Business Improvement Areas (BIA)

TheTillsonburg Business Improvement Association (BIA)is comprised of more than 230 businesses in the Downtown Core Area (Central Commercialzone) in Tillsonburg.

The organization is non-profit and operates under the authority under the Municipal Act, 2001 . The BIA is responsible for the promotion and beautification of Downtown Tillsonburg.

The goal of the Business Improvement Area is to make downtown Tillsonburg the destination of choice for shopping and daily needs.

The Tillsonburg BIA is managed by the BIA Board of Management.

• Any individual who owns property within the BIA is eligible to be a member of the Board.
• A property owner may designate a commercial tenant to be a member of the Board.

Visit the Downtown TillsonburgBIA website

Downtown Tillsonburg BIA Boundary Expansion

On October 18, 2023, The Tillsonburg Business Improvement Area (BIA) Board of Management agreed to request the Town to commence a boundary expansion to their existing jurisdiction. Tillsonburg Town Council agreed to consider an expansion to the Downtown Tillsonburg BIA boundaries.

As required by the Municipal Act, 2001, property owners with eligible business properties in both the current and proposed new boundaries must be notified before a boundary expansion by-law is passed. All required notices were sent by prepaid mail on April 11, 2025. [Click here to view the notice.]

Timeline & Checklist for Proposed Business Improvement Area (BIA) By-Law

1. Notice Sent to Property Owners & BIA Board

• Send notice by prepaid mail to:
  • BIA Board of Management
  • Property owners of rateable business properties within the existing and proposed improvement area

Notice mailed by: April 11, 2025

2. Landlord’s Responsibilities (Within 30 Days of Mailing)

• Provide each tenant (who pays all or part of property taxes) with a copy of the notice
• Submit a list to the Clerk including:
  • Names of tenants paying taxes
  • The share of taxes each tenant is responsible for

Submit information to Clerk by: May 11, 2025

3. Objection Period (Within 60 Days of Mailing)

• Written objections must be submitted to the Clerk by: June 10, 2025
• Town Council cannot consider the change request if the objections received meet the following conditions:
  • Signed by at least one-third of the total number of persons entitled to notice; and
  • The objectors are responsible for at least one-third of taxes levied on the affected properties within the existing OR within the proposed improvement area
• Withdrawal of objections: If enough objections are withdrawn within the 60-day period, the by-law may proceed.

Final day for objections: June 10, 2025

4. Clerk’s Determination
The Clerk will review objections and determine if the conditions for preventing the by-law have been met. If conditions are not met, the Clerk will issue a certificate allowing the by-law to proceed. The Clerk’s decision is final.