Knowing how to shut off the water to your house is one of the most practically useful things a homeowner can know. A burst pipe, a leaking appliance, or an overflowing toilet can be stopped immediately if you can get to the main shutoff within 30 seconds. Without knowing where it is, you may spend critical minutes searching while water spreads through the floor.
This guide covers where to find the main shutoff valve in Toronto homes, how to operate different valve types, and where the secondary shutoffs are for individual fixtures.
Water spraying right now? Do this first:
- Close the main shut-off valve in the basement near the water meter. Lever handle: turn it a quarter-turn so it sits across the pipe. Round wheel: turn it clockwise until it stops.
- If the valve will not turn, or you cannot find one, call 311 and ask Toronto Water to shut off the water at your property line. Someone 18 or older must be home to let the crew in.
- Stay away from wet outlets and appliances. Do not touch electrical outlets or the electrical panel while standing in water.
- Open the lowest tap in the house (a basement laundry tub or an outdoor tap) to drain the water left in the pipes.
- Take photos of the damage for your insurance company, then call a plumber.
Need a plumber now? Call ED Plumbing at (437) 260-6342, available 24/7.
Where Is the Main Water Shutoff in a Toronto Home?
In most Toronto homes, the main water shutoff is in the basement, near the front foundation wall — roughly the same location as your water meter. The supply line enters from the street (which runs along the front of most Toronto properties), comes through the foundation wall, and the shutoff valve is installed on the interior side of that entry point.
If you have a finished basement, look for a utility area, a mechanical room, or a section of exposed wall near the meter. The valve is often within a metre or two of where the water meter is mounted.
Common Variations in Toronto Housing
Semi-detached and row houses: The shutoff is almost always in the basement utility or laundry area near the front of the home.
Detached homes with attached garages: The shutoff may be near the side of the garage if the service entry comes in from a side street.
Condos and apartment units: Most condo suites have their own shut-off valves, often inside a mechanical or storage closet, behind an access panel in a bathroom or laundry wall, or in the ceiling near the water heater or fan coil unit. The valves for the whole building are controlled by building management, not by owners. If you cannot find your suite’s valve, call your building superintendent or property manager right away; they can shut off the line that feeds your unit.
Townhouses: A freehold townhouse usually has its own main shut-off in the basement or utility room, on the front wall near the water meter, just like a semi-detached house. In condominium townhouse complexes, some units share a supply line, so the shut-off for your unit may be in a shared utility room or controlled by the property manager. Find out which applies to your home before you need it.
Older homes (pre-1970): Some older Toronto homes have the shutoff valve very close to the meter in a location that may not be obvious. If your home was built before 1970, it is worth having a plumber point it out during a service visit if you have not confirmed it already.
Valve hidden or missing: In some homes the main valve is behind a finished wall or drop ceiling, under the basement stairs, or in a crawlspace. If there is an access panel near the water meter, the valve is usually behind it. If you cannot find any valve on your side of the meter, your home may not have a working one. That is worth fixing, because without it the only way to stop a leak is a 311 call and a wait for the City crew.
Cannot find your shutoff, or is it seized? ED Plumbing can locate, test, and replace your main shutoff valve in under an hour. Call (437) 260-6342 — we serve all Toronto neighbourhoods, same day.
How to Operate the Shutoff Valve
There are two main types of shutoff valves you will find in Toronto homes:
Gate Valve (Wheel-Style Handle)
A gate valve has a round, wheel-style handle. Turn it clockwise to close (shut off), counterclockwise to open. Gate valves take multiple full turns to fully close — typically 5 to 10 rotations. They are common in older homes.
Important limitation: gate valves that have not been operated in years can be difficult to turn, and the rubber seat inside can fail if they are old. If your gate valve feels stuck, do not force it — excessive torque can damage the stem. Call a plumber to inspect and exercise it.
Ball Valve (Lever Handle)
A ball valve has a lever handle. When the lever is parallel to the pipe, the valve is open. When the lever is perpendicular (at 90 degrees) to the pipe, it is closed. Ball valves close with a single quarter-turn and are more reliable than gate valves. Most modern installations use ball valves.
The Street-Level Shutoff (Curb Stop)
Outside your home, under a metal access cover in the sidewalk or grass between the sidewalk and the street, there is a curb stop — the city’s shutoff for your supply line. This is the City of Toronto’s responsibility, not yours.
If your interior shutoff is broken, seized, or missing, Toronto Water can shut off at the curb stop. Call 311. This is not something homeowners should operate themselves — the curb stop requires a specialized key tool and operating it incorrectly can damage the valve or the supply line.
If you find yourself relying on 311 to shut off water, that is a sign your interior shutoff needs replacing. Call ED Plumbing at (437) 260-6342 to have a new ball valve installed at a convenient, accessible location — a straightforward job that most homeowners put off until it becomes urgent.
How to Get the City of Toronto to Shut Off Your Water (311)
The City of Toronto can turn off the water at the curb stop on your property line. That is the right call when your own valve is broken, seized or missing, or when a pipe breaks between the street and your house.
- In an emergency, phone 311. Emergency turn-offs are requested by phone, not online. Toronto Water says its crews aim to arrive within two hours.
- Someone 18 or older must be home to let the crew in.
- There is a fee to turn the water off, and another to turn it back on, when the problem is on your private pipe. The fee is set by City Council each year and is added to your utility bill. When the leak is on the City’s side of the property line, there is no fee for that repair.
- Planned shut-offs (for renovations, plumbing work or a long trip) can be booked online or through 311. Turn-offs are scheduled between 8 a.m. and 8 p.m., seven days a week, and turn-ons are available 24 hours a day. The turn-on fee is waived if the water is turned back on within 30 minutes while the crew is still on site.
Who owns which part of the water pipe?
The City owns the water service pipe from the watermain under the street to your property line. Everything from the property line into your home, including your main shut-off valve (the City calls it the “stop and waste valve”), is private plumbing and the homeowner’s responsibility. The water meter belongs to the City and should only be removed by City staff.
Source: City of Toronto, Pipe Leak or Burst and Request Water Turn On or Off. Ask 311 for the current fee.
Secondary Shutoffs for Individual Fixtures
In addition to the main shutoff, every major fixture and appliance has (or should have) a dedicated shutoff valve. These let you isolate a problem without cutting water to the entire house:
Toilets: Look for an oval-shaped shutoff valve on the wall or floor behind and below the toilet tank, on the supply line feeding the tank. Turn it clockwise to close.
Under-sink faucets: There should be separate hot and cold supply shutoffs under every kitchen and bathroom sink — typically angle stop valves with either oval handles or a screwdriver slot. One valve on the hot supply (left), one on the cold (right).
Washing machine: Hot and cold shutoffs on the wall behind the machine, where the supply hoses connect.
Dishwasher: Usually a shutoff under the kitchen sink on the hot water supply line.
Water heater: A cold water shutoff on the supply pipe entering the top or side of the tank.
Refrigerator ice maker: A small saddle valve or angle stop valve on the cold water line under the sink or in the wall behind the fridge.
What to Do If Your Shutoff Valve Does Not Work
Old gate valves sometimes seize fully open and cannot be turned even in an emergency. If you turn the valve and water continues to flow, move immediately to the curb stop (call 311) and then have the interior valve replaced when the water is secured.
If you cannot locate the interior shutoff, call 311 to have Toronto Water shut off at the curb while you deal with the emergency. Then have a plumber install a clearly accessible, properly functioning shutoff as soon as the situation is resolved.
Right Now: Go Check Yours
Find your main shutoff valve today, before you need it. Make sure every adult in the household knows where it is. Confirm that it turns — give it a full close-and-reopen cycle. If it sticks, is corroded, or does not feel right, have it replaced. It is a simple, inexpensive job that takes less than an hour.
Frequently Asked Questions
Where is the main water shut-off valve in a Toronto house?
In most Toronto houses it is in the basement, on the front foundation wall where the water pipe comes in from the street, just before the water meter. In a finished basement, check the utility or laundry room, or look for an access panel near the meter.
Can I turn off the water at the street myself?
No. The curb stop at your property line belongs to the City of Toronto and needs a special key. Call 311 and Toronto Water will shut it off for you.
How long does it take Toronto Water to come and shut off the water?
For an emergency turn-off requested by phone through 311, Toronto Water says its crews aim to arrive within two hours. Someone 18 or older must be home to let them in.
Does the City of Toronto charge to shut off the water?
Yes. When the problem is on your private plumbing, there is a fee to turn the water off and another to turn it back on, added to your utility bill. There is no fee when the leak is on the City’s side of the property line.
Which way do I turn the shut-off valve to close it?
A lever handle (ball valve) closes with a quarter-turn, so the handle sits across the pipe. A round wheel handle (gate valve) closes clockwise and usually takes 5 to 10 full turns. Do not force a valve that will not move.
My shut-off valve is stuck or leaking. What should I do?
Do not force it, because the stem can break. If you need the water off now, call 311 for a shut-off at the property line. Then have a plumber replace the old valve with a quarter-turn ball valve.
Where is the water shut-off in a condo?
Most condo suites have their own valves in a mechanical or storage closet, behind an access panel in a bathroom or laundry wall, or in the ceiling. Building valves are controlled by management, so call your superintendent if you cannot find yours.
Who pays to fix a leak between the street and my house?
The City owns the pipe from the watermain to your property line and repairs leaks on that part. From the property line into your home the pipe is yours, so a leak there is the homeowner’s repair, done by a plumber you hire.
ED Plumbing serves Toronto and the GTA. If your main shutoff valve is seized, missing, or needs replacement, call (437) 260-6342. Our TSSA-licensed plumbers can replace or upgrade your shutoff and confirm that all secondary fixture shutoffs are in working order.