HomeMy WebLinkAboutDevelopment Application Fees and Building Permit Fees for Affordable Rental Housing - FIN-GRA-2007Page 1 of 3
POLICY FIN-GRA-2007
Development Application Fees and Building
Permit Fees for Affordable Rental Housing
Category
FIN - Finance
Sub-category
GRA - Grants,
Rebates &
Incentives
Approval Type
COUNCIL
Department/Division
Development
Services Department-
Planning and
Housing Policy
Author and Position
Katie Anderl, Project Manager
Date Approved
May 15, 2017
Last
Reviewed/Amended
April 13, 2026
Next Review Date
April 13, 2031
Related Policies or Procedures
• City of Kitchener Municipal Code (Chapter 375 – Tariff of Fees – Committee of
Adjustment, Chapter 380 – Tariff of Fees – Planning Fees, Chapter 690 – Public Tree
By-law, and Chapter 710 – Building – Permits and Fees)
• Council Policy MUN-PLA-1080 – Performance Securities
• City of Kitchener – User Fee Schedule (as approved annually by Council)
1. Policy Purpose
To encourage development of new affordable rental housing units through development
application fee and building permit fee exemptions.
2. Definitions
Affordable rental housing for the purpose of this Policy, means housing provided for rental
purposes, where rent of a:
• Dwelling unit is set at or below 80% of Average Market Rent (AMR) in the Kitchener –
Cambridge - Waterloo Census Metropolitan Area (CMA), as published from time to
time by Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation.
• Lodging unit is set at or below 60% of the Average Market Rent (AMR) of a one -
bedroom unit in the Kitchener – Cambridge - Waterloo Census Metropolitan Area
(CMA), as published from time to time by Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation.
Not-For-Profit Corporation means a corporation, no part of the income of which is payable
to, or otherwise available for, the personal benefit of a member or shareholder thereof.
Proponent means the Not-For-Profit Corporation requesting incentives under this policy, and
either owns the subject property, or manages and operates the affordable rental housing
units.
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3. Policy Scope
This Policy applies to all staff that process development applications and building permits.
Application
☒ Employees (Indicate below which categories apply: All employees, Permanent full-time, Temporary full-time, Continuous part-
time, Casual, Probationary, Student, Management, Non-union)
• All employees
☐ Unions (Indicate below which categories apply: All Unions, CUPE 68 Civic, CUPE 68 Mechanics, CUPE 791, IATSE, IBEW, KPFFA)
• Click or tap here to enter text.
☒ Council
☐ Specified Positions: Click or tap here to enter text.
☐ Other: Local Boards and Advisory Committees
4. Policy Content
4.1 Eligibility Criteria
In order to be eligible for this Policy, the following criteria must be met:
a) The proponent must meet the definition for Not-For-Profit Corporation;
b) Eligible projects may include a development where affordable rental housing units
are managed and operated by a Not-For-Profit Corporation. A minimum of 20
percent of the residential units in the development shall be affordable rental
housing units.
c) The subject property shall not be in a position of tax arrears.
4.2 Development Application Fee and Building Permit Fee Exemptions for Affordable
Rental Housing
a) This Policy applies to the following application and permit fees:
i. Pre-submission Consultation requests for applications under subsections
(ii) through (vi);
ii. Committee of Adjustment;
iii. Official Plan Amendment;
iv. Zoning By-law Amendment;
v. Site Plan (Full, Stamp Plan A, Stamp Plan B);
vi. Plan of Subdivision or Plan of Condominium;
vii. Demolition Control;
viii. Zoning (Occupancy) Certificate;
ix. Public Tree Removal (Cash-in-Lieu); and,
x. Building Permit.
a) Despite the City of Kitchener’s Council Approved User Fee Schedule and
Municipal Code (Chapter 375 – Tariff of Fees – Committee of Adjustment, Chapter
380 – Tariff of Fees – Planning Fees, and Chapter 710 – Building – Permits and
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Fees), the proponent may request an exemption from the payment of fees, subject
to the terms of this Policy.
b) Despite the City of Kitchener Municipal Code (Chapter 690 – Public Tree By-law),
the proponent may request an exemption from the payment of a cash-in-lieu fee
for the loss of tree(s) as outlined in the City’s Public Tree Removal and
Compensation Program.
c) The proponent requesting fee exemptions under this Policy, shall submit a
completed request form, in the prescribed format, prior to a development
application and/or building permit application.
d) The City will not charge a fee to process the fee exemption request.
e) The requested fee exemption(s) will be reviewed by City staff to confirm criteria
within this Policy are met, and the proponent advised of the result. Should there be
any issues or conflicts between the completed request form and the criteria within
this policy, final determination will be made by the Director of the division charging
the fee in consultation with the City Solicitor and any other affected business units.
f) If approved, the proponent will be exempt from the payment of application and/or
permit fees in subsection a) and will provide supporting documentation confirming
approval under this Policy with each application.
5. Results of Review
☐ No Edits Required
☐ Housekeeping Edits
☒ Substantial Edits
☐ Repeal/Replace
6. Policy History
Administrative and Housekeeping Changes
Date Nature of Change
2025-08-14 Reviewed, no changes.
Substantial Changes
Date Council/CLT Directive
2026-04-13 As Per Council/CLT Directive - Report # DSD-2026-092