Housing in Guelph
A housing strategy for Guelph
Guelph is growing, and we need more diverse options for housing. We need homes that are safe, affordable, accessible and suitable regardless of income, age or situation. Everyone in Guelph should be able to afford a place to call home.
We’re working together with Wellington County and other levels of government, homebuilders, developers and community partners to get it done. Because together, we’re stronger.
Everyone who lives in Guelph should:
Feel safe
Guelph, with its welcoming community and charming atmosphere, stands out as a place where safety and security are deeply valued. The City’s commitment to maintaining a high quality of life is reflected in its low crime rates, well-maintained public spaces and active community programs.
Have pride
Guelph is more than just a city, it’s a vibrant community that inspires pride in its residents. Guelph offers a unique blend of tradition and innovation with its rich history, beautiful architecture and commitment to sustainability. Guelph takes pride in its thriving cultural scene and dedication to preserving natural beauty.
Have family support
Guelph is an ideal location for raising a family, offering a blend of safety, community and quality of life. With its excellent educational institutions and family-friendly amenities, Guelph is a welcoming and supportive place for families to grow and enjoy life. All types of families are welcome here.
Honour tradition
Guelph is a city deeply rooted in tradition, where historical heritage and cultural practices are cherished and celebrated. Diversity is welcome and respected. The City’s well-preserved architecture, historic sites, and annual festivals reflect its commitment to honouring its past while embracing the present.
Serving our community’s diverse housing needs
Improving housing supply is a top priority for Guelph, and is identified as a priority in Guelph’s Strategic Plan. 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 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. This report presents a statistical analysis of demographic, economic and housing data. It identifies the gaps in our housing needs.
The City’s role in housing
The City supports housing priorities through a number of actions that are within its regulatory scope. While the factors that affect housing demand are largely beyond the control of local government, the City supports our community’s housing needs through:
Regulation
Guelph determines the location and type of housing that can be built.
Policies
Guelph encourages development of affordable and non-market housing options.
Advocacy
Guelph advocates for a range of housing issues at the provincial and federal government level.
Collaboration
Guelph collaborates with all levels of government, non-profit and private sector partners to deliver much-needed housing supplies.
Guelph-Wellington’s housing continuum
The Housing Continuum is the range of housing options one may need over a lifetime, including temporary emergency shelter, transitional and supportive housing, subsidized, affordable and market rental housing, as well as homeownership.
While the City is taking actions to address the housing crisis, and striving to provide more affordable housing within its regulatory scope, Wellington County is the province-appointed municipal services manager that is primarily responsible for providing non-market housing, with some administrative and financial support from the City.
The City is partnering with the County of Wellington in providing housing across the continuum. The County oversees services on the left side of the continuum, including: emergency shelter, transitional housing, supportive housing and rent-geared-to-income (RGI). The City oversees services on the right side of the continuum, including: market rentals and affordable homeownership. We work collaboratively to provide affordable rentals.
Housing Accelerator Fund
In January 2024, the federal government announced $21.4 million for the City of Guelph over three years to create opportunities for 739 new housing units above the City average by the end of 2026.
Learn about our progress on the eight initiatives in the Housing Accelerator Fund action plan below.
Initiative 1: Housing Affordability Strategy
The City has approved a new 10-year Housing Affordability Strategy outlining 30 actions to bring more housing that is affordable to Guelph over the next decade. Read the strategy and the implementation plan to learn more.
Initiative 2: Implementing new or enhanced processes and systems
- Improving digital service delivery: The City is looking to enhance our digital services to streamline the review process for development applications. These improvements will provide people with more access to information online and keep customers up to date on the status of their application. It will also make the process easier and more efficient for staff and the agencies who work with us. By enhancing our development review process, the City can make more housing available quickly for our community.
- Affordable Housing Community Improvement Plan: The City is providing grants to encourage the building of more affordable housing in Guelph. As part of the program, non-profits and home builders can apply for a Vacant unit renewal grant. This grant supports the costs of turning vacant units into affordable housing.
The City is accepting applications until funding has been exhausted.
Initiative 3: Infrastructure and servicing capacity planning
- Downtown Infrastructure Renewal program: The Downtown Infrastructure Renewal Program is part of the overall Downtown Renewal Program to revitalize and transform Downtown Guelph for even more prosperity and well-being. This work aims to improve and upgrade roads, sewers, watermains, sidewalks, cycling facilities, and the streetscape within the areas designated within the Downtown Secondary Plan.
- Guelph Innovation District Enabling Infrastructure program: The City is planning to build new roads, water, sewers and other infrastructure to allow for new homes and businesses in the Guelph Innovation District. This area will be vital to support new housing and jobs in our city. The district includes more than 46 hectares (1,000 acres) bounded by York Road, Victoria Road South, the York-Watson Industrial Park and the city’s southern boundary, south of Stone Road East.
Initiative 4: Create and formalize an evaluative framework for the acquisition and disposal of City-owned land assets
- Affordable Housing Demonstration Project: The City of Guelph is making a nearly half-acre property at 14 Edinburgh Road available to a selected non-profit for development of affordable housing. A request for proposals process is underway and will be open until April 11, 2025. Read the media release to learn more.
- Inventory of City and County-owned land assets: The City of Guelph has identified all available City- and County-owned land assets. To learn more, please view a map of the land assets on ArcGIS.
Initiative 5: Encourage Additional Dwelling Units
- Affordable Housing Community Improvement Plan: The City is providing grants to encourage the building of more affordable housing in Guelph. As part of the program, homeowners and landlords can apply for the Additional Dwelling Unit grant. This grant will support the costs of adding a new affordable unit to their home. The City is accepting applications until funding has been exhausted.
- Is your property ready for an ADU-over? The City of Guelph is launching an awareness program around Additional Dwelling Units, how they are regulated in Guelph, and how property owners can build them on their property. Learn more about additional dwelling units.
Initiative 6: Encouraging missing middle units in existing neighbourhoods
Enabling 4+ units project: The City has approved an Official Plan and Zoning bylaw amendment to allow up to four housing units on a low-density residential property. We are continuing to explore the impact and feasibility of more than four housing units in Guelph’s low-density residential areas. Learn more about additional dwelling units.
Initiative 7: Design and implement a new Community Planning Permit System Pilot Project
The City of Guelph has drafted a Community Planning Permit bylaw for the Stone Road/Edinburgh Road area that will streamline the development approval process and help increase affordable housing.
Initiative 8: Parking reduction
Transportation Demand Management Plan: The City is exploring policies to encourage more people to bike, walk, carpool or use public transit. By helping reduce the number of cars on Guelph roads, we can keep traffic moving and support community sustainability.
Learn more
Housing in Guelph: an interactive story
