, Christine. York, Upper Canada, Minutes of Town Meetings and Lists of Inhabitants 1797 to 1823.
A transcription of the 1833 Town of York Tax Assessment is available in JR Robertson’s Landmarks of Toronto Volume 1 pp. 367-376. The book is digitized at: https://archive.org/stream/landmarkstoronto01robeuoft#page/n471/mode/2up
CITY OF TORONTO (pre 1998 boundaries):
To understand the growth of the growth of the City within York Township, click to view an Annexation Map.
Assessment rolls: 1834 to 1997 on microfilm at City of Toronto Archives; 1835 to 1899 on microfilm at Archives of Ontario; 1834 to 1899 at FamilySearch.org
Click to access a Finding Aid to Wards in City of Toronto Assessment Rolls on FamilySearch
Published versions:
A transcription of the 1834 Toronto Tax Assessment is available in JR Robertson’s Landmarks of Toronto Volume 1 pp.401-426. The book is digitized at https://archive.org/stream/landmarkstoronto01robeuoft#page/n511/mode/2up
Toronto Branch has published Toronto in the 1850s which includes the 1853 Tax Assessment Rolls: https://torontofamilyhistory.shop/item/toronto-in-the-1850s/
1890 Assessment Rolls were published. The book is now digitized at the Internet Archive. https://archive.org/details/cihm_42754/ and at Canadiana.org. https://www.canadiana.ca/view/oocihm.42754.
BROCKTON:
Assessment rolls: 1881 to 1883 on microfilm at City of Toronto Archives; 1881 to 1883 on microfilm at Archives of Ontario; 1881 to 1883 at FamilySearch.org
EAST YORK:
Assessment rolls: 1924 to 1997 at City of Toronto Archives
EAST TORONTO:
Assessment rolls: 1888 to 1908 on microfilm at City of Toronto Archives; 1888 to 1899 on microfilm at Archives of Ontario; 1888 to 1899 at FamilySearch.org
ETOBICOKE:
Minutes and lists: 1797 to 1823 is held in manuscript form in Special Collections at the Toronto Reference Library. It was transcribed and published as: Mosser, Christine. York, Upper Canada, Minutes of Town Meetings and Lists of Inhabitants 1797 to 1823.
Assessment rolls: 1851 to 1997 at City of Toronto Archives; 1853 to 1900 on microfilm at Archives of Ontario; 1853 to 1900 on microfilm at Richview Branch of the Toronto Public Library; 1853 to 1900 at FamilySearch.org
FOREST HILL:
Assessment rolls: 1925 to 1966 at City of Toronto Archives
LEASIDE:
Assessment rolls: 1939 and 1942 to 1967 at City of Toronto Archives
LONG BRANCH:
Assessment rolls: 1931 to 1966 at City of Toronto Archives
MIMICO:
Assessment rolls: 1921 to 1966 at City of Toronto Archives
NEW TORONTO:
Assessment rolls: 1913 to 1966 at City of Toronto Archives
NORTH TORONTO:
Assessment rolls: 1890 to 1912 at City of Toronto Archives; 1890 to 1897, and 1899 on microfilm at Archives of Ontario; 1890 to 1899 at FamilySearch.org
NORTH YORK:
Assessment rolls: 1922 to 1997 on microfilm at City of Toronto Archives
PARKDALE:
Assessment rolls: 1879 to 1888 on microfilm at City of Toronto Archives; 1879 to 1888 on microfilm at Archives of Ontario; 1879 to 1888 at FamilySearch.org
SCARBOROUGH:
Minutes and lists: 1797 to 1823 is held in manuscript form in Special Collections at the Toronto Reference Library. It was transcribed and published as: Mosser, Christine. York, Upper Canada, Minutes of Town Meetings and Lists of Inhabitants 1797 to 1823.
Assessment rolls: 1853 to 1997 at City of Toronto Archives; 1855 to 1899 on microfilm at Archives of Ontario; 1855 to 1899 on microfilm at Scarborough Archives; 1855 to 1899 at FamilySearch.org
Note: If you have the opportunity to research at the Scarborough Archives, their local knowledge is very valuable.
SWANSEA:
Assessment rolls: 1927 to 1966 at City of Toronto Archives
WESTON:
Assessment rolls: 1883 to 1966 at City of Toronto Archives; 1883 to 1900 on microfilm at Archives of Ontario; 1883 to 1900 at FamilySearch.org
WEST TORONTO JUNCTION:
Assessment rolls: 1888 to 1909 on microfilm at City of Toronto Archives; 1888 to 1899 on microfilm at Archives of Ontario; 1888 to 1899 at FamilySearch.org
YORK: (Many York Township records were destroyed by fire in 1881.)
Minutes and lists: 1797 to 1823 is held in manuscript form in Special Collections at the Toronto Reference Library. It was transcribed and published as: Mosser, Christine. York, Upper Canada, Minutes of Town Meetings and Lists of Inhabitants 1797 to 1823.
Assessment rolls: 1882 to 1997 at City of Toronto Archives; 1882 to 1898 on microfilm at Archives of Ontario; 1882 to 1899 on microfilm at North York Central Library; 1882 to 1899 at FamilySearch.org
YORKVILLE:
Assessment rolls: 1862 to 1882 on microfilm at City of Toronto Archives; 1865 to 1882 on microfilm at Archives of Ontario; 1865 to 1882 at FamilySearch.org