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Ministry of Housing

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236 478-0251

Backgrounders

What to know about housing zoning, planning updates for local governments

To address the housing crisis, the Province has instituted a series of legislative changes through Bills 44 and 47 in fall 2023, which allow small-scale multi-unit housing and increased density in transit-oriented development areas, so more people will have access to homes in the communities they know. Last fall, it was signalled that today’s legislation would be coming to support these changes by giving local governments the authority to increase affordable housing and improving public works and sustainable transportation infrastructure to create complete communities, and allowing municipalities to require tenant protections for renters during redevelopment.  

Inclusionary zoning:

  • Inclusionary zoning will give local governments the ability to require affordable housing in new developments.
  • Local governments can use inclusionary zoning to require that developers provide affordable housing when building minimum allowable densities in transit-oriented development areas. 
  • When considering a draft inclusionary zoning bylaw for approval, local governments must undertake a financial feasibility analysis to understand how much density is needed to offset the costs to the developer for providing affordable housing.
  • The Province will monitor how the tool is implemented and will have regulation-making authorities to provide checks and balances to ensure communities do not deter building the housing people need.

Density bonus:

  • Currently, local governments use density bonus to deliver much-needed housing and public amenities that support increased housing supply and growth.
  • The proposed density bonus changes clarify how the tool can encourage more affordable housing and amenities in new development, and ensure that it works with inclusionary zoning.

Site-level works and services:

  • Provides local governments with expanded authority to require the types of site-specific works and services critical to creating complete communities.
  • Examples of site-level infrastructure includes sidewalks, boulevards and crossings, transit bays, street lighting, underground wiring, water and sewer systems, bike lanes, landscaping, street signs, benches, bicycle parking facilities, traffic calming measures, and sustainable design features such as street trees or rain gardens.

Transportation demand management (transportation improvements):

  • Providing local governments with explicit authority to define and require transportation demand management (TDM) measures in new developments.
  • This authority gives local governments the ability to establish TDM standards and requirements that would apply to new developments, in order to help increase sustainable transportation, reduce motor-vehicle dependence, and improve the movement of people and goods.
  • TDM measures in new developments can include things such as charging stations, secure bicycle and scooter parking facilities, or end-of-trip facilities such as bike repair or wash stations, change rooms, or showers.

Tenant protection bylaws:

  • Municipalities will have the ability to enact tenant protection bylaws. Developers seeking to redevelop a building must fulfil the terms of the bylaws to receive a development permit.
  • These bylaws may include financial assistance, assistance with finding a new place to live and opportunities for right of first refusal on units in a new building.