In January 2024, the City of St. Catharines secured an investment of $25.7 million dollars to boost the housing supply in the city. The funding is through the Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation's (CMHC) Housing Accelerator Fund (HAF), a $4 billion dollar initiative that offers financial support to local governments for expediting the development of new homes.

The action plan for HAF commits to seven initiatives, fostering a range of housing types and densities to cater to the diverse needs of the community.

The HAF initiatives are projected to result in more than 2,600 housing units over a three-year period. The seven initiatives will transform housing approvals and unlock thousands of potential units over the next 10 years.

January 2025 - Financial Incentives and City-wide Zoning By-law Amendment

Accessible Housing Fee Reimbursement Policy

On November 18, 2024, Council passed the Affordable Housing Fee Reimbursement Policy. This Policy will facilitate the reimbursement of building permit fees for proposed accessible dwelling units throughout the city. This Policy is funded by the Housing Accelerator Fund (HAF) and aligns with HAF Initiative 3 – Inclusive Housing Initiatives, which aims to foster a housing environment that prioritizes inclusion and adaptability by encouraging construction and reduce development costs for affordable, accessible and purpose built rental developments.

This Policy applies to new accessible dwelling units that are:

• Any dwelling type (e.g., detached, semi-detached or townhouse dwelling, accessory dwelling unit, triplex, fourplex, or apartment dwelling unit)
• Rental or owner-occupied
• Meet the City’s Zoning By-law definition of a dwelling unit and meet Division B, Section 3.8 of the Ontario Building Code, including the requirement that there be an accessible path to units
• Units provided beyond minimum requirements set out in the Ontario Building Code (e.g., the required 15% accessible units within apartment buildings are not eligible for reimbursement under this Policy)

This Policy is in effect as of November 18, 2024 until December 31, 2025. Depending on HAF funding availability, this Policy may be extended to 2026 and 2027.

For more information, please see the November 18, 2024 staff report and policy here: St. Catharines - Document Center

Affordable Housing Fee Reimbursement Policy

On February 12, 2024, Council passed the Affordable Housing Fee Reimbursement Policy. This Policy will facilitate the reimbursement of planning application and/or building permit fees for proposed non-ownership affordable housing units or beds throughout the city. This Policy is funded by the City's Affordable Housing Reserve and Housing Accelerator Fund (HAF) and aligns with HAF Initiative 3 – Inclusive Housing Initiatives, which aims to foster a housing environment that prioritizes inclusion and adaptability by encouraging construction and reduce development costs for affordable, accessible and purpose built rental developments.

A development or redevelopment project is eligible for a reimbursement up to $50,000 under this Policy if:

• The proponent is an eligible housing provider as defined in the Policy.
• The project provides a minimum of 11 new dwelling units.
• A minimum of 30% of all new dwelling units meet the policy’s definition of affordable non-ownership housing.
• Notwithstanding the above, where affordable non-ownership housing is not proposed in a dwelling unit format, the project must provide at least 11 new beds.

This Policy is in effect as of February 12, 2024. For more information, please see the February 12, 2024 staff report and policy here: St. Catharines - Document Center

Development Charge Rental Housing Discount Grant Program

On November 18, 2024, Council passed the Development Charge Rental Housing Discount Grant Program. This HAF-funded financial incentive will provide additional development charge discounts for purpose-built rental dwelling units. Due to recent amendments to the Development Charges Act (DC Act), development charge discounts are currently applied to purpose-built rental units dependent on unit size as outlined below:

• 15% discount for one-bedroom units (or smaller)
• 20% discount for two-bedroom units
• 25% discount for three-bedroom units plus

In an effort to increase the development of purpose-built rental units in the city and implement Initiative #4 – Missing Middle Initiative in the HAF action plan, staff are recommending an increase to the legislated development charge rental discounts. The increase in discount would be funded through the Housing Accelerator Fund. The proposed Grant would increase development charge rental discounts as outlined below:

• 50% total discount for 1 bedroom units (or smaller) (15% DC Act discount plus 35% HAF-funded top-up)
• 50% total discount for 2 bedroom units (20% DC Act discount plus 30% HAF-funded top-up)
• 35% total discount for 3 bedroom units + (25% DC Act discount plus 10% HAF-funded top-up)

The proposed development charge discounts apply only to municipal development charges and do not apply to any development charges from the Region of Niagara or the school board.

For more information, please see the November 18, 2024 staff report and policy here: St. Catharines - Document Center

Affordable Housing Parking Exemption

On January 13, 2025, a City-wide zoning by-law amendment (File no. 24 115258 ZA) is going to Council for their consideration. This proposed zoning by-law amendment is to exempt affordable residential units from the City’s parking requirements. A residential dwelling unit will be considered affordable in accordance with the definition established in the Development Charges Act, 1997, as amended. This zoning by-law amendment aligns with HAF Initiative 3 – Inclusive Housing Initiatives, which aims to foster a housing environment that prioritizes inclusion and adaptability by encouraging construction and reduce development costs for affordable, accessible and purpose-built rental developments.

This application was originally scheduled to be considered during the December 9, 2024 Council meeting. Due to that meeting being cancelled, this application is being considered by Council on January 13, 2025.

For more information, please visit the project website: www.stcatharines.ca/AffordableHousingParkingExemption

October 2024 - Pre-Approved Detached ADU Design Program

Calling all designers and builders!

The City of St. Catharines is calling for submissions for detached accessory dwelling unit (ADU) designs as part of the Pre-Approved Detached Accessory Dwelling Unit Design Program. Submitted plans will be reviewed and up to eight designs will be selected for pre-approval and displayed on the City’s website.

This program is part of the City’s Housing Accelerator Fund program to support missing middle housing options, such as detached accessory dwelling units. This call for designs is intended for building permits to be issued quicker for these units to help introduce more rental units in the City faster.

The City is seeking pre-fabricated / modular and conventional construction designs. To provide a range of design options for different-sized lots, the City is seeking designs in two categories:

• Small footprint: having an area of less than 540 square feet (50m²); and
• Large footprint: having an area of 540 square feet (50m²) or more, not to exceed 861 square feet (80m²).

All designs must meet the minimum requirements of the Building Code to be considered for pre-approval. All designs must also meet Zoning By-law requirements for detached accessory dwelling units regarding maximum building height and floor area. Site-specific Building Code and Zoning By-law requirements (e.g., setbacks) will be reviewed at the building permit application stage. The City encourages manufacturers and designers to consider privacy, architectural context, green building design and accessibility in the submitted designs.

Designs for this program will be reviewed on a first-come, first-served basis until the first eight qualifying designs are selected for pre-approval, with at least two designs per size category. Designs that are pre-approved through this program will be shown on the City’s website.

The submission period for this program is now closed. Staff are currently in the process of reviewing the submitted designs against the program design requirements. Stay tuned for the selected designs soon!

August 2024 - Accessory Dwelling Unit Grant

On August 26, 2024, the proposed increase to the Community Improvement Plan grant amount for the Accessory Dwelling Unit (ADU) Program was approved by City Council. The amendment increased the value of the ADU grant to a maximum of $40,000 for the construction of interior ADUs, and to a maximum of $80,000 for the construction of exterior ADUs, subject to available funding through the Housing Accelerator Fund. The amendment also revises the application requirement for a complete ADU application to be made within 90 days of Building Permit issuance and permits property owners to submit more than one ADU application per property.

The Notice of Decision was issued in accordance with Section 28 of the Planning Act on Aug. 29, 2024.

To make an application, visit: stcatharines.ca/en/planning-and-development/planning-and-development-community-improvement-plan.aspx

Comments and Questions

Please email HAF@stcatharines.ca directly with any comments or questions about this project.