Brownfields Redevelopment Program - Development Charge Deferral

• Grant covers up to 50% of total eligible project costs, capped at $3 million for standalone applications.
• If combined with other Community Improvement Plans (excluding Affordable Housing), the maximum grant increases to $5 million, still capped at 50% of eligible costs.
• For projects also qualifying under the Affordable Housing Community Improvement Plan, annual repayment may be up to 75% or 100% of the property tax uplift, with Affordable Housing funding applied first.
• Development Charge Deferral Program allows for a 50% deferral of eligible costs towards development charges, repayable within a maximum of two years after building permit issuance or three years after Council approval, with interest.

• The applicant must be the registered owner, assessed owner, tenant, or a person assigned the right to receive grant funding for lands and buildings within Ottawa’s urban boundary or designated villages.
• The subject property must be a brownfield site as defined by the City of Ottawa and be zoned to permit residential uses at the time of application.
• The proposed redevelopment must include a housing component.
• The applicant or any of its associated companies must not be responsible for having caused the contamination on the site.
• Lands owned by the Federal Crown, the provincial Crown, or Crown corporations are not eligible.

Who is eligible?

• Owners or tenants of brownfield sites (abandoned, vacant, or underutilized properties with actual or perceived environmental contamination) within the City of Ottawa's urban boundary and designated villages
• Developers undertaking projects that include a housing component on eligible brownfield properties

Who is not eligible

• Companies or organizations that own lands under the Federal Crown, the Crown in right of Ontario (or any other province), or a Crown corporation (including, but not limited to, the National Capital Commission).
• Applicants or associated companies that have caused the contamination on the site.

Eligible expenses

• Environmental studies, remedial work plans, and risk assessments (including the cost of preparing a Record of Site Condition).
• Environmental remediation, such as costs associated with Phase II environmental site assessments, remedial work plans, and risk assessments not included in other categories.
• Placing clean fill and site grading specifically related to site remediation.
• Installing environmental and/or engineering controls or works as specified in the approved remedial work plan or risk assessment.
• Monitoring, maintaining, and operating environmental and engineering controls/works in accordance with the remedial work plan or risk assessment.
• Environmental insurance premiums related to the remediation process.
• Project management costs (up to 10% of total remediation costs, with appropriate supporting documentation).

Eligible geographic areas

• Sites located within the City of Ottawa’s urban boundary and designated villages.

• Completeness and compliance of the submission file with the required documents (environmental studies, detailed work plan, cost estimates, architectural or construction plans, etc.).
• Clarity and accuracy of cost estimates and the post-project value statement.
• Adherence to the steps of the approval process, including receiving feedback from the City and revising documents as necessary.
• Obtaining the necessary permits within the prescribed deadlines and demonstrating that all legal and regulatory obligations have been fulfilled before the disbursement of the grant.
• Ability to demonstrate that the incurred expenses are eligible, paid, and justified by the required documentation, and the absence of disputes or tax arrears related to the project.

• Step 1: Pre-consultation (optional)
  • Contact the City of Ottawa to request an optional pre-consultation to identify required submission materials and determine project eligibility.
• Step 2: Prepare Application Package
  • Ensure the property is zoned to permit residential uses, or that a Zoning Bylaw Amendment application has been deemed complete if required.
  • Collect and prepare all required environmental studies: Phase I Environmental Site Assessment, Phase II Environmental Site Assessment, Remedial Action Plan, and Risk Assessment.
  • Prepare a detailed work plan and cost estimate by a qualified person for all eligible environmental remediation and risk assessment/risk management works (if not already included in above studies).
  • Obtain a cost estimate from a bona fide contractor for eligible rehabilitation costs.
  • Prepare detailed architectural, design, and/or construction drawings.
  • Acquire an estimated post-project assessment value prepared by a private sector property tax consultant.
  • Complete the grant application form.
• Step 3: Submit Application Package
  • Submit the completed application package to the City of Ottawa, ensuring all required documents are included.
• Step 4: City Review and Comments
  • City staff review the submission package and may provide comments or request additional information.
  • Respond to any comments and resubmit revised documents as needed.
• Step 5: Peer Review (if required)
  • The City may request a peer review of any submission materials, with all associated costs borne by the applicant.
• Step 6: Application Completeness and Council Report
  • Once all comments are addressed, the City will deem the application complete.
  • City staff prepare a report for the Finance and Corporate Services Committee and, as required, proceed to Council for final deliberation (timing may be linked to site plan control approval).
• Step 7: Council Decision
  • Council reviews and makes a final decision on the application.
• Step 8: Agreement and Registration
  • Upon approval, the City prepares an agreement outlining the terms, which is then registered on the property.
• Step 9: Fulfillment of Requirements Prior to Grant Payment
  • Obtain building permit within 18 months of Council approval.
  • Complete rehabilitation work.
  • Submit a Record of Site Condition to the Ministry of Environment, Conservation and Parks and provide proof to the City.
  • Ensure all rehabilitation costs are paid in full, with no outstanding liens or claims.
  • Confirm no outstanding work orders or compliance requests from City or other authorities.
  • Request reassessment of the property by the Municipal Property Assessment Corporation and ensure revised assessment is added to the tax roll.
  • Pay all outstanding property taxes for a minimum of one year after reassessment.
  • Provide proof that the building was constructed per permit.
  • Submit a written request to the City for the initial Rehabilitation Grant payment.
• Step 10: Development Charge Deferral (if applicable)
  • Enter into a deferral agreement with the City of Ottawa to defer 50% of eligible development charges, with terms and interest as specified by the City.
  • Pay the deferred amount, plus interest, by the applicable deadline (whichever occurs first: two years after building permit issuance or three years after Council’s approval of the Brownfield application).
• Step 11: Contact for Questions
  • Direct questions or requests for assistance to Kieran Watson, Coordinator, Front-Ending Agreements and Brownfields Program, at 613-580-2424, ext. 25470 or kieran.watson@ottawa.ca.

• The City reserves the right to audit the cost of any studies or works approved under this program, with expenses borne by the applicant.
• Applicants are responsible for any costs incurred in anticipation of a grant payment, as the City is not liable for such expenses.
• Approved financial incentives may be discontinued at any time, but existing approved grant recipients will continue to receive funding subject to program requirements being met.
• City staff, officials, and agents may inspect properties subject to financial incentive applications at any time.