TORONTO'S COMMITTEE OF ADJUSTMENTS LOOKING INTO CUTTING RED TAPE PROICESS!

The City of Toronto’s Committee of Adjustment process add anywhere from $21,000 to $58,000 annually to the cost of building projects, according to a study conducted by Altus Group Economic Consulting for the Building Industry and Land Development Association.

“Toronto is a rapidly growing city, and the building of infill homes and renewal of existing housing stock add much-needed housing supply for current and future residents,” said Justin Sherwood, senior vice president at BILD.

“With the city recently adopting various zoning reforms such as four units per lot as of right, and looking to make additional changes in the near future, the need for a more efficient process that reduces strain on city resources has never been greater.”

The study covered the timelines for minor variance applications over the 2015-2022 period, and found that application volumes to Toronto’s COA and Toronto Local Appeal Body (TLAB) processes have doubled over the last decade.

This has led to significant delays that added roughly 8% to 14% annually in additional construction-related costs, amounting to between $9 per square foot to $19 per square foot annually.