Ontario Construction News staff writer
The City of Greater Sudbury will receive up to $45.3 million through Ontario’s Development Charge Reduction Program (DCRP) for water and wastewater infrastructure projects.
To receive funding, the city committed to eliminating development charges for all housing types from March 30, 2026, to March 31, 2029, lowering the cost of building a new home in Sudbury by up to $22,162.
The proposed infrastructure work includes transitioning the Garson East Drinking Water System from groundwater to the city’s surface water system, upgrading watermains and improving sanitary sewer infrastructure in the Maley Drive growth corridor.
Funding is subject to the signing of a Canada-Ontario agreement under the Build Communities Strong Fund, further due diligence by both governments, federal review and approval of project funding, and a transfer payment agreement between Ontario and the municipality.
“This funding is great news for both the City of Greater Sudbury and for the families hoping to call it home,” said Scott Andison CEO of the OHBA. “Reducing development charges is about making it possible to get more homes built, at prices more families can afford.
“OHBA has been clear that reducing the cost of delivering new homes will take meaningful action; the DCRP program continues to accomplish that.”
Ontario and the federal government agreed in March 2026 to a cost-matched structure providing a combined $8.8 billion over 10 years for infrastructure investments in the province. The federal contribution will flow through the Build Communities Strong Fund.
Under the DCRP, Ontario is providing funding over 10 years for infrastructure that enables housing development. Eligible projects can include water and wastewater systems, roads, bridges, transit, fire stations, police detachments, libraries and recreation centres.
“Greater Sudbury’s existing development charge moratorium on semi-detached homes and smaller apartment buildings has already helped Zulich Construction bring more affordable housing to market and help more families achieve their goal of moving into a new home,” said John Zulich, president, Zulich Construction Corp. “Expanding this relief to all housing types and extending it through March 2029 builds on that momentum, providing builders with the cost certainty and confidence to plan future projects, invest in growth, and establish a sustainable pipeline of new housing in Greater Sudbury for years to come.”
The program prioritizes municipalities that reduce development charges for all residential types by 30 to 50 per cent or more and maintain the reductions for at least three years. Participating municipalities must contribute at least 10 per cent of project costs.
“Reducing barriers to development is an important part of increasing housing supply in Greater Sudbury,” said Kris Longston General Manager of Planning and Growth, City of Greater Sudbury. “The elimination of development charges, combined with investments in infrastructure that support new housing, creates opportunities to move residential projects forward.
“These measures will help encourage new development, expand housing options and support the long-term growth of our community.”
More than 200 of Ontario’s 444 municipalities currently levy development charges.
