In 2001, the Province of Ontario introduced the Vacant Unit Rebate Program to owners of vacant commercial and industrial buildings. The program provided a property tax rebate for commercial or industrial buildings that are entirely or partially vacant during the taxation year.  

In November 2016, the Province released its Fall Economic Statement which provided municipalities with broader flexibility to tailor the Vacant Unit Rebate program to reflect community needs and circumstances.

From 2018 and on, lower tier municipalities in the Regional Municipality of York are not required to have a program to provide a vacant unit tax rebate. The vacancy rebate program has been eliminated in Richmond Hill.