Where do government and public affairs occupiers lease office space in Toronto?

Most cluster in King East & Distillery. Rent runs ~78 CAD/sqft ($58 USD) for trophy and prime stock.

What fit-out spec do government and public affairs occupiers run in Toronto?

Typically high-end at $185–270/sqft.

How much office space per seat should a government and public affairs occupier plan in Toronto?

Plan ~240 sqft per seat blended. A 100-person team typically takes 24,000 sqft.

What NAICS codes describe the government and public affairs vertical?

Representative NAICS 2022 codes: 813, 541820.

What is the talent index in Toronto?

80/100. Use the city profile for full detail.

Government and public affairs occupiers in Toronto typically cluster in King East & Distillery, plan ~240 sqft per seat at high-end fit-out ($185–270/sqft), and pay around 78 CAD/sqft ($58 USD) on Class A.

Preferred submarket: King East & Distillery.
Typical fit-out spec: High-end ($185–270/sqft).
Plan ~240 sqft per seat for headcount sizing.
Class A rent context: 78 CAD/sqft ($58 USD).
Typical lease: 10 years with 18 months rent-free.
Talent depth in Toronto: 80/100.

Government and public affairs office space in Toronto

Government and public affairs occupiers in Toronto typically cluster in King East & Distillery, plan ~240 sqft per seat at high-end fit-out">fit-out ($185–270/sqft), and pay around 78 CAD/sqft ($58 USD) on Class A.

TL;DR

Preferred submarket: King East & Distillery.
Typical fit-out spec: High-end ($185–270/sqft).
Plan ~240 sqft per seat for headcount sizing.
Class A rent context: 78 CAD/sqft ($58 USD).
Typical lease: 10 years with 18 months rent-free.
Talent depth in Toronto: 80/100.

Where they cluster

Government and public affairs occupiers in Toronto typically anchor in King East & Distillery. Tech, creative agencies, advertising, design.

What they pay

Class A rent in Toronto runs 78 CAD/sqft ($58 USD) on a 10-year lease with 18 months free. Prime submarkets sit at or modestly above the city index.

Spec and fit-out

Typical government and public affairs fit-out targets high-end specification at $185–270/sqft. Branded reception, full client-facing programming, premium furniture, and specialist AV are standard.

Headcount sizing

Plan around 240 sqft per seat blended (workstation + circulation + amenity). A 100-headcount public office in Toronto typically targets 24,000 sqft of leasable area.

Talent angle

Lobbying and public-affairs teams cluster near legislative anchors; long-duration leases and conservative concession packages are normal. Deepest financial-services and tech talent pool in Canada. Average all-in compensation indexes 80.

Tax and lease context

Headline corporate tax: 26.5%. Net leases — tenant pays a base rent plus a proportional share of operating expenses, realty taxes, and utilities (TMI). Rent-free of 12-24 months on a 10-year term is current market. Bank guarantees common for non-investment-grade covenants.

Key facts

city	Toronto
industry	Government and public affairs
naics	813, 541820
preferredSubmarket	King East & Distillery
preferredFitoutSpec	High-end
fitoutBand	$185–270/sqft
sqftPerSeat	240
classARentLocal	78 CAD/sqft/yr
classARentUsd	$58/sqft/yr
vacancyPct	17.6%
typicalLeaseYears	10
typicalRentFreeMonths	18
talentIndex	80
corporateTaxPct	26.5%

Frequently asked questions

Where do government and public affairs occupiers lease office space in Toronto?: Most cluster in King East & Distillery. Rent runs ~78 CAD/sqft ($58 USD) for trophy and prime stock.
What fit-out spec do government and public affairs occupiers run in Toronto?: Typically high-end at $185–270/sqft.
How much office space per seat should a government and public affairs occupier plan in Toronto?: Plan ~240 sqft per seat blended. A 100-person team typically takes 24,000 sqft.
What NAICS codes describe the government and public affairs vertical?: Representative NAICS 2022 codes: 813, 541820.
What is the talent index in Toronto?: 80/100. Use the city profile for full detail.

Editorial provenance

Reviewed by Miriam Hollander — Lead market analyst. Last updated 2026-04-15. See our methodology and editorial standards.

Primary sources for this page

CBRE Marketview reports — CBRE
JLL Office Insight — JLL
Cushman & Wakefield Marketbeat — Cushman & Wakefield
Savills World Research — Savills
Colliers Global Office Outlook — Colliers

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