Inclusionary Housing

The City’s policy encourages new affordable housing through rental or homeownership units in large strata developments seeking additional density. 

The policy also seeks cash contributions to the Victoria Housing Reserve Fund from small and moderately sized projects seeking additional density.

To preserve and enhance the liveability of neighbourhoods, a portion of cash contributions are also targeted for local amenity reserve funds for community use.

The City’s Inclusionary Housing and Community Amenity Policy is just one of several tools to address housing affordability under the City’s Housing Strategy.

Victoria's Inclusionary Housing Policy

In June 2019, Council adopted a new Inclusionary Housing and Community Amenity Policy:

Contractor List

The contractor provides a list of agencies for residential developers fulfilling the City of Victoria’s Inclusionary Housing and Community Amenity Policy.

Third-party contractors included in the list may be available to provide:

  • Property management services for affordable rental units
  • Administrative services for Affordable Home Ownership units
  • Express interest in the lease or purchase of either affordable rental or home ownership units

Developers or property owners are solely responsible for contacting, assessing the qualifications of, and contracting the third-party contractors included in the list.

 FAQs

  1. What is Inclusionary Housing?

    Inclusionary housing policies are one tool municipalities can use to encourage the creation of new affordable housing and mixed-income communities. 

    Across Canada, inclusionary housing policies are used as a type of municipal policy or land use regulation that asks developers to provide a portion of their new market housing projects at affordable rates in exchange for additional ‘bonus’ density permissions beyond established limits. These onsite affordable units are known as inclusionary housing.

  2. What does the City’s policy do?

    The City’s policy encourages the supply new affordable housing through the provision of inclusionary housing units in large strata developments, and cash contributions to the Victoria Housing Reserve Fund from small and moderately sized projects, when those projects seek additional density.

    To preserve and enhance the livability of neighbourhoods, a portion of cash contributions are also targeted for local amenity reserve funds for community use.

    The City’s Inclusionary Housing and Community Amenity Policy is just one of several tools under the City’s Housing Strategy.

  3. How was the City’s policy developed?

    The policy was informed by economic analysis, a jurisdictional review and policy outcomes analysis as well as extensive consultation with rental housing advocates, non-market housing operators and funders, the development industry, Community Association Land Use Committees and community members at large.

  4. How affordable are the units?

    Typically, inclusionary housing serves low-and-moderate-income households who cannot afford to rent or purchase market rate housing but do not qualify for social housing. Without additional government funding these policies are challenged to create deeper levels of affordability.

    The City’s Housing Reserve Fund provides grants for the development and retention of affordable rental and home ownership projects, many of which offer deeper levels of affordability.

    The City’s Inclusionary Housing and Community Amenity Policy is just one of several tools under the City’s Housing Strategy.

  5. How long will it be before we see more affordable housing units built in Victoria?

    Due to the normal cycle of development (projects can take up to seven years to go from concept to ready for occupancy), it takes time to see the results of these types of policies. However, the City will closely monitor the Inclusionary Housing Policy, updating its rates regularly to reflect current market conditions, and determine if changes need to be made to optimize its effectiveness.

    The City’s Housing Reserve Fund provides grants for the development and retention of affordable rental and home ownership projects, many of which provide deeper levels of affordability.

    The City’s Inclusionary Housing and Community Amenity Policy is just one of several tools under the City’s Housing Strategy.