As of October 1, 2025, Ontario Regulation 42/25 raised the Small Claims Court monetary limit from $35,000 to $50,000, excluding interest and costs. The change applies to claims going forward. If your claim was already filed, or your dispute arose, close to that date, the rules on which limit applies can be fact-specific — confirm with a lawyer which figure governs your particular claim before relying on either number.
- Ontario Regulation 42/25 raised the Small Claims Court limit from $35,000 to $50,000, effective October 1, 2025.
- The $50,000 figure excludes interest and legal costs, which are calculated and awarded on top of it.
- The Landlord and Tenant Board’s monetary jurisdiction was raised to the same $50,000 figure around the same time.
- Some plaintiffs who had already filed claims capped at $35,000 may be able to amend their claim upward, but this is subject to the court’s procedural rules and is not automatic.
- Which limit applies to a claim that straddles the October 1, 2025 effective date is not always straightforward — get advice before assuming either figure governs your case.
- Claims worth more than $50,000 still belong in Superior Court, including the Simplified Procedure track for claims up to $200,000.
What Changed on October 1, 2025
Ontario Regulation 42/25, made under the Courts of Justice Act, raised the monetary jurisdiction of the Small Claims Court from $35,000 to $50,000. The regulation amends O. Reg. 626/00 (Small Claims Court Jurisdiction and Appeal Limit) and took effect on October 1, 2025. As with the old limit, the new $50,000 figure excludes interest and legal costs — those are calculated and added on top of whatever principal amount the court awards.
- Old limit: $35,000 (in place since January 2020)
- New limit: $50,000, excluding interest and costs
- Effective date: October 1, 2025
- Authority: Ontario Regulation 42/25, amending O. Reg. 626/00
Why the Limit Was Raised
Small Claims Court exists to give Ontarians a faster, less formal, and less expensive way to resolve disputes than a full Superior Court action. As the cost of litigation and the value of everyday disputes — contractor work, vehicle repairs, unpaid invoices, security deposits — crept upward over the years since the $35,000 figure was last set, more claims were being pushed into Superior Court simply because they exceeded the ceiling, even though they were otherwise straightforward matters well suited to the simplified small claims process. Raising the limit lets more of those disputes stay in the faster, cheaper forum.
What About Claims Filed Before October 1, 2025?
If you already filed a claim capped at $35,000 before the change, or your dispute arose before October 1, 2025 but you are filing (or still litigating) after that date, it is not always obvious which limit governs. Some commentary suggests plaintiffs with existing sub-$35,000 claims may be able to amend their claim upward to take advantage of the new $50,000 ceiling, but success depends on the court’s procedural rules, how far the case has already progressed, and whether the other side consents or the court grants leave. This is not automatic, and sources are not uniform on the mechanics.
If your situation falls anywhere near this boundary — a claim already filed under the old limit, a dispute that arose before October 1, 2025 but wasn’t filed until after, or a claim close to either $35,000 or $50,000 — check with a lawyer about which limit applies to your specific claim before assuming either figure controls your options.
What the New Limit Means for You
A Toronto homeowner is owed $42,000 by a contractor for defective renovation work. Before October 1, 2025, that claim would have had to go to Superior Court, or be capped at $35,000 with the excess abandoned. Filed today, the full $42,000 claim fits comfortably within Small Claims Court’s $50,000 limit, keeping the matter in the faster, less costly process.
For disputes in the $35,000–$50,000 range — a common band for contractor disputes, unpaid invoices, vehicle accident property damage, and larger consumer claims — the higher limit means you no longer have to choose between capping your recovery or absorbing the cost and delay of Superior Court.
If Your Claim Is Still Worth More Than $50,000
If your claim exceeds even the new $50,000 limit, you still have the same two options as before: cap your claim at $50,000 and formally abandon the rest, staying in Small Claims Court, or pursue the full amount in Superior Court. For claims that are larger but not enormous, Simplified Procedure offers a streamlined Superior Court process for claims generally up to $200,000.
Other Changes That Came With It
The Small Claims Court limit increase did not arrive alone. The Landlord and Tenant Board’s monetary jurisdiction was raised to the same $50,000 figure around the same time, and the minimum amount needed to appeal a Small Claims Court decision to the Divisional Court also moved upward. If an appeal is on the table, confirm the current appeal threshold before assuming the old figures still apply.
Not sure which limit applies to your claim, or whether the timing of your dispute affects your options? Our Toronto lawyers and paralegals offer a free 30-minute consultation for claims across Ontario. Call us at 416-274-2222 or contact us online.
Frequently Asked Questions
$35,000, excluding interest and costs. That figure had been in place since January 2020.
$50,000, excluding interest and costs, under Ontario Regulation 42/25, effective October 1, 2025.
This is not entirely settled in plain terms for every situation. Some commentary suggests plaintiffs with existing claims capped at $35,000 may be able to amend them upward, but whether that succeeds depends on the court’s procedural rules and the stage the case has reached. Confirm with a lawyer which limit applies to your specific claim before assuming either figure.
Yes. The LTB’s monetary jurisdiction was raised to $50,000 as part of the same package of changes.
You can cap your claim at $50,000 and formally abandon the excess, keeping it in Small Claims Court, or pursue the full amount in Superior Court — including under the Simplified Procedure for claims up to $200,000.
No, but as claims get larger, the value of experienced guidance on evidence, procedure, and strategy increases. A free consultation can help you decide.
Ontario Regulation 42/25, which amends O. Reg. 626/00 (Small Claims Court Jurisdiction and Appeal Limit) under the Courts of Justice Act, is published on the Government of Ontario’s e-Laws site.