Brownfields Redevelopment Program - Rehabilitation

• Funding covers up to 50% of eligible project costs for brownfield rehabilitation, with a maximum grant of $3 million for standalone applications.
• When stacked with other Community Improvement Plans (excluding Affordable Housing), the maximum grant is up to 50% of eligible costs, capped at $5 million.
• Stacking with the Affordable Housing Community Improvement Plan increases the annual repayment to 75% of property tax uplift, and to 100% if the site is also within a protected major transit station area; total grant remains capped at 50% of eligible costs with Affordable Housing grants issued first.
• The Rehabilitation Grant is payable for a maximum of 20 years from City Council approval or until the funding cap is reached, whichever is sooner.

• The property must be located within the City of Ottawa’s urban boundary or designated villages.
• The applicant must be the registered or assessed owner, or tenant of the property, or a person assigned the right to receive the grant.
• The project must include a housing component.
• The site must be zoned to permit residential uses at the time of application, or if a Zoning Bylaw Amendment is needed, an application for the amendment must be complete before submitting.
• The applicant and their associated companies must not have been responsible for contaminating the site.

Who is eligible?

• Property owners, assessed owners, and tenants of lands and buildings within the City of Ottawa’s urban boundary and designated villages
• Developers or investors undertaking remediation and redevelopment of brownfields (abandoned, vacant, or underutilized sites with actual or perceived environmental contamination), including but not limited to former industrial or commercial properties
• Assignments by the registered owner or tenant to another party for eligible remediation activities

Who is not eligible

• Companies or applicants who, or whose associated companies, caused the contamination on the site.
• Lands owned by the Federal Crown, the Crown in right of Ontario (or another Province), or by Crown corporations (including, but not limited to, the National Capital Commission).

Eligible expenses

• Costs for environmental studies, remedial work plans, and risk assessments, including preparing a Record of Site Condition.
• Expenses related to environmental remediation, such as Phase II environmental site assessments, remedial work plans, and risk assessments not already covered.
• Costs for placing clean fill and site grading associated with remediation needs.
• Installation expenses for environmental and engineering controls or works as specified in approved remedial plans or risk assessments.
• Costs for monitoring, maintaining, and operating environmental and engineering controls or works as required by remedial plans or risk assessments.
• Premiums paid for environmental insurance directly related to site rehabilitation.

Eligible geographic areas

• Sites located within the City of Ottawa’s urban boundary and designated villages, as specified in the City’s Official Plan.

• Exhaustiveness and compliance of the submitted documentation (environmental studies, work plans, cost estimates, architectural drawings, etc.).
• Suitability between the proposed costs and the cost difference between a development on industrial wasteland and a greenfield site.
• Ability to demonstrate that rehabilitation will lead to an increase in land value and an increase in property taxes (property tax uplift).
• Compliance with conditions (payment of taxes, absence of disputes or pending charges, compliance with municipal regulations, receipt of building permit).
• Completeness and accuracy of the file, including the absence of arrears or pending compliance orders.

• Step 1: Pre-Consultation (optional)
  • Request a pre-consultation with the City of Ottawa to identify required submission materials and confirm project eligibility.
• Step 2: Prepare Application Documents
  • Ensure the site is zoned to permit residential uses. If a Zoning Bylaw Amendment is required, ensure your amendment application is deemed complete before proceeding.
  • Collect all required documents, including:
    • All environmental studies (Phase I and II Environmental Site Assessments, remedial action plan, risk assessment).
    • Detailed work plan and cost estimate for eligible environmental remediation and risk assessment/risk management works prepared by a qualified person.
    • Cost estimate for eligible rehabilitation costs, prepared by a bona fide contractor.
    • Detailed architectural/design and/or construction drawings.
    • Estimated post-project assessment value by a private sector property tax consultant.
    • Completed grant application form.
• Step 3: Submit Application
  • Submit the complete application package, including all supporting documentation, to the City of Ottawa's Brownfields Program contact: Kieran Watson, Coordinator, Front-Ending Agreements and Brownfields Program (613-580-2424, ext. 25470, kieran.watson@ottawa.ca).
• Step 4: Application Review
  • The City reviews the submission package and provides comments as needed.
  • Respond to any feedback and resubmit revised documents as requested by City staff.
  • Be prepared for the possibility of a City-requested peer review of submission material, the cost of which is borne by the applicant.
• Step 5: Council Deliberation and Approval
  • Once the submission package is accepted as complete and all outstanding items are addressed, City staff prepare a report for the Finance and Corporate Services Committee and City Council for review and final approval.
  • If the application is subject to site plan control approval, Council deliberation occurs once such approval is granted or all major issues are resolved.
• Step 6: Legal Agreement Registration
  • Following Council approval, a legal agreement is prepared by the City and registered on the property, outlining grant terms and conditions.
• Step 7: Complete Remediation and Compliance
  • Obtain a building permit within 18 months of Council approval.
  • Complete all rehabilitation work and submit a Record of Site Condition to the Ministry of Environment, Conservation and Parks and provide proof to the City.
  • Satisfy all City requirements, including full payment of rehabilitation costs, resolution of liens or claims, and compliance with all relevant orders.
  • Request a new property assessment from the Municipal Property Assessment Corporation, and ensure reassessment is added to the tax roll to demonstrate a tax increment.
  • Pay all outstanding property taxes for at least one year after reassessment.
  • Confirm that the building has been constructed according to permit specifications.
• Step 8: Request Rehabilitation Grant Payment
  • Submit a written request to the City of Ottawa for the initial payment of the Rehabilitation Grant once all conditions are fulfilled.
• Step 9: Ongoing Compliance and Payment
  • The City processes initial and annual grant payments until the funding cap or the 20-year limit is reached, whichever occurs first.
  • Maintain ongoing compliance with all program requirements for the duration of the grant repayment period.

• The City of Ottawa may conduct audits of approved studies or works at the applicant's expense.
• Applicants are responsible for all costs incurred, including those made in anticipation of a grant payment.
• The City reserves the right to discontinue programs at any time, but approved grants remain valid if all requirements are met.
• Site inspections may be carried out by City staff or agents as part of the application process.