About

The Town of Stouffville is excited to announce the Affordable Housing Community Improvement Plan (CIP). The Affordable Housing CIP is one of eight initiatives that the Town is undertaking as part of its Housing Accelerator Fund (HAF) agreement with Government of Canada. The Affordable Housing CIP contains a range of financial and non-financial incentives aimed at supporting the development of affordable housing within the Town.

Incentive program funding is limited and subject to availability and offered on a first-come-first-serve basis!

Multiplex/Additional Residential Unit (ARU)
Affordable Rental Grant

Program Overview

The Multiplex/ARU Affordable Rental Grant (“Multiplex/ARU Grant”) is available to landowners to offset costs to construct or convert an affordable rental ARU (integrated or ancillary) or Multiplex in the Community of Stouffville.

The Town’s Zoning By-law establishes the permissions and regulations (ex. setbacks) for Multiplexes and ARUs in the Community of Stouffville. The Town’s Zoning Bylaw generally allows up to two (2) ARUs (integrated or ancillary) on fully serviced (municipal water and sewer) property with a single detached dwelling, semi-detached dwelling, or townhouse dwelling within the Community of Stouffville.

If you are not sure if your property can allow a Multiplex or ARU, please refer to the Town’s Zoning Bylaw, or contact the Town Development Services Department.

Eligible Project Streams

The Multiplex/ARU Grant is being offered in two eligible project streams:

Renovate an existing integrated affordable rental ARU to bring it up to Ontario Building Code, with a maximum value of the grant of $10,000 per unit;
New construction or conversion of an affordable rental Multiplex or ancillary ARU with a maximum value of $11,000 per unit.
If you are unsure if your project matches one of the eligible project streams, please contact: multiplexarugrant@townofws.ca

Applicant Eligibility

• A registered landowner of a property located within the Community of Stouffville;
• Applicant is completing a project that aligns with one of the eligible project streams;
• Up-to-date with property taxes, mortgage, and home insurance payments;
• All property mortgages and any other financing registered on title, plus the program funding, cannot exceed the market value of the home, as determined by the assessed value of your property shown on your Municipal Property Assessment Corporation (MPAC) Notice of Assessment;
• Applicant has not completed any construction/building prior to application approval (any construction/building done prior to application approval will not be reimbursed);
• Applicants intend to rent the newly created units at an affordable rate for a period of two (2) years (see Affordability Commitment in the Application);

Program Requirements

• Confirm that the subject property zoning permits an ARU or Multiplex with the Town Development Services Department;
• Submit a complete Application, and include all materials as required in the Application and/or by the Town Administrator;
• Apply to the program prior to any approval of planning application or building permit or construction;
• Application or permit fees paid or approved by the Town prior to applying to the program will not be eligible for reimbursement;
• Approved applicants will receive a Letter of Financial Agreement and to apply for a building permit and/or any required planning applications, within 120 days;
• Approved applicants will have 12-18 months to complete all project construction and rent the newly created affordable unit, from the time of receiving an approved building permit;
• All work must meet the Ontario Building Code and the Town’s Zoning By-law;
• The applicant would also be required to provide a Lease Agreement to demonstrate that the new unit is rented at an affordable rate (see Affordability Commitment in the Application) to the Plan Administrator;
• Program funding will be payable to the applicant upon proof of completion.

Form coming soon! 

Accessible Design Top-Up Rebate

The Accessible Design Top-Up Rebate is stackable with either the Multiplex/ARU Affordable Rental Grant or Municipal Fees Waiver. The rebate is up to $3000 to incorporate an accessible or barrier-free design beyond requirements in the Ontario Building Code, within a new affordable rental unit in the Community of Stouffville.

Applicants applying to either the Multiplex/ARU Affordable Rental Grant or Municipal Fees Waiver can choose to apply to the Accessible Design Top-Up Rebate in the Applications.

Municipal Fees Waiver Program

Program Overview

The Municipal Fees Waiver Program is available to affordable housing providers, and developers, registered non-profits, and developers with approved government (federal, provincial, or regional) funding to waive up to 100% of eligible planning application and building permit fees for affordable rental housing.

Applicant Eligibility

Applicant(s) identify as either an affordable housing provider and/or developer, registered non-profits, and developer constructing affordable rental housing;
Applicant(s) have approved government (federal, provincial, or regional) funding, prior to applying to the program;
Applicant(s) affordable rental projects are within the Community of Stouffville;
The total of all property mortgages, loans, and any other financing registered on title for the subject property, plus the program funding, cannot exceed the market value of the property, as determined by the assessed value of your property shown on the Municipal Property Assessment Corporation (MPAC) Notice of Assessment.

Eligible Fees

Applicants applying to the Municipal Fees Waiver Program can apply to waive up to 100% of 1 (one) of the eligible fees:

• • • • Official Plan Amendment
      • Zoning By-law Amendment
      • Heritage Permit
      • Site Plan Control
      • Minor Variance
      • Consent
      • Residential Building Permit[AT2.1]
      • Multi-unit Residential Permit
      • New Mixed-Use Permit (for addition of new affordable rental units)
      • Alteration (Residential) Permit

Program Requirements

• Confirm that the subject property zoning allows affordable rental housing/residential with the Town Development Services Department;
• Submit a complete Application, and include all materials as required in the Application and/or by the Town Administrator;
• Apply to the program prior to any approval of a planning application or building permit or construction;
• Application or permit fees paid or approved by the Town prior to applying to the program will not be eligible for reimbursement;
• Approved applicants will be contacted, and have 120 days to file for a building permit, after receiving planning application(s) approval, if required, to the Town Development Services Department;
• All construction must meet the Ontario Building Code, and Town Zoning By-law;
• All newly created units are to be rented at an affordable rental rate for of two (2) years (see Affordability Commitment in the Application);
• Applicants are required to submit the Lease Agreements within 6 months of project completion (see Affordability Commitment in the Application) to the Plan Administrator;

Additional Details

Applications will be evaluated against criteria found in the Municipal Fees Waiver Application Evaluation Criteria;
Applications will be evaluated and assigned a total score which will equal to a percentage of fees waiving for eligible planning application and/or building permit;
Landowners applying for the Multiplex/ARU Grant may qualify to waive minor variance application fees associated with an approved multiplex or ARU project through the Municipal Fee Waiver Program (Multiplex/ARU Grant Application).

Municipal Fees Waiver Application
Municipal Fees Waiver Application Evaluation Criteria

Applications must be filled and signed to be considered complete, and will be returned if not complete.

Completed applications can be submitted at: municipalfeewaiver@townofws.ca