Housing legislation

Provincial housing legislation

The provincial government has introduced several pieces of legislation that aim to address the housing crisis in Ontario. Learn more about the changing legislation and its impacts on the City and our community.

Bill 23: More Homes Built Faster Act, 2022

On October 25, 2022, the provincial government introduced Bill 23: More Homes Built Faster Act, 2022 to help advance the Province’s plan to address the housing crisis in Ontario by building 1.5 million homes over the next 10 years. This is part of the government’s longer-term strategy to increase the supply of housing across Ontario.

What are the key changes?

Developers pay reduced development charges, reduced community benefits charges, and reduced parkland dedication fees.

How does this impact Guelph?

Bill 23 included key changes to development charges, the Ontario Heritage Act, R.S.O. 1990, the role of conservation authorities, and the building code among others. Changes to development revenues include the following:

  • Reduced amount of development charges that developers pay.
  • Reduced amount of community benefit charges that can be collected.
  • Reduced amount of parkland dedication revenue collected.

Bill 109: More Homes for Everyone Act, 2022

On March 30, 2022, the Ministry of Municipal Affairs and Housing introduced legislation titled Bill 109: More Homes for Everyone Act, 2022, which outlined a suite of actions to further address Ontario’s housing crisis.

What are the key changes?

The changes included in Bill 109 are meant to reduce housing speculation which drives up the cost of housing, protect homebuyers from predatory development practices, and create more housing options for homeowners and renters by accelerating development timelines to get more homes built faster. As part of this, Bill 109 amends six statutes, including the following:

How does this impact Guelph?

Bill 109 introduces application fee refunds where decisions are not made within legislative timeframes on Zoning Bylaw Amendments, Official Plan Amendments and approvals. As a result of these changes, the City has made significant changes to existing work processes and resources available for reviewing planning and development applications and Ontario Land Tribunal appeals. The changes help mitigate future fee refunds under Bill 109 and avoid any tax levy impacts.

On November 22, 2022, Guelph Council approved a new schedule of planning and development fees and directed staff to undertake a planning and development fee review in 2023 with the intent of supporting full cost recovery.

Bill 108: More Homes, More Choices Act, 2019

On May 2, 2019, the Ministry of Municipal Affairs and Housing released the More Homes, More Choice: Ontario’s Housing Supply Action Plan and introduced a related bill titled Bill 108: More Homes, More Choices Act, 2019.

What are the key changes?

The changes included in Bill 108 are intended to shorten approvals, encourage the building of a variety of housing types, and provide more clarity for how development levies are calculated. Bill 108 impacts the development process by making changes to the following:

How does this impact Guelph?

The City of Guelph supports building more housing to meet Ontario’s growing needs. Bill 108, however, presents changes to how the City develops complete communities and provides livable cities for everyone who lives here. Several of the changes proposed to the Planning Act create challenges to the City’s ability to meet its community needs for parkland, affordable housing and other community benefits that enhance wellbeing. The City advocated to the Province for several clarifications and considerations to ensure municipalities have the tools to implement the proposed legislation consistently and fairly.

Official Plan Amendment 80

The City updated its Official Plan to conform to changes to Provincial legislation and policies as part of Official Plan Amendment 80. OPA 80 was adopted by City of Guelph Council on July 11, 2022.

What are the key changes?

On April 11, 2023, the provincial government approved the Plan with eighteen (18) modifications, which include:

  • The City is no longer required to consult with the Grand River Conservation Authority (GRCA) regarding natural heritage features.
  • Downtown Secondary Plan building heights increased to 23 storeys.
  • Changes to employment land requirements.

To learn more and read the Minister’s decision, visit the Official Plan Review – Shaping Guelph OPA 90 page.

How does this impact Guelph?

The changes influence all the lands within Guelph, and will have the following impacts:

  • The provincial government now decides if natural heritage systems (wildlife habitat, woodlots, wetlands) are protected from development.
  • Costs related to new stormwater management infrastructure to replace natural heritage system.
  • Building heights in some areas now exceed community plan values.
  • Less employment land means fewer jobs for the people who will be living in Guelph.

Province reviewing past decisions related to official plans

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.

City of Guelph’s Housing Pledge: By Guelph, For Guelph

The Minister of Municipal Affairs and Housing issued a letter on October 25, 2022 (revised February 13, 2023) regarding the More Homes, Built Faster: Ontario’s Housing Supply Action Plan 2022–2023. The action plan is intended to address the anticipated impacts associated with Bill 109: More Homes for Everyone Act and Bill 23: More Homes Built Faster Act.

Read the City’s housing pledge and letter to the Minister of Municipal Affairs and Housing.

What are the key changes?

To implement the 1.5 million homes target, the Minister is asking the City of Guelph to demonstrate its commitment to accelerating housing supply by developing a Municipal Housing Pledge and take the necessary steps to facilitate the construction of 18,000 new homes by 2031.

How does this impact Guelph?

While not responsible for the actual building of homes, there are actions the City can take to facilitate more housing. In the pledge, the City commits to eight different goals and over 30 objectives to set the stage for success in Guelph. Some of these goals are:

  • simplify and improve the development approvals review process;
  • increase human resources to deliver capital infrastructure projects that provide essential services like water and wastewater needed for new housing;
  • end exclusionary zoning policies; and
  • communicate with third-party utility providers and construction industry partners to ensure they are aware of these housing targets and can adjust their plans and help the Province achieve these housing goals.

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