Housing policies overview
Providing a mix of housing options that meets diverse needs so that people can live in the community of their choice.
Forming housing policies
Housing policies were developed based on Provincial direction in the Planning Act, Provincial Policy Statement, 2020, Growth Plan, 2019, and other legislation. Housing policies are informed by the Peel Housing Strategy (2018) and the Peel Housing and Homelessness Plan.
Objectives
- Reduce housing supply and affordability challenges through collaboration between government and private and non-profit partners
- Meet housing need by requiring more housing options including affordable housing
- Protect and improve existing rental housing and encourage more rental housing
- Make housing available for diverse populations and consider barriers to housing (e.g. socio-economic)
- Develop new housing that is sustainable and helps create healthy, mixed-use, transit supportive, higher density and complete communities
- Consider climate change as it relates to new housing development
- Implement housing targets on density, affordability and rental to increase housing options and improve housing affordability
Peel-wide new housing unit targets
| Target Area | Target |
|---|---|
| Affordability | That 30% of all new housing units are affordable housing, of which 50% of all affordable housing units are encouraged to be affordable to low income households |
| Rental | That 25% of all new housing units are rental tenure |
| Density | That 50% of all new housing units are in forms other than detached and semi-detached houses |
Note: These targets are outlined in Table 4 of the new Region of Peel Official Plan and are based on need as determined through the Peel Housing and Homelessness Plan and the Regional Housing Strategy.
Developments of 50 housing units or more must prepare a Housing Assessment that:
- Shows how local and Regional housing objectives and policies are being met
- Shows how the development is contributing to Peel-wide new housing unit targets on affordability, rental and density
Inclusionary Zoning (IZ): Securing Affordable Housing in New Developments in Major Transit Station Areas
Direct local municipalities to implement IZ through zoning by-laws that prioritize on-site units and:
- Identify requirements (i.e., size of development, maximum gross floor area or percentage of units)
- Maximize affordable units in areas where market conditions demonstrate financial viability
- Consider reduced requirements for areas where market conditions do not show as much financial viability and for purpose built rental and units affordable to low income households
- Ensure rental rates and ownership sale prices are affordable to low and moderate income households
- Provide a range of unit sizes, including family-sized (2 or more bedroom) units
- Consider transitioning and phasing for implementation based on market and other local conditions
IZ Implementation (working with local municipalities)
- Monitor and report on IZ units and update Market Assessments based on provincial requirements
- Collaborate with developers and non-profits on administration to support long-term affordability
- Ensure that net proceeds from the sale of IZ units support local and regional affordable housing initiatives
Other
- Stronger rental protection and conversion policies
- Permit and promote Additional Residential Units (second units)
- Encourage innovative and alternative housing types
- Update affordability thresholds for low and moderate income households
- Monitor and evaluate housing units and progress towards targets to inform priorities and implementation (includes updating housing affordability thresholds for low and moderate income households)
- Advocate for increased funding and more flexible federal and provincial policies and funding frameworks
- Utilize Regionally-owned land and buildings to maximize opportunities for affordable housing
- Develop a land banking strategy to explore opportunities to secure lands for affordable housing
