New Ontario Housing Legislation Aims to Accelerate Development

In response to a sluggish housing market and mounting pressure from builders for relief, Ontario’s Minister of Municipal Affairs and Housing Rob Flack tabled today the Fighting Delays, Building Faster Act, a sweeping omnibus bill aimed at accelerating housing and infrastructure development across Ontario.

The legislation arrives as the province struggles to meet its ambitious target of 1.5 million homes by 2031, with developers citing financing bottlenecks, regulatory delays, and escalating costs as key barriers.

Building Homes and Communities:

• Modernizing the Building Code to reduce regulatory burdens through a section-by-section review.
• Centralizing and digitizing municipal planning and building approval by leveraging technologies and IT solutions.
• Standardizing and simplifying official plans for faster development.
• Streamlining development charges and removing unnecessary cost based on feedback from both industry and municipal sectors.
• Eliminating mandatory green roofs and lot-level green standards in Toronto.
• Expediting transit-oriented development and unlocking land near transit stations.
• Expanding “as-of-right” minor variances to reduce planning delays.
• Extending Waterfront Toronto’s mandate and enabling more flexible Community Improvement Plans.

Landlord & Tenant Board

• Requiring prior notice for new issues at rent arrears hearings.
• Limiting counterclaims unless 50% of arrears are paid.
• Shortening review request periods and simplifying forms.
• Adjusting compensation rules for landlord’s own use evictions.

Transport & Infrastructure

• Harmonizing road construction standards across municipalities.
• Accelerating transit delivery and reducing administrative delays.
• Prohibiting lane reductions for new bicycle lanes.
• Strengthening driver licensing requirements and introducing waiting periods for commercial licences.
• Setting maximum tow rates and clarifying residency requirements for licensing.

Further details on the proposed measures announced today can be here.

Analysis

Today’s legislation responds directly to builder demands for cost relief and regulatory streamlining, while leveraging financial incentives to drive municipal performance.

The Act presents a significant opportunity for developers seeking to accelerate project timelines and reduce costs in Ontario. The standardization of development charges and simplification of official plans will provide developers with greater cost certainty and predictability, supporting more robust financial planning and risk management. Collectively, these measures signal a pro-growth policy environment, making Ontario more attractive for investment and partnership.

Stakeholders should be prepared to leverage these changes by engaging early with municipal partners, adapting project designs to take advantage of new flexibilities, and monitoring regulatory updates to maximize speed to market and competitiveness.

As more details become available on these policies, Sussex will continue to monitor.