Taxi Services
The Region's role in Taxi Services
The Region of Waterloo is responsible for ensuring that taxi services operate efficiently and safely for all residents and visitors. Key responsibilities include:
- Licensing and Regulation: Ensuring all taxi operators and vehicles meet the Region’s licensing requirements.
- Safety Standards: Upholding safety standards for vehicles and drivers, including inspections, background checks, and training requirements.
- Fare Regulation: Regulating fares to ensure fair pricing and prevent overcharging.
- Accessibility: Ensuring accessible taxis are provided, that they are available, and safe.
- Complaint Management: Managing and addressing complaints related to taxi services.
These responsibilities are outlined in detail in the Taxi By-law 16-044. A simplified summary of the by-law is available on the pages for Taxi By-law Overview, Requirements and Enforcement, and Roles and Responsibilities.
When is a taxi license required?
The following activities are not permitted without the required licence:
- No one should act as a taxi-cab broker without first having obtained a taxi-cab broker licence from the Region of Waterloo.
- If you own the vehicle, you can’t use it as a taxi, or let anyone else use it as a taxi, until you first get a Taxi-cab Owner/Vehicle Licence for that specific car from the Region of Waterloo under this by-law.
- If you own a taxi, you must not let anyone drive it for taxi service unless that person has a valid taxi driver’s licence under this by-law.
- A driver cannot pick up or try to pick up paying passengers as a taxi until they first get a Taxi‑cab Driver Licence from the Region of Waterloo.
- A driver must not use (or try to use) a vehicle as a taxi unless that specific vehicle already has a valid Taxi‑cab Owner/Vehicle Licence issued by the Region of Waterloo.
Visit our Taxi-Cab Applications page for information on how to apply for or renew a taxi licence.
News and Updates
In 2025, the Region held public engagement opportunities to seek public input on ways to enhance taxi services and better reflect the current and future needs of our community.
After sharing findings with Regional Council, Taxi By-Law 16-044 was updated and approved by Council in November 2025.
The Region launched a Pilot Project in 2026 to increase the number of on-call accessible vans for overnight services between 11 p.m. to 5 a.m. from one van to two vans throughout the year. The purpose of this pilot is to improve overnight accessible taxi availability and collect reliable data to inform future decisions on service levels for 2027.
Learn More About the Taxi By-law:
Taxi By-law Overview Requirements and Enforcement Roles and Responsibilities
