Toronto, ON – The Ontario Association of Architects (OAA) has released an updated report that sheds new light on critical delays in the Site Plan Approval process and their costly impact on Ontario’s housing supply.
The OAA, which regulates the practice of architecture in the province to protect the public interest, commissioned Altus Group for the study, updating previous reports in 2013 and 2018. The findings reflect the urgent need for policy reform to reduce housing-related delays and related consumer costs amidst the backdrop of Bill 23, More Homes Built Faster Act, 2022 and other legislation.
The report reveals that Ontario municipalities are taking an average of 23 months to review site plan applications—far exceeding the provincially mandated 60-day timeline. These delays are having significant financial repercussions. For a 100-unit apartment building, site plan holdups result in additional monthly costs ranging from $230,000 to $299,000, placing further strain on developers and potential homeowners alike.
Estimates of the annual value of building permits requiring site plan approval across Ontario suggest that the broken Site Plan Approval process is costing approximately $3.5 billion annually in lost opportunities and inefficiencies. This marks a staggering increase from the $900 million estimated in 2018.
“These findings highlight an urgent need to streamline the site plan application process across Ontario to address the province’s housing crisis,” says Ted Wilson, president of the OAA’s governing Council. “Meaningful policy changes are necessary to ensure municipalities adhere to timelines and build the housing supply Ontarians urgently need.”
The OAA will leverage these insights to inform discussions with government stakeholders, advocating for targeted reforms that will expedite approvals, reduce costs, and encourage timely housing development.
For more information, you can read the report in its entirety on the OAA Website.
Further Information
OAA President Ted Wilson, and other representatives of OAA Council, may be available for phone or email interviews. Additional information and high-resolution photos may also be available. Please contact:
Daniele Alcinii, Communications Specialist
416-449-6898, ext. 306
DanieleA@oaa.on.ca
About the Ontario Association of Architects
The Ontario Association of Architects is a self-regulating organization under the Architects Act, a statute of the Government of Ontario. It is dedicated to promoting and increasing the knowledge, skill, and proficiency of its members, and administering the Act, in order that the public interest may be served and protected. For more information, visit www.oaa.on.ca.