Temporary Incentive Programs

Development Charge Reduction Grant – Purpose-Built Rental

This program is a grant for up to 100 per cent of the City’s portion of the residential Development Charges. It supports the development of new purpose-built rental units.

Eligibility Criteria

• Must be a development, redevelopment/adaptive reuse of a property for construction of net new purpose-built rental units.
• Eligible units must be subject to residential development charges and meet the Eligible Dwelling Unit definition under subsection 5.9 of the Burlington Housing Community Improvement Plan.

Eligible Costs
The grant is for up to 100 per cent of the City’s portion of residential Development Charges. The grant does not apply to the Regional or Educational portion of applicable Development Charges.

Construction Timing
The grant will be provided upon successful issuance of an occupancy permit or at the discretion of the City.

This program provides a financial incentive to support the creation of new residential ownership units.

Eligibility Criteria

All dwelling units must:

• be offered for sale and transferred as ownership housing.
• meet the program’s minimum unit count and unit size thresholds, where applicable, as established in the Additional Eligibility Requirements for Low-rise Buildings (up to 4 storeys) and for Mid-Rise and Tall Buildings (5 storeys or greater).
• not have started construction before submitting a complete application.
• be subject to residential development charges and meet the Eligible Dwelling Unit definition under subsection 5.9 of the Burlington Housing Community Improvement Plan.

Additional Eligibility Requirements – Mid-Rise and Tall Buildings

• The development must have a minimum of 40 per cent that are two-bedroom units and five per cent that are three-or-more-bedroom units.
• Two-bedroom dwelling units shall have a minimum floor area of 750 square feet.
• Three-or-more-bedroom dwelling units shall have a minimum floor area of 950 square feet.

Additional Eligibility Requirements – Low-Rise Buildings

• The development must contain a minimum of four dwelling units.

Eligible Costs

• Eligible and successful low-rise dwelling units: The grant is for up to 100 per cent of the City’s portion of residential Development Charges.
• Eligible and successful mid-rise and tall buildings: The grant for up to 30 per cent of the City’s portion of residential Development Charges.

Construction Timing
The grant will be provided once the City has  issued the building permit for above-grade construction or at the discretion of the City. Projects must satisfy the applicable construction timing eligibility requirements established by the Temporary Programs, including permit issuance milestones and occupancy requirements, where applicable. Failure to meet required timing milestones may result in cancellation of funding approval.

Missing Middle Municipal Fee Waiver Program

This temporary program is to offset the initial costs of development for missing middle housing forms by waiving eligible fees.

Eligibility Criteria

• The project must consist of a multiple dwelling or mixed-use building in a missing middle form.
• Missing middle housing means a residential building of up to a maximum of four storeys.

Eligible Fees

• Demolition permit fees
• Building permit fees
• Occupancy permit fees 

Eligible Costs
Up to 100 per cent of eligible municipal permit fees may be waived, to a maximum of $40,000 per project.

Construction Timing

• A complete building permit application must be submitted before you can apply for funding.
• Occupancy Permit issuance must occur no later than Dec. 31, 2027, unless otherwise approved by the City.

This temporary program is for the reuse, development, and redevelopment of eligible properties for purpose-built rental residential buildings. The program may provide an annual municipal tax increment equivalent grant for the City's portion of the property tax, up to 100 percent annually for five years following project completion and occupancy permit issuance.

Eligibility Criteria

• Minimum four dwelling units within a purpose-built rental residential building.
• Thirty per cent or more of the units must be two bedrooms or larger.
• Two-bedroom units must have a minimum floor area of 750 square feet.
• Three-or-more-bedroom units must have a minimum floor area of 950 square feet.
• Projects must generate an increase in assessment.
• Applications submitted after Occupancy Permit issuance are not eligible.

Construction Timing

• TIEG applications must be submitted at the time a Foundation or Shoring and/or Building Excavation Permit application is made.
• Applications may be accepted after Foundation Permit issuance but must be received prior to Occupancy Permit issuance.

Eligible Costs

Eligible costs may include:

• Demolition
• Construction and labour costs
• Infrastructure work
• Accessibility improvements
• Municipal and agency fees
• Consultant fees

Accessible Design Grant Program

This program provides an additional grant for eligible applications that incorporate voluntary universal or barrier-free design, or accessible design practices and features that exceed Ontario Building Code requirements.

Eligibility Criteria

• The project must have universal or barrier-free design, or accessible design practices and features exceeding Ontario Building Code minimums.
• The applicant must already be approved for units under one of the Temporary Programs under subsection 5.9.

Eligible Costs

• Up to $20,000 for a four-unit housing project.
• Up to $50,000 for a project with five or more units.

Construction Timing
The grant will be provided upon successful completion of the housing project, verification of eligible accessible design features, and satisfaction of all program requirements at the discretion of the City.