How could provincial zoning and building code changes affect the Greater Toronto Area?
Regulatory changes may boost housing supply and improve affordability in the Greater Toronto Area The Toronto Region Board of Trade is urging the province of Ontario to amend zoning and building code rules to address the housing crisis. If Ontario adopts these proposed regulatory changes, such as developing a provincial zoning code and assessing building requirements for cost, it could unlock new development and increase the supply of homes in the Greater Toronto Area. The board argues that without continued housing construction, recent affordability gains in the Toronto area are likely to prove temporary.
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How it reaches Greater Toronto Area
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The Toronto Regional Real Estate Board is urging the province of Ontario to amend its zoning and building code rules. The board reported that Ontario is projected to fall more than 550,000 homes short of the pace needed by 2029, making the 2031 goal of 1.5 million new homes unachievable.
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If Ontario adopts the proposed regulatory changes, such as establishing a provincial zoning code and allowing single-stair buildings up to six storeys, it could unlock new development. The board states that durable affordability depends on increasing the supply of homes, which is critical for the Greater Toronto Area.
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the largest metropolitan area in Canada, centered on Toronto, Ontario
Everything about Greater Toronto Area
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The facts so far
As reported. Each one links to where it comes from.
- Ontario is projected to fall more than 550,000 homes short of the pace needed by 2029.wellandtribune.ca
- The average selling price in the Greater Toronto Area stood at $993,410 for August.wellandtribune.ca
- Between 2006 and 2025, Toronto-area home prices increased by around 187 per cent.wellandtribune.ca
- The cumulative increase for inflation over that time was around 51 per cent.wellandtribune.ca
Why it matters
The housing crisis in the Greater Toronto Area is defined by a severe mismatch between demand and supply. Home prices in the Toronto area have increased by around 187 per cent between 2006 and 2025, significantly outpacing the cumulative inflation of around 51 per cent. This disparity makes home ownership out of reach for many residents, despite recent declines in prices.
For the Greater Toronto Area, the ability to attract and retain the necessary workforce is tied to housing availability. The Toronto Region Board of Trade warns that without continued housing construction, recent affordability gains are likely to prove temporary, underscoring the urgency of regulatory reform to stabilize the market.
What we don't know yet
- Will the provincial government adopt the board's recommendations for a standardized zoning code?
- How quickly could the necessary municipal updates and infrastructure alignments be completed?
What would change this answer
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Reporting
- wellandtribune.caOct 1
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