Housing Community Improvement Plan Grants

The information on this page is specific to the Thunder Bay Housing Community Improvement Plan. Visit the Downtown & Core Area Grants page to learn more about the Strategic Core Areas CIP and the grants and funding available through it.

Please note the 2024 funding has been fully allocated. Grant application intake is paused and will reopen in 2025. Stay tuned and subscribe to our newsletter to receive a notification when grants reopen:

The Thunder Bay Housing Community Improvement Plan allows the City to distribute Housing Accelerator dollars to successful applicants for eligible projects that build Thunder Bay by adding new residential units.

These dollars will flow through the four activated grant streams:

Multi-Unit Residential Grant

The Multi-Unit Residential grant is intended to encourage the creation of well-constructed, sustainable, and safe projects where two or more self-contained units are built.

Grant value

100% of eligible costs up to a maximum of $25,000 per unit above the 70% maximum density of the zone
The total maximum value per property is up to $300,000

What does "above 70% maximum density of the zone" mean?

Most homes in Thunder Bay are within the Urban Low-Rise Zone, which allows up to 6 units per lot. If your lot can support 6 units, you will be eligible to apply for $25,000 per unit above 4.2 units (70% of 6).
If you build 5 units, you would be eligible to apply for funding for 0.8 units (5 units subtracted by 4.2 units), which would be $20,000 (0.8 multiplied by $25,000).
Find out the zoning of your project by using the interactive zoning map
To learn your maximum density, please contact Planning Services at 625-2216 or planning@thunderbay.ca

Project eligibility

Proposed density must be above 70% of the maximum density of the zone. The units eligible for the grant are only the units created above the 70% density threshold

One of the following costing options must be met:
- One detailed independent contractor estimate for each component of the proposed eligible work;
- Two estimates covering all the components of the eligible work, the lowest of which will be used as a base for the Grant Funding amount;
- The building permit construction value, to be confirmed by receipts and paid invoices; or
- A detailed materials list, confirmed by receipts and/or paid invoices, for the improvements completed by the property owner

Space and water heating must be electricity-based, or zero emissions, unless the applicant can communicate in writing why they are unable to meet this requirement. Relief of this requirement will be at the discretion of the Community Improvement Plan Implementation Staff. Applicants are encouraged to strive for net-zero or net-zero ready building performance in line with the CIty of Thunder Bay Net-Zero Strategy.

Eligible costs

Works related to the Ontario Building Code or Fire Code Compliance
- Structural
- Electrical
- Safe egress
- Ventilation
- Fire protection, including associated insulation
- Similar improvements
Permanent finishing materials and decorative elements

Construction materials
Painting
Drywall
Trim
Permanent light fixtures
Flooring
Countertops
Cabinetry

Costs for professional studies, plans, or designs

Conceptual Plans
Structural Analysis
Traffic or parking study
Site Plan Drawings
Environmental Drawings
Architectural studies
Engineering Plans
Interior Design Plans
Market Analysis and/or Feasibility Study
Other site-specific studies or plans which may be required or recommended by the City at the time of a pre-application submission meeting or pre-consultation under the Planning Act

Payment

Relationship to other grants

Additional Dwelling Units Grant

The Additional Dwelling Unit Grant is intended to encourage home or property owners to add legal additional units to a residential or mixed-use building that are safe and contribute to the limited supply of diverse rental housing. This can be within the building as an apartment, an addition to the building, or a backyard home on the property.

Please note: All new applications must be provisionally approved before you start work on your project.

Value

100% of eligible costs to a maximum of $20,000 per unit

Project eligibility

Residential or mixed-use building located within the designated project area
A self-contained additional unit with private kitchen, bathroom, and sleeping area must be created
One of the following costing options must be met

One detailed independent contractor estimate for each component of the proposed eligible work;
Two estimates covering all the components of the eligible work, the lowest of which will be used as a base for the Grant Funding amount;
The building permit construction value, to be confirmed by receipts and paid invoices; or
A detailed materials list, confirmed by receipts and/or paid invoices, for the improvements completed by the property owner

Eligible costs

Works related to the Ontario Building Code or Fire Code Compliance
- Structural
- Electrical
- Safe egress
- Ventilation
- Fire protection, including associated insulation
- Similar improvements
Permanent finishing materials and decorative elements

Construction materials
Painting
Drywall
Trim
Permanent light fixtures
Flooring
Countertops
Cabinetry

Costs to complete any of the following types of studies, plans, or designs

Conceptual plans
Structural analysis
Site plan drawings
Architectural studies
Engineering plans
Other site-specific studies or plans which may be required or recommended by the City at the time of a pre-application submission meeting or pre-consultation under the Planning Act

Costs for the services of a design professional, professional engineer, or architect as may be required in associaion with the above-noted improvements

Payment

Relationship to other grants

Planning and Building Fees Grant

The Planning and Building Permit Fees Grant supports development by providing up to $10,000 toward fees for Planning Applications or Building Permit Fees for eligible projects aligning with the intent of the Community Improvement Plan: adding density to the City of Thunder Bay and contributing to a more diverse housing stock by reducing barriers to creating multi-unit residential homes and assisting property owners with creating additional dwelling units.

Eligible costs

Examples of costs covered by the grant include:

City of Thunder Bay Official Plan and Zoning By-Law Amendments;
Minor Variance;
Consent to Sever;
Plan of Condominium;
Plan of Subdivision;
Site Plan Control;
Development Agreements;
Building Permits

The grant does not apply to any performance or maintenance guarantees, required professional studies, newspaper notices, or deposits from participation at the Ontario Land Tribunal or Court proceedings.

Payment

Relationship to other grants

Servicing Grant

The Servicing Grant provides support to home or property owners participating in the Additional Dwelling Unit Grant where upgrades to municipal servicing such as water, sanitary sewer, and storm sewer are needed to construct the additional unit(s).

Value

100% of eligible costs up to $10,000 where municipal servicing upgrades are needed to support the creation of the additional unit(s)
The funds will be applied to work on City-owned lands first, with any remaining funding being used for upgrades on private lands

Eligible costs

Municipal infrastructure work including the improvement or reconstruction of existing on-site public infrastructure required to create the additional unit(s)
- Water services
- Sanitary sewer
- Storm sewer
Installation of municipal servicing as directed by the Infrastructure, Development and Operations Department
Costs to complete any of the following types of studies, plans, or designs

Conceptual plans
Structural analysis
Site plan drawings
Architectural studies
Engineering plans
Other site-specific studies or plans which may be required or recommended by the City at the time of a pre-application submission meeting or pre-consultation under the Planning Act

Costs for the services of a design professional, professional engineer, or architect as may be required in association with the above-noted improvements

Relationship to other grants

Payment

Grant Eligibility

All grants in the Housing Community Improvement Plan must meet the general eligibility criteria below.

General eligibility criteria

To find out if your project is within the eligible Project Area, search your project address in our Housing Community Improvement Plans Map

If your project is within one of the Strategic Core Areas, your project is eligible for either the Construction Assistance Grant or the Housing Community Improvement Plan Grant related to your project.

Multi-Unit Residential Grant Application Scorecard

Applications for the Multi-Unit Residential Grant will be accepted on an intake basis. All applications will be evaluated using the Scorecard.

Criteria Category	Factor	Points Available	Max Score
General Eligibility	Application form complete	Yes or No	Yes or No
General Eligibility	No outstanding property tax arrears or other outstanding City obligation on the subject property	Yes or No	Yes or No
General Eligibility	All other funding sources disclosed	Yes or No	Yes or No
General Eligibility	Detailed costing provided through one of : 1 detailed independent contractor estimate for each component of the proposed eligible work; 2 estimates covering all the components of the eligible work; the building permit construction value; or, a detailed materials list for a DIY	Yes or No	Yes or No
Density	Project less than 80% maximum lot density	5	15
Density	Project between 80 - 90% maximum lot density	10	15
Density	Project between 90 - 100% maximum lot density	15	15
Homes Provided	Project results in a gain of less than 4 units	5	20
Homes Provided	Project results in the creation of 5-10 units	10	20
Homes Provided	Project results in the creation of greater than 10 housing units	20	20
Development Status	Draft site plan/building design provided and requires planning approvals to proceed	5	20
Development Status	Draft site plan/building design provided and shows compliance with the Zoning By-Law, any required planning approvals have been granted and closed	10	20
Development Status	Draft site plan/building design provided and shows compliance with the Zoning By-Law, any required planning approvals have been granted and closed, and demonstrates high quality urban design, landscaping and architecture	20	20
Affordability	No purpose-built units rented at or below an affordable rate based on the 60th income percentile	0	10
Affordability	At least 1 purpose-built unit rented at or below an affordable rate based on the 60th income percentile	10	10
Energy Efficiency	Does not meet minimum of space and water heating from low/no-carbon sources - documented rationale provided	0	20
Energy Efficiency	Meets the minimum of space and water heating from low/no-carbon sources	10	20
Energy Efficiency	Exceeds the minimum of space and water heating from low/no-carbon sources (The building net-zero/net-zero ready)	20	20
Location	Project greater than 1000m from transit, active transportation infrastructure, and/or parks	0	5
Location	Project within 500-1000m of transit, active transportation infrastructure, and/or parks	2	5
Location	Project within 500m of transit, active transportation infrastructure, and/or parks	5	5
Accessibility	Project does not contain any units that exceed accessibility requirements in the Ontario Building Code	0	10
Accessibility	Project contains at least 1 unit that exceeds accessibility requirements in the Ontario Building Code	5	10
Accessibility	Project contains greater than 1 unit that exceeds accessibility requirements in the Ontario Building Code	10	10