If you live in a condominium, chances are something is being delivered to your building almost every day. Packages from online retailers, groceries, meal kits, and restaurant orders have become part of everyday condo life. What used to be an occasional convenience is now an expectation for many residents.
For condominium boards, however, this shift raises practical and legal questions that do not always have obvious answers. Who is responsible for deliveries? How much should staff be expected to handle? And where does resident convenience end and corporate risk begin?
One of the most important things for boards and residents to understand is that parcel and food delivery are not core condominium services. Most declarations and by-laws do not require a corporation to accept, store, track, or safeguard deliveries. When a building does so, it is usually as a courtesy rather than a legal obligation.
That distinction matters. As delivery volumes increase, what starts as a helpful service can quickly overwhelm concierge desks, management staff, and common areas. Packages pile up, storage runs out, and staff time is diverted from their primary responsibilities. At the same time, residents may assume the corporation is responsible if a package goes missing or is damaged.
Parcel deliveries, in particular, raise recurring concerns about space, safety, and liability. Lobbies and mailrooms are rarely designed to function as storage facilities. Large or heavy packages can block walkways, interfere with fire routes, and create safety hazards. Without clear rules in place, disputes over lost or damaged parcels are almost inevitable.
This is why many condominium corporations adopt parcel delivery policies. These policies often set clear limits on what will be accepted, how long items can be stored, and make it clear that the corporation is not responsible for loss or damage. Some buildings also require residents to sign an acknowledgement or release before staff will accept packages on their behalf.
Food delivery raises a different set of issues, particularly around building security. Allowing delivery drivers unrestricted access to residential floors can undermine access control systems that are meant to protect residents and property. Unlike building staff or registered contractors, food delivery drivers are usually unknown to the corporation and are not subject to any screening or ongoing oversight.
For this reason, many boards are moving towards requiring residents to meet food delivery drivers in the lobby or another designated area. While this may feel inconvenient to some residents, it reflects a reasonable effort to balance personal convenience with the safety and security of the community as a whole.
In Ontario, delivery issues are best addressed through policies rather than formal rules or amendments to the declaration or by-laws. Policies provide flexibility to respond to evolving delivery practices while still addressing legitimate concerns such as safety, security, and the prevention of nuisance. A well-crafted policy should be consistent with and align with the corporation’s governing documents and be applied reasonably and consistently. Clear communication is essential: residents are far more likely to accept delivery limitations when the rationale is explained, and the policy is administered fairly and predictably.
The bottom line is this: condominium living involves shared spaces and shared risks. Parcel and food delivery are now part of modern condo life, but they are not unlimited rights. Thoughtful, well‑drafted policies and help boards manage risk, set clear expectations, and avoid unnecessary disputes while still recognizing how people actually live today.
