Ontario’s 1.5M Home Target Needs Reform

Ontario’s housing push faces a structural hurdle: fragmented zoning and code rules add cost, delay approvals, and make standardized building designs harder across municipalities.
The proposed fix centers on provincewide standards, as-of-right townhouses and multiplexes, tighter limits on parking and setbacks, and code reviews that could streamline projects.
Even with immediate reforms, Ontario municipalities would still need years to update plans, amend bylaws, align infrastructure, and process applications before supply meaningfully improves.
A current opening remains: eligible new-home buyers can access temporary HST relief through March 31, 2027, but builder track record still matters before signing.
Because new supply likely will not reshape affordability before 2031, buyers should plan around current prices, financing power, timelines, and the risks they can carry.