Many Toronto businesses will be closed for Good Friday, with only a lucky few remaining open. But the rules are complicated. Very complicated.

If you need to repair your boat, do some laundry, or buy some antiques, you may be in luck.

There are a number of exemptions for stores to remain open on holidays, including Good Friday, according to Tammy Robinson, spokesperson for the City of Toronto’s licensing and standards division.

But even those that make the list may have to follow some rules on the number of people they can have working, and the square footage of their business operating on the day.

Gas stations, nurseries and laundromats can remain open, as can businesses involved in vehicle or boat rental, servicing, or repair.

So can retail business establishments licensed under the Liquor Licence Act or under the Tourism Act.

Businesses selling prepared meals and living accommodation can also stay open.

Small retail businesses make the list, as long as they are less than 2,400 square feet in size, have no more than three people engaged in serving the public, and sell either food, fresh fruit and vegetables, tobacco, articles required to use tobacco, antiques, handicrafts, or just books, magazines or newspapers and sundries.

Pharmacies accredited under the Drug and Pharmacies Regulation Act can stay open . . . as long as they’re smaller than 7,500 square feet.

And Torontonians will be able to visit art galleries . . . as long as they have no more than three people serving the public and their retail business area is less than 2,400 square feet.

How can the AGO be open?

Surely they have more than three staff members working there.

Another section of the bylaw seems to take care of that.

Any businesses related to education, recreation, or amusement where the public pays admission or membership fees can remain open.

So gyms, theatres and amusements parks are in luck.

And, we surmise, the AGO.

There are also specially designated tourist areas, where merchants are free to remain open any day of the year. Toronto has five. They include Queens Quay West, the Toronto Eaton Centre and the Distillery District.

In case you think the rules are somewhat silly, realize they do mean something. Businesses that remain open on Friday who do not fall under these exemptions may face consequences, said Robinson.

“City staff (Municipal Standards Officers) working on holidays these days will conduct proactive inspections and enforce as is appropriate,” Robinson wrote in an email to the Star. “They will also respond to complaints (which generally come in through 311).”

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The list of those allowed to stay open may be expanding soon.

A report will be discussed at the Licensing & Standards Committee meeting on April 18 which calls for Toronto potentially to amend the Holiday Shopping Bylaw.

It asks that Toronto conduct public consultations on the impact of including other retailers who serve prepared meals to operate on public holidays and to develop an application process for retailers to request an exemption from the bylaw.

Standards may be loosening.