Please Note: The Brownfields Regional Development Charge exemption will expire on July 31, 2024 in accordance with RDC By-law 19-037. Eligible Brownfield properties must have the required Record of Site Condition acknowledged by the Ministry of Environment, Conservation, and Parks and their complete RDC Exemption application submitted to the Region prior to July 31, 2024. Please note this webpage is provided as general information on the program and if you have specific questions about the status of your property reach out to the Brownfields Coordinator, contact information below.

Description: Brownfield sites may be eligible for Regional Development Charge (RDC) Exemptions to help cover the cost of remediation. The value of the RDC Exemption is based on the sum of direct costs of remediation at 50% reimbursement to a maximum of $1,000,000, less any additional financial assistance previously received. This exemption applies to all of Waterloo Region, except where development charges are waived for developments. Please refer to the Regional Development Charges Bylaw 19-037 (specifically, Schedule C) for more information.

Further information: Please contact the Brownfields Coordinator at brownfields@regionofwaterloo.ca or 519-504-3573

Description: Limited grants to offset Regional Development Charges (RDC) for rental and supportive housing project priorities that proceed to building permit stage on a first-come, first-served basis. Only applicable for projects that have received a capital grant through the Affordable Housing Strategy Program.

Amount: The entire Regional Development Charge subject to availability.

End date: December 31, 2019

Further Information: Visit the Community Services Funding for Creating New Rental Housing page or contact Jeff Schumacher, Supervisor, Housing Supply Initiatives at 519-575-4821.

Description: Reduced rates for a new industrial building or an enlargement of more than 50 per cent of the gross floor area of an existing industrial building, as defined in the Regional Development Charge By-law 14-046.

Amount: A 50 per cent reduction in the non-residential Regional Development Charge rates.

End date: Effective until July 31, 2019 when the authorizing Region Development Charge By-law 14-046 will be reviewed, unless repealed earlier.

Further information: Please see the Regional Development Charges By-law Section 4(2)a and Schedule A (Part II) or contact Erin Gray, Financial Analyst at 519-575-4490 ext.3623. 

Description: If development includes the enlargement of the gross floor area of an existing industrial building, the amount of the development charge that is payable in respect of the enlargement is determined in accordance with Section 4 and Regulations of the Ontario Development Charge Act, 1997, c. 27.

Amount: If the gross floor area is enlarged by 50 per cent or less, the amount of the development charge in respect of the enlargement is zero. 1997, c. 27 s. 4(2)

Further information: For terms and details, please refer to the appropriate municipal development charges by-law, or consult the finance department of the appropriate municipality. Both regional and area municipal levels of government offer this exemption. 

Issued by: Waterloo Regional Heritage Foundation

Description: Owners of properties designated under the Ontario Heritage Act, protected by a conservation easement agreement, or a Historic Site designation, may receive grants in support of the restoration of their heritage resource. There are also grants for project/events and publications.

Amount: Capital grants may be approved for up to 50 per cent of project costs.

Further information: Visit the Waterloo Region Heritage Foundation, or contact Foundation Secretary Administrative Services at 519-575-4400 or wrhf@regionfowaterloo.ca. 

Description: New multi-residential developments with a building permit issued after April 11, 2001 with six units or more are automatically provided with the optional property tax class at the time of assessment.

Amount: Properties under this class receive a preferential tax ratio of 1.000 for 35 years.

Further information: Contact Julie Bradey, Financial Analyst - Tax Policy at 519-575-4546. 

Funded by: Region of Waterloo, Province of Ontario, Government of Canada. Administered by the Region of Waterloo.

Description: Capital grants help offset the capital costs of building new affordable rental housing. Must apply under Request for Proposals for the Affordable Housing Strategy Program. Next anticipated RFP to be issued late 2016 or early 2017.

Amount: The 2015 rate was the lesser of up to $125,000 or up to 75 per cent of total capital costs per unit.

End date: December 31, 2019

Further Information: Visit our finding affordable housing page or contact Jeff Schumacher, Supervisor, Housing Supply Initiatives at 519-575-4821.

Description: New development replacing existing development may be entitled to a credit. This credit may only be applied against regional development charges otherwise payable. Redevelopment allowances are given in accordance with Schedule A, Part III of By-law 14-046 in recognition of the value of services previously provided to the site. These allowances are valid for up to seven years from the date of issuance of demolition permit.

Amount: Regional development charges otherwise payable.

End date: February 28, 2019.

Further information: Please see the Regional Development Charge By-law 14-046, Schedule A, Part III.

Issued by: City of Cambridge and Region of Waterloo – Please note The Region of Waterloo is currently reviewing its ability to participate in this program. More details will be posted here, as they become available. 

Description: Where a property owner proposes to develop or redevelop a contaminated site that requires remediation, an amount can be credited against the development charge otherwise payable equal to the amount of the costs to clean-up the site. 

Description: The Heritage Grant Program provides financial assistance for owners of designated heritage structures for conservation and restoration. The application deadline is the last business day of January each year. 

Description: Development Charge reduction for new buildings or additions on properties within specific designated employment lands. 

Issued by: Region of Waterloo and City of Cambridge 
 
 

Description: This program provides funds toward retaining a professional consultant to prepare a design plan for facade improvements of buildings. 

Disclaimer: The purpose of these program summaries is to provide readers with a quick reference of financial incentives potentially available in each area. They do not constitute complete program descriptions. To determine eligibility, please review the detailed program descriptions or contact the appropriate staff person. It is at the issuers' discretion to cancel an incentive at any time. Information is subject to change and accuracy cannot be guaranteed. 

Description: The Building Revitalization Program provides financial assistance for physical improvements to the exterior of existing buildings. The City can provide interest-free and partially forgivable loan funding for up to 50 per cent of eligible costs. 

Description: The Contaminated Sites Grant Program assists property owners with the financial costs to clean up contaminated properties in the Core Areas.

Amount: Maximum $1,500 per new residential unit, $10 per square metre of non-residential gross floor area.

Further information: Please read the City of Cambridge Incentives package (pages 18-19) or contact Valerie Spring, Senior Planner, Reurbanization, at springv@cambridge.ca or 519-621-0740 ext. 4213. 

Description: All properties located in any of the three core areas of Cambridge are entitled to fee exemptions for Development Applications, Building Permits and associated fees such as Sign Permits and Swimming Pool Permits. No application is required.

Amount: Values of applicable fees.

Further information: Please read the City of Cambridge Incentives package (page 20) or contact Valerie Spring, Senior Planner, Reurbanization, at springv@cambridge.ca or 519-621-0740 ext. 4213. 

Issued by: City of Kitchener and Region of Waterloo – Please note The Region of Waterloo is currently reviewing its ability to participate in this program. More details will be posted here, as they become available. 

Description: Owners of property designated under the Ontario Heritage Act may be eligible to receive grants toward the conservation of the built heritage resources of their property. 

Description: Owners of property designated under the Ontario Heritage Act and subject to a heritage conservation easement agreement or a preservation and maintenance agreement may be eligible to receive a tax refund. 

Description: Reduced rates for a new industrial building or an enlargement of more than 50 per cent of the gross floor area of an existing industrial building.  

Issued by: Region of Waterloo and City of Kitchener  

Description: Community benefits such as providing residential floor space, conserving heritage buildings or facades and/or providing a publicly accessible amenity area may result in the ability to build additional floor space beyond the standard maximum floor space ratio within downtown zones D-1 to D-6. These benefits are considered desirable objectives for the downtown. 

Description: This program assists downtown property owners and tenants with the financing of street-oriented building façade improvements. 

Description: To stimulate redevelopment and renovation of downtown buildings, this program offers grants in lieu of building permit fees to registered owners of downtown commercial properties. 

Description: This program offers a grant for property owners of downtown Kitchener second-storey and above underutilized building spaces and startups to access leasehold and accessibility improvement funds. 

Issued by: Issued by: City of Waterloo and Region of Waterloo – Please note The Region of Waterloo is currently reviewing its ability to participate in this program. More details will be posted here, as they become available. 

Description: Elimination of the cash-in-lieu of parkland fee(s) for industrial uses in Waterloo. 

Description: Regional Development Charge for Transit Services shall be reduced by 77 per cent of the then applicable Development Charge for Transit Services and the Development Charge for Waste Management Services shall be $).

Amount: See description.

End date: Feb. 29, 2019.

Further information: For the Regional Development Charges, please contact Erin Gray, Financial Analyst at egray@regionofwaterloo.ca or 519-575-4590 x 3623.

Description: Reduced rates for the enlargement of an existing industrial building up to a maximum of 50 per cent of the existing gross floor area prior to the first enlargement. 

Description: This program is intended to encourage business and property owners to improve the appearance of the streetscape, heritage properties and other buildings in the Project Area.  

Description: To promote large reurbanization projects that create new floor space for affordable housing uses and/or non-residential uses that include an office employment component. Additional incentive provided for development that includes heritage conservation and/or sustainable building design. The program provides a grant that reduces the property tax increase that can typically result from reurbanization projects.

Amount: Based on assessment provided by the Municipal Property Assessment Corporation.

End date: December 2020. The City may periodically review and activate, deactivate, or discontinue this program without amendment to the Uptown Community Improvement Plan.

Further information: Contact Erin Miles, Economic Development at 519-747-8706 or  CIP@waterloo.ca or visit Waterloo's Uptown Community Improvement Plan page.

Description: Reduction of the cash-in-lieu of parkland fee for infill housing in the Uptown having a density exceeding 100 residential units per hectare based on the net land area.

Amount: Reduction of approximately 33 per cent from 0.15 hectare per 300 units to 0.10

hectare per 300 units.  The payment shall not exceed 15 per cent of the value of the net land area.

End date: The reductions will end on December 31, 2024.

Further information: Please contact the Building Department at building@waterloo.ca  

Description: Within Uptown Waterloo, cash-in-lieu of parkland fees for any new non-residential development (with focus on employment uses) located within a free-standing and mixed-use building are waived.

Amount: Financial waiver - exempt.

End date: The exemptions will end on December 31, 2024.

Further information: Please contact Please contact the Building Department at building@waterloo.ca