Bill 23 – More Homes Built Faster Act, 2022

Photo by Gab Gould on Unsplash

For a more in-depth review of Bill 23 and Bill 109 (Bill 109 – More Homes for Everyone Act, 2022) , see the FoNTRA Forum Presentation 2023 for the slide presentation by City Planning.

A few of the changes resulting from the Province’s Bill 23:

Growth Funding Tools – City loses over $230,000,000

Bill 23 change

  • Discount, eliminate, or amend fees for development charges (DCs), community benefits charge and parkland dedication
  • DCs cannot be collected for: housing, growth studies or land acquisition
  • Discounts DC rates for rental units
  • Exempts DCs for certain residential types – affordable ownership, rental, non-profit housing and inclusionary zoning units.

Impact / Analysis

  • Preliminary analysis, the City will lose at least $230 million annually in development charge and parkland revenues
  • a reduction of over 20% in growth funding revenues
  • development charge rates will be reduced to levels below previous (2018) development charge bylaw.

Parkland Dedication – 25%-33% lower

Bill 23 change

  • Parkland dedication rates capped
  • 10% for sites 1-5 ha,
  • 15% for sites 5+ ha
  • Encumbered and stratified parkland can meet parkland dedication
  • New parkland exemptions for affordable ownership housing and “attainable” housing
  • Developers can propose parkland dedication size and location.

Impact / Analysis

  • Parkland dedication rates will be 33%-25% lower on affected sites
  • City discourages the use of encumbered parkland, which create higher design, operating, and maintenance costs
  • City previously applied parkland exemption for non-profit housing, affordable rental housing and gentle intensification units.

Cultural Heritage Resources – 4,000 Listed Heritage Properties will be removed if not Registered before January 1, 2025

Bill 23 change

  • The Ontario Heritage Act, now prescribes a two-year time limitation on the listing of heritage properties
  • Council may only designate properties subject to a development application that are already listed
  • Minimum thresholds for holding cultural heritage value have been prescribed for listing, individual designation, and heritage district designation

Impact / Analysis

  • It may not be possible for the City to conserve properties with cultural heritage value through the development process unless they are already listed on the City’s Heritage Register
  • New time limitations and owner objections will add to the administration of the Heritage Register
  • 4,000 listed properties on the Register will need to be removed unless designated by Jan. 1, 2025.