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Affordable housing development incentives

Financial programs for developers and non-profits building affordable, attainable and purpose-built rental housing in Niagara.

Affordable and Attainable Residential Units - Development Charges Exemption

EXEMPTION

A full exemption of Regional development charges for residential units that meet the provincial definition of affordable or attainable housing. This exemption is mandatory for all Ontario municipalities and is embedded in the Development Charges Act.

  • Amount: 100 per cent exemption of Regional development charges
  • Available for projects with Regional development charges payable on or after June 1, 2024
  • Apply through local area municipality (before building permit)

To qualify, a rental unit must be rented at or below the lesser of the income-based affordable rent and the average market rent, as set out in the provincial Affordable Residential Units bulletin. The tenant must be dealing at arm's length with the landlord.

City / town Bachelor 1 bedroom 2 bedrooms 3+ bedrooms
Fort Erie $1,183 $1,191 $1,015 $1,643
Grimsby $1,183 $1,313 $1,527 $1,643
Lincoln $1,183 $1,313 $916 $1,643
Niagara Falls $931 $1,416 $1,585 $1,639
Niagara-on-the-Lake $1,183 $1,313 $1,527 $1,643
Pelham $1,183 $1,313 $1,527 $1,643
Port Colborne $1,183 $1,082 $1,118 $1,510
St. Catharines $1,212 $1,387 $1,626 $1,690
Thorold $1,183 $1,171 $1,442 $1,643
Wainfleet $1,183 $1,313 $1,527 $1,643
Welland $1,212 $1,190 $1,493 $1,600
West Lincoln $1,183 $1,313 $1,527 $1,643

Maximum monthly rents as of Aug. 1, 2026.

To qualify, an ownership unit must be priced at or below the lesser of the income-based affordable purchase price and 90 per cent of the average purchase price, as set out in the provincial Affordable Residential Units bulletin. The unit must be sold at arm's length.

City / town Single / semi / row / townhouse Condominium
Fort Erie $349,200 $349,200
Grimsby $477,300 $477,300
Lincoln $465,600 $423,000
Niagara Falls $345,300 $345,300
Niagara-on-the-Lake $450,100 $450,100
Pelham $500,600 $500,600
Port Colborne $333,700 $333,700
St. Catharines $333,700 $333,700
Thorold $384,200 $384,200
Wainfleet $434,600 $434,600
Welland $329,800 $329,800
West Lincoln $477,300 $477,300

Maximum purchase prices as of Aug. 1, 2026.

  • The applicant must intend to sell or rent at arm's length
  • The applicant must enter into an agreement with Niagara Region that units will remain affordable for 25 years — this agreement must be registered on title

The attainable housing exemption is not yet operative and full details have not yet been established by the Province.

Apply through the local area municipality where your building permits are being obtained — not directly to Niagara Region. Applications must be submitted before a building permit is issued.

Affordable and Supportive Housing - Development Charges Deferral

DEFERRAL

A deferral of Regional development charges for affordable or supportive housing units. This is not a grant — the charges are still owed if the units cease to be affordable.

  • Deferral period: as long as units remain affordable

  • Requirement: agreement with a Regional department or agency

To apply, email Affordable Housing Incentive Programs.

Non-Profit Regional Development Charges Grant

GRANT

A grant covering up to 100 per cent of Regional development charges for eligible non-profit housing developments.

To apply, email Affordable Housing Incentive Programs.

New Purpose-Built Rental Housing Incentive

PROGRAM

A suite of incentives to address barriers to residential housing development in Niagara. This program supports market, attainable and affordable purpose-built rental housing by offering grants, a development charge exemption and capital funding.

  • Application window: May 1 – July 1, 2026
  • Minimum project size: 20 units
  • Commitment: Units must remain rental and meet approved affordability for 25 years minimum

  • Development is located within Niagara
  • No building permit has been obtained for the development
  • 100 per cent purpose-built rental
  • At least 20 units
  • All units will be rented below 170 per cent of average market rent
  • Units will be rented at the approved depth of affordability for at least 25 years

Approved projects are subject to annual reviews for the full 25-year compliance period.

Owners must submit a detailed unit listing including unit numbers and actual rents charged. If a project is found to be non-compliant, Niagara Region reserves the right to reclaim all or part of the incentive funding provided.

Affordable

City / town Per cent of affordable rent Studio 1 bedroom 2 bedroom 3+ bedroom
Fort Erie 100% $1,005 $942 $1,068 $1,530
Grimsby 100% $1,005 $1,028 $1,473 $1,530
Lincoln 100% $1,005 $1,242 $1,026 $1,530
Niagara Falls 100% $1,005 $1,203 $1,395 $1,438
Niagara-on-the-Lake 100% $1,005 $1,242 $1,473 $1,530
Pelham 100% $1,005 $1,242 $1,473 $1,530
Port Colborne 100% $1,005 $1,083 $1,244 $1,480
St. Catharines 100% $996 $1,363 $1,599 $1,660
Thorold 100% $1,005 $1,000 $1,473 $1,530
Wainfleet 100% $1,005 $1,242 $1,473 $1,530
Welland 100% $1,135 $1,088 $1,465 $1,228
West Lincoln 100% $1,005 $1,242 $1,473 $1,530

Affordable rents are from the Affordable Residential Units bulletin (July 15, 2025).

As of Aug. 29, 2025, affordable rent is the lesser of average market rent or income-based affordable rent (30 per cent of gross household income at the 60th percentile renter household).

Attainable

City / town Per cent of affordable rent Studio 1 bedroom 2 bedroom 3+ bedroom
Fort Erie 125% $1,256 $1,178 $1,335 $1,913
Grimsby 125% $1,256 $1,285 $1,841 $1,913
Lincoln 125% $1,256 $1,553 $1,283 $1,913
Niagara Falls 125% $1,256 $1,504 $1,744 $1,798
Niagara-on-the-Lake 125% $1,256 $1,553 $1,841 $1,913
Pelham 125% $1,256 $1,553 $1,841 $1,913
Port Colborne 125% $1,256 $1,354 $1,555 $1,850
St. Catharines 125% $1,245 $1,704 $1,999 $2,075
Thorold 125% $1,256 $1,250 $1,841 $1,913
Wainfleet 125% $1,256 $1,553 $1,841 $1,913
Welland 125% $1,419 $1,360 $1,831 $1,535
West Lincoln 125% $1,256 $1,553 $1,841 $1,913

Market

City / town Per cent of affordable rent Studio 1 bedroom 2 bedroom 3+ bedroom
Fort Erie 170% $1,709 $1,601 $1,816 $2,601
Grimsby 170% $1,709 $1,748 $2,504 $2,601
Lincoln 170% $1,709 $2,111 $1,744 $2,601
Niagara Falls 170% $1,709 $2,045 $2,372 $2,445
Niagara-on-the-Lake 170% $1,709 $2,111 $2,504 $2,601
Pelham 170% $1,709 $2,111 $2,504 $2,601
Port Colborne 170% $1,709 $1,841 $2,115 $2,516
St. Catharines 170% $1,693 $2,317 $2,718 $2,822
Thorold 170% $1,709 $1,700 $2,504 $2,601
Wainfleet 170% $1,709 $2,111 $2,504 $2,601
Welland 170% $1,930 $1,850 $2,491 $2,088
West Lincoln 170% $1,709 $2,111 $2,504 $2,601

  • Completed and signed application form
  • Project pro forma (sources and uses, 25-year or longer cash flow)
  • Rent schedule by unit type and affordability tier
  • Site plan and drawings (latest set)
  • Planning approvals / status letters
  • Construction budget and schedule
  • Partnership, memorandum of understanding or joint venture agreements (if applicable)
  • Evidence supporting the income limit methodology (for affordable units)
  • Any existing agreements with municipal, federal or provincial funders

To apply, email the Rental Housing Incentive program for an application form.

Development resources