Housing Accelerator Fund
Announced in November 2023, the Housing Accelerator Fund (HAF) is a $31 million investment from the Federal government that the City of Richmond Hill is receiving to help create more housing faster in our city.
Ontario is experiencing a housing crisis, and the City is taking bold actions to address this issue in our community. The Fund will further help Richmond Hill to remove barriers and speed up the process of building more housing and creating much-needed affordable residential units by advancing infrastructure to increase residential development.
The City’s HAF Action Plan initiatives are already underway as Richmond Hill takes steps to help remove barriers and speed up the process for owners and builders to create more homes.
Read the Staff Report for detailed updates on the City's first Housing Accelerator Fund Annual Report submitted in 2024.
The City of Richmond Hill HAF Action Plan
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Official Plan Amendments and Implementing Zoning By-laws for Three Centres |
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This initiative aims to expedite planning changes, including Official Plan Amendments and Zoning By-law Amendments in three strategic key growth areas in the city. These amendments will help create a more sustainable and diverse housing mix while supporting the city's broader growth strategy.
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| Community Improvement Plan (CIP) for Affordable Housing and Sustainable Design |
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A new Community Improvement Plan (CIP) provides financial incentives to promote affordable housing and sustainable development. Through a feasibility study and stakeholder consultations, this initiative aims to establish effective programs that enhance the affordability and sustainability of new housing projects.
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Infrastructure Acceleration Incentive Program |
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A new incentive program will provide financial support to offset infrastructure costs to encourage developers to build essential services like water, sanitary and stormwater infrastructure on an accelerated timeline. By linking incentives to timely building permit applications, it aims to reduce infrastructure barriers that often delay housing supply.
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| Development Approval Process Improvements |
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To enhance transparency and efficiency, this initiative aims to streamline City’s development approval process. Recommendations from a comprehensive review will help simplify procedures, reduce approval times and improve predictability. |
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Richmond Hill Centre Secondary Plan |
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Through pre-zoning and streamlined approvals, this initiative will unlock high-density residential development near Richmond Hill Centre, a future transit-oriented hub. Pre-zoning efforts will define land use permissions, height and density limits, and public amenity requirements.
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Neighbourhood Zoning By-law |
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To address the missing middle-housing gap, the neighbourhood zoning by-law will introduce as-of-right zoning that allows a range of needed middle-housing forms in residential neighbourhoods. Parking requirements near transit will be considered, and development standards will be revised to encourage innovative housing solutions. |
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Concierge Program for Affordable Housing |
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This program will provide a streamlined, single-point-of-contact service to guide affordable housing applications. This one-window approach will improve coordination and better share information, expedite priority development applications, and provide support for non-profit and private sector developers working on affordable housing projects. |
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Surplus and Underused Lands for Affordable Housing Program |
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By identifying surplus and underutilized City-owned lands that may be suitable for housing, this initiative investigates opportunities for affordable housing development. A pilot project will inform a framework for partnering with non-profit housing providers to maximize land use. |
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Increasing Housing Density Near Major Transit Stations and in Neighbourhoods |
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This initiative will increase housing supply by allowing four-storey buildings near major transit stations and permitting up to four units per residential lot. These changes will unlock more housing opportunities near transit and support higher-density development.
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Please Note: The implementation of the initiatives outlined in the City’s HAF Action Plan is subject to adherence to all statutory processes and procedures, including the requirement for public notification and input processes during the consideration and adoption of relevant by-laws and policies, as well as any appeal processes stipulated by provincial legislations and the Planning Act.