What is a Community Improvement Plan (CIP)?
A Community Improvement Plan (CIP) is a tool used by municipalities in Ontario to promote community development and improvement using financial incentives and actions. The Planning Act allows municipalities to designate specific areas for improvement to address issues, such as housing needs.
Once established, a CIP allows municipalities to provide grants, loans and other incentives to landowners. These can be used to help with eligible costs to prepare land and build or restore buildings on private and public properties.
Update to Burlington’s Housing CIP to Introduce Temporary Programs
On May 26, 2026, Burlington City Council adopted amendments to the CIP which added five temporary programs. These incentive programs are designed to help build more housing units, faster and to help create a variety of housing options in Burlington’s urban area.
The CIP temporary financial incentive programs are:
- Development Charge Reduction Grant – Purpose-Built Rental Program
- Development Charge Reduction Grant – Ownership Program
- Missing Middle Municipal Fee Waiver Program
- Tax Increment Equivalent Grant (TIEG) for Purpose-Built Rental Residential Program
- Accessible Design Grant Program
How to Apply
The City plans to accept applications for the temporary CIP programs at the end of June 2026. For more information and how to apply, subscribe to page updates.
The CIP incentives will be fully funded through the Housing Accelerator Fund (HAF), where applicable.
Background
City of Burlington’s Housing Community Improvement Plan
On April 15, 2025, Council adopted the Burlington Housing Community Improvement Plan (CIP). The CIP has financial incentive programs that are designed to help create a variety of housing options in Burlington’s urban area.
This includes:
- grants
- forgivable loans
- municipal fee waivers
- development charges help
- brownfields tax help
Implementing the CIP
Over the next 10 years, the CIP programs will help address strategic housing needs and priorities. The City may implement any number of financial incentives outlined in the CIP during the implementation period, depending on the availability of City funds and/or other resources.
In 2025, the City implemented CIP incentives for new affordable rental ARUs through the Additional Residential Unit Incentive Program (closed Oct. 1, 2025) with funding from the Housing Accelerator Fund (HAF).