Ontario Introduces Bill To Standardize DCs, Streamline Approvals

Ontario’s government has introduced a new law called the Protect Ontario by Building Faster and Smarter Act, 2025. The goal is to make building homes and other projects faster and cheaper by creating common rules across all towns and cities. One key change is to standardize development charges—fees developers pay for things like roads and sewers—so they’re the same everywhere. This way, no matter where a project happens, builders will know upfront what they need to pay.

Another important part of the law speeds up approvals for new construction materials made in Canada. Right now, manufacturers often face long waits and extra fees to get their products approved. Under the new law, if Canada’s Construction Materials Centre reviews something, municipalities can’t require more tests or charge more fees. That could save builders up to 90 days and about $800 per product, making it easier to use new technology in building projects.

The act also aims to make planning around transit hubs quicker. By adding more local transit projects to an existing law (the Building Transit Faster Act), things like permits and designs can move forward without delays. This gives transit-oriented housing and infrastructure a faster path from planning to construction. It also means municipalities will work more closely with the province, helping avoid jams in approvals.

Municipalities will have to follow one recipe for building rules under the Ontario Building Code. They will no longer be allowed to add extra local rules, including green building standards like those in Toronto. This change will make it simpler for developers, but it’s raised concerns that local sustainability initiatives might lose flexibility.

The province will also push to align the way roads and permits are managed across Ontario. By fall 2025, they plan to consult on common design standards and faster permitting systems. This could reduce costs and make road-building projects easier to plan and complete. These changes are part of a larger $2.3 billion investment in essential infrastructure like water and transit that will support up to 600,000 new homes.

Builders and housing advocates have welcomed the changes. The head of the Residential Construction Council of Ontario said standardizing fees and speeding up approvals are key to getting projects done and slowing the rise in housing prices. The act was introduced May 12 and passed into law June 5. Now, the next step is writing detailed rules and working with cities to put the law into action.