Toronto is implementing measures to lower design costs and improve permit approval times to enhance housing construction. Mayor Olivia Chow highlighted the high cost of living, stating some residents spend over 63% of their income on housing. New initiatives include free design plans for compliant laneway and garden suites and expanded online applications for housing. Additionally, more professional-engineered building plans will be pre-approved to accelerate reviews. Past zoning changes have not sufficiently increased housing supply, with only a small number of laneway and garden suites built since 2018 and 2022 changes.
Mayor Olivia Chow emphasized the necessity of reducing building costs in Toronto, stating, "Life in Toronto has become very expensive and housing is the biggest expense every month." Recent surveys indicate that some residents allocate up to 63% of their income on housing, substantially exceeding the recommended 30%.
Chow pointed out that zoning changes alone insufficiently stimulated construction, saying, "It's simple: Toronto is growing and we must lower the cost of building homes and make it easier, and approve them faster." The city has implemented free design plans for laneway and garden suites to expedite development.
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