The mayor is elected alongside city council every four years on the fourth Monday of October; there are no term limits.

[3] Olivia Chow has served as the 66th and current mayor of Toronto since July 12, 2023, after winning the 2023 by-election.

It outlines the mayor's role as head of council and chief executive officer of the City of Toronto.

[8][9][10] Before the passage of the Strong Mayors Act, Toronto's government operated on what has been described as a "weak-mayor" system where all powers were vested in Council as a whole.

[7][11] The Strong Mayors Act shifted Toronto's government structure into one which resembles a "strong-mayor" system, assigning several administrative powers to the mayor which were previously held by City Council or an officer of the city.

The mayor sets out this structure by creating and dissolving committees, appoints their chairs and vice-chairs (this is a power that was delegated by council before 2022), and assigning their functions.

[NB 1][11][6] Developing the annual budget of the City of Toronto is another key function of the mayor.

[12][13] The Better Municipal Governance Act, which was passed shortly after the Strong Mayors Act further expands this power, allowing the mayor to pass a by-law for the purpose of advancing a provincial priority with one-third support on council.

[18][19] In 2014, city council approved the creation of three additional non-statutory deputy mayor positions.

Each (along with the first deputy mayor) represent a geographic area of the city, and are responsible for a specific policy role.

Prior to 1834, Toronto municipal leadership was governed by the chairman of the General Quarter Session of Peace of the Home District Council.

David Breakenridge Read held the post of mayor of Toronto for the shortest period.

[24][25] Due to his substance abuse admission and controversy in 2013, Council stripped him of many powers on November 15, transferring them to the deputy mayor.