Our progress
The City has been preparing for a future-ready Guelph, and housing supply has been our priority for years. Here is how we’re progressing.
On this page
Expedited approval process
The City of Guelph is approving site plan and zoning applications faster than ever. We’re streamlining approvals, hiring more staff and improving technology to fast-track housing development for our community.
Here are some of the ways we’ve streamlined approvals:
- We processed Official Plan Amendment applications in an average of 120 days in 2023 —159 per cent faster than the previous year.
- We approved zoning applications in an average of under 70 days in 2023 —more than twice as fast as in 2022.
- We approved site plan applications in an average of 24 days in 2023 —more than four times faster than in 2022.
Average time (number of days) to process an Official Plan Amendment application
| Year | Number of days |
|---|---|
| 2022 | 311 |
| 2023 | 120 |
| 2024 | 111 |
Average time (number of days) to approve a Site Plan application
| Year | Number of days |
|---|---|
| 2019 and 2020 | 322 |
| 2021 | 132 |
| 2022 | 128 |
| 2023 | 24 |
| 2024 | 25 |
Average time (number of days) to approve a Zoning application
| Year | Number of days |
|---|---|
| 2022 | 311 |
| 2023 | 120 |
| 2024 | 111 |
Funding received
We have been actively applying for housing grants from both the provincial and federal governments to address funding gap and help increase housing supply in Guelph.
$2.1 million
Housing-Enabling Water Systems Fund (Government of Ontario)
$21.4 million
Housing Accelerator Fund (Government of Canada)
$4.68 million
Building Faster Fund (Government of Ontario)
$1.75 million
Streamline Development Approval Fund (Government of Ontario)
Growth management strategy
Housing is a top priority for Guelph. Housing forms the basis of our neighbourhoods and plays an important role in health and overall well-being. It can provide a sense of identity, belonging and social support. The City is working to ensure that residents’ housing needs are met, in order to deliver on our community vision of a vibrant, inclusive community for all.The City of Guelph recently completed a State of housing in Guelph report to better understand our community’s current and future housing needs.
Official Plan Amendment 80
On July 11, 2022, City Council approved Official Plan Amendment 80. The amendment was to make sure the growth strategy conformed to provincial legislation and policy changes. The Minister of Municipal Affairs and Housing approved the amended plan on April 11, 2023, with several changes that cannot be appealed. On October 23, 2023 the Province announced it is winding back changes to official plans. City staff are reviewing this announcement and what it means for our Official plan, housing pledge and the budget.
Comprehensive Zoning Bylaw
Guelph Council approved the new Zoning Bylaw in May 2023. This document is a set of rules that tell us:
- What a property can be used for
- How big the property or structure can be
- Where buildings can be placed
- How tall, what size, and how many buildings can be built
- How many parking spaces are needed and where the parking spaces can be located
The Ontario Land Tribunal has received 16 appeals to the zoning bylaw. The City is working through the appeal process.
Unlocking future growth areas
Here’s what we’re doing to make these blocks of land ready for more housing.
Downtown Guelph (yellow)
- Completed servicing studies and substantial planning for infrastructure reconstruction needed now and for growth
- Developed Temporary Sanitary Servicing Policy, Downtown Parking Master Plan and cash-in-lieu pilot to facilitate development
Baker District (blue)
- Completed Record of Site Conditions to transition a City-owned parking lot to over 350 housing units
Guelph Innovation District (green)
- Phased reconstruction of York Road (underway) and York Trunk Sewer (completed) – in red on the map
- Preparing for improvements to Victoria Road and Stone Road
Dolime quarry site (orange)
- Developers will begin secondary planning by 2024
Clair-Maltby (purple)
- The secondary plan is under appeal with an Ontario Land Tribunal hearing scheduled to commence in January 2024
Taking action to build infrastructure
In addition to unlocking strategic growth areas, we’re prepping Guelph for more people and more houses, by acting on several items, including making significant financial investments for infrastructure.
- Updating capital revenue tools to pay for infrastructure
- Advocating and applying for capital infrastructure funding
- Strengthened relationships with community partners
- Implemented the Capital Program Resource Strategy
- Implemented the Inflationary Impact Strategy
- Improved internal project management practices
- Construction of supportive infrastructure
- Managed stormwater flooding through pond retrofits, ongoing maintenance, etc.
Guelph housing in the news
- City set to receive $2.1 million in provincial funding for water and wastewater infrastructure upgrades in Guelph
- City of Guelph to receive federal funding to help build more homes, faster
- Guelph receives $4.68 million for meeting provincial housing targets
- Guelph receives $1.75 million to streamline development approval process