Condo Living
July 15, 2026 Published by Golden Horseshoe Chapter - By Gareth Stackhouse, Yuliya Lappo
E-Bikes, Batteries and Condo Safety: What Boards and Managers Should Know
From the Volume 28, Summer 2026 issue of the CCI GHC Condo News Magazine
And here it is, the long awaited season: summer!
Residents are pulling out their bikes, dusting off their helmets, and heading back outside. Balconies, storage rooms, and bike racks are coming back to life. However, alongside traditional bicycles, boards and managers are now seeing more e-bikes, e scooters, and other battery powered devices. In many cases, these devices are not seasonal; some users rely on e-bikes year round, even in severe weather.
While bicycles have long been a familiar and manageable aspect of condominium living, e-bikes and their batteries introduce additional considerations. In particular, lithium ion batteries, charging practices, fire safety, and use on the common elements are raising new and evolving concerns for condominium corporations.
Fire Risks Associated with E-Bikes and Similar Devices
These concerns are not merely hypothetical. According to Toronto Fire Services1, the number of lithium-ion battery-related fire incidents has been increasing. These types of safety and fire risks are common across all types of lithium-ion batteries (which are ubiquitous), but e-bikes carry a higher risk due to the size of the batteries, the exposure to road conditions (including rain and salt, great for corrosion), and the fact that they are attached to large pieces of metal that can be hard to properly store.
Recent news reports have linked fires in high-rise buildings to lithium-ion batteries used in e-bikes and similar devices. For example, in December 2025, an apartment fire in Toronto’s west end sent two people to the hospital, and the alleged source of the fire was an electric bike battery2. In April 2026, a high-rise balcony fire in downtown Toronto was reported to involve lithium-ion batteries associated with an e-scooter or similar device3.
Managing E-Bikes Safely
In light of this, condominium communities face a practical question: how can condominium corporations manage e-bikes and other battery powered devices to ensure the safety and well being of the condominium community?
This article provides practical guidance for boards and property managers on how to manage e-bikes in a way that is safe, reasonable, and fair to residents.
E-bikes offer residents a convenient means of transportation, and they are here to stay. Although a ban may seem appealing, it is not an appropriate solution or a solution that’s free of conflict. Instead, condominium boards should approach the safety risks associated with e-bikes in a measured and thoughtful way, without overreacting or imposing unnecessary restrictions on residents.
The Science
This thoughtful approach starts with understanding the technology itself; specifically, what lithium ion batteries are, why they can pose risks, and how those risks arise in a condominium setting.
Lithium-ion batteries power many everyday devices. While generally safe, they can become dangerous if damaged, tampered with, or improperly charged. In rare cases, a faulty battery can overheat and cause a fast moving fire that is difficult to control.
In a multi-unit condominium community, the lithium-ion powered e-bikes and e-scooters can create practical challenges, including:
- Charging batteries inside units, on balconies, or on the common elements using common element electrical outlets;
- Storing e-bikes in hallways, units, lockers, or other areas not intended for that purpose;
- Operating or riding e-bikes on the common elements.
What Condos Can Do
One of the most efficient ways for condo corporations to address the use and storage of e-bikes and similar devices is through clear and targeted rules. The Condominium Act, 1998 (the “Act”) gives corporations the authority to adopt rules that promote the safety, security, and welfare of residents and to prevent unreasonable interference with the use and enjoyment of the property, provided the rules are reasonable and consistent with the Act and the corporation’s governing documents.
Condo e-bikes rules can establish practical limits and guidelines, including:
- Establishing charging and battery rules, including restrictions on unsafe or inappropriate locations and requiring safe charging practices.
- Requiring only recognized approved batteries and equipment, such as those bearing the Canadian certification mark (e.g., “CSA”, “cUL” or “cETL”), and prohibiting modifications to the batteries and charging systems.
- Restricting where e-bikes can be used, stored and charged:
- Requiring residents to walk them on the common elements;
- Limiting where e-bikes can be stored, such as requiring storage in designated areas (e.g., bike rooms, parking units, or assigned storage spaces) and prohibiting storage in hallways or other unauthorized areas;
- Prohibiting riding on interior common elements.
- Requiring registration of e-bikes with management to support monitoring and compliance.
- Permitting the corporation to remove improperly stored or non compliant e-bikes at the owner’s expense and providing a clear enforcement mechanism.
These measures are all about reasonable control, not elimination.
Where Does the CAT Fit In?
If disputes relating to e-bike rules arise, they may typically be addressed through the Condominium Authority Tribunal (the “CAT”), as vehicle, storage, or parking rule-compliance matters. For example, if an owner fails to comply with a rule by storing an e scooter in the lobby or parking it in an unauthorized area, the corporation, after following the usual escalation process, may bring an application to enforce compliance.
A Practical Way Forward
E-bikes, e-scooters, and similar devices offer many benefits, but they require sensible precautions in the condominium context. With a growing number of these devices in residential communities, corporations are well advised to adopt clear rules and provide guidance on their safe use.
By focusing on proper storage, safe charging practices, and reasonable limits on use, condominium corporations can reduce risk while still accommodating residents’ preference for modern, convenient, and environmentally friendly mobility.
It is not about banning e-bikes. It is about managing them safely to protect residents and the property. That is a common sense solution most communities can support. And your Common Ground Condo Law Lawyers are always here to help.
Happy and safe summer!
Gareth Stackhouse serves as general counsel to condominiums throughout Ontario, offering trusted advice and common-sense solutions to a wide array of condominium legal challenges. With the Common Ground Condo Law team, he assists condominium clients with every legal issue that literally walks in their front doors. Gareth specializes in corporate governance, acting as an outside chairperson during contentious meetings, and managing complex governing document changes, such as declaration amendments, by-laws, and section 98 agreements. His expertise extends to land use and real property matters, project financing, shared facilities, and navigating the intersections of repair after damage, insurance, and standard unit considerations. Active in several CCI chapters and ACMO, Gareth is a regular contributor to industry discussions through both writing and public speaking on condominium-related topics.
Yuliya Lappo is a lawyer with Common Ground Condo Law, advising condominium corporations and property managers across Ontario. Her practice focuses on governance, compliance, and enforcement matters, including assisting with drafting and amending governing documents. She has written on condominium law topics for industry publications and enjoys helping clients navigate practical and legal challenges in condominium communities.
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