Inclusionary Zoning

Understand inclusionary zoning in Canadian real estate — what it is, how it works, and its role in housing affordability.

Inclusionary Zoning

July 29, 2025


What is Inclusionary Zoning?

Inclusionary zoning is a municipal planning tool that requires or incentivizes developers to include a percentage of affordable housing units in new residential projects.

Why Inclusionary Zoning Matters in Real Estate

In Canadian urban planning, inclusionary zoning is used to increase the supply of affordable housing and promote mixed-income communities.



Key aspects:
  • Policies may be mandatory or voluntary with incentives
  • Can apply to rental or ownership housing
  • Helps address housing affordability challenges



Understanding inclusionary zoning is essential for developers planning projects in municipalities with these policies.

Example of Inclusionary Zoning in Action

The city’s inclusionary zoning bylaw required 10% of units in the new condo development to be priced below market.

Key Takeaways

  • Requires or incentivizes affordable units in new projects
  • Helps address housing affordability
  • Creates mixed-income communities
  • Can be mandatory or incentive-based
  • Affects project design and financial feasibility

Related Terms

Additional Terms

Public Realm Improvements

Public realm improvements are enhancements to public spaces such as sidewalks, parks, plazas, and streetscapes, often funded or contributed by. more

Mortgagee in Possession

A mortgagee in possession is a lender who takes control of a property after borrower default, but before foreclosure or power of sale. The lender. more

Lease Surrender Agreement

A lease surrender agreement is a negotiated contract between a landlord and tenant that ends a lease before its scheduled expiration. Terms may. more

Green Infrastructure

Green infrastructure refers to natural or engineered systems that manage stormwater, reduce heat, and improve sustainability in developments.. more

Escrow Holdback

An escrow holdback is a portion of funds withheld at closing and held in escrow until specific conditions are met, such as completion of repairs,. more

Underused Housing Tax

The Underused Housing Tax (UHT) is a federal annual 1% tax on the value of vacant or underused residential property owned by non-resident,. more

More For You

Asia Standard Americas Proposes Third Condo Tower On Vancouver's Robson Street

Asia Standard Americas Proposes Third Condo Tower On Vancouver's Robson Street

The 20-storey tower proposed for 1394 Robson Street in Vancouver. (Arcadis, Asia Standard Americas)

With their two-tower Landmark On Robson project now complete, Asia Standard Americas — the North American subsidiary of publicly-traded Hong Kong-based developer Asia Standard International Group — now appears ready to add a third tower to the street.

Landmark On Robson — a 34-storey tower and a 32-storey tower with a total of 237 strata units — is located at 1400 Robson Street, making up the entire block between Nicola Street and Broughton Street in the West End of Vancouver.

Keep ReadingShow less

Insider: July’s Housing 'Balance' Came From Sellers Backing Away

Insider: July’s Housing 'Balance' Came From Sellers Backing Away

Real estate can squeeze a recovery story out of almost any positive decimal.

CREA went with “Canadian Home Sales Climb Again in July.” Fair enough. Seasonally adjusted sales edged 0.5% higher, the fourth consecutive monthly gain. After the year this market has had, four green months were always going to get the full press-release treatment.

Keep ReadingShow less

Canadian Home Sales Climb For Fourth Straight Month In July

Canadian Home Sales Climb For Fourth Straight Month In July
Calgary, Alberta suburb/Shutterstock

National home sales edged up 0.5% month-over-month in July, according to the Canadian Real Estate Association's latest data — the fourth consecutive monthly gain and, per CREA, a near-replica of what happened in June.

Listings fell and prices held steady as the market continued its drift towards balance.

Keep ReadingShow less

Build Canada Homes Takes Over Canada Lands Company's Real Estate Arm

Build Canada Homes Takes Over Canada Lands Company's Real Estate Arm

Canada Lands Company's land holdings and development experience began moving under Build Canada Homes (BCH) — the federal agency tasked with accelerating housing delivery on public land — as of Monday.

James Cox, previously Vice-President, Real Estate (Central Region) at Canada Lands Company, now holds the same title at BCH. Cox spent nearly 16 years at Canada Lands Company, moving through roles including Director of Urban Planning and Project Manager, Director of Real Estate for Ontario and Atlantic, Senior Director of Real Estate for Ontario, and Acting Regional Director of Real Estate for Ontario before stepping into the VP role in 2022.

Keep ReadingShow less

Grosvenor Signs Doka Canada To 10-Year Lease At Annacis Island

Grosvenor Signs Doka Canada To 10-Year Lease At Annacis Island

Annacis Island

Grosvenor Property Canada (GPC) has signed its second major industrial transaction on Annacis Island this year: Doka Canada Ltd. is set to enter a 10-year lease at 830 Carlisle Street, commencing this month.

The 15-acre property, previously occupied by Russel Metals, will support Doka's continued expansion in Western Canada, effectively doubling the company's existing footprint in Metro Vancouver.

Keep ReadingShow less

Boardwalk REIT, Desjardins Form $292M Western Canada Multi-Family JV

Boardwalk REIT, Desjardins Form $292M Western Canada Multi-Family JV

Elbow 5 Eight at 730 58 Ave SW in Calgary. (Boardwalk REIT)

Calgary-based Boardwalk REIT (TSX: BEI.UN) and Montreal-based Desjardins Global Asset Management (DGAM) have formed a new joint venture focused on acquiring and owning high-quality multi-family assets across Western Canada.

“The intent of both parties is to build a long-term partnership that is expected to grow through future core plus acquisitions similar to the communities acquired in the initial transaction,” said the partners in a press release. “It is understood by both parties that future transactions will be dependent on market conditions.”

Keep ReadingShow less

Crombie REIT Buys Safeway At South Surrey's Ocean Park Shopping Centre For $12.7M

Crombie REIT Buys Safeway At South Surrey's Ocean Park Shopping Centre For $12.7M

Safeway Ocean Park at 12825 16 Avenue in Surrey in 2023. (Google Maps)

Nova Scotia-based Crombie REIT (TSX: CRR.UN) has completed an acquisition of a Safeway in Surrey, British Columbia, according to their Q2 2026 financial report published last week.

The Safeway is located at 12825 16 Avenue, at the northeast corner of the intersection of 16 Avenue and 128 Street in South Surrey.

Keep ReadingShow less

H&R REIT To Be Acquired In $6.7-Billion Deal With GO Residential

H&R REIT To Be Acquired In $6.7-Billion Deal With GO Residential

H&R REIT

H&R Real Estate Investment Trust is being acquired in a $6.7-billion transaction that will merge its residential portfolio into GO Residential Real Estate Investment Trust, the companies announced Tuesday.

H&R unitholders will receive $4.28 per unit in cash plus 0.5688 GO REIT units per H&R unit, valued at $12.01 per unit — a 14.5% premium over H&R's unaffected closing price on June 10, the last trading day before reports surfaced of talks with Blackstone.

Keep ReadingShow less
Privacy PolicyAbout UsTerms of UseAdvertise with UsJobsContact UsRSS Feed
All rights reserved SiteMedia © 2026.