BUILDING DURHAM

On April 10, 2024, the Ontario government introduced Bill 185, the Cutting Red Tape to Build More Homes Act, 2024. The legislation, positioned as an omnibus red tape reduction bill, contains the next round of proposed policy changes that form part of the housing supply action plans that the Ford government has committed to releasing on an annual basis.

Click here to read OHBA's full Member Update on Bill 185.

OHBA Member Update - Ontario Building Code

The newly harmonized next edition of the Ontario Building Code (OBC) was filed on April 10, 2024.  This resulted in over 1,730 provisions changing within the next code.  OHBA remains committed to working with MMAH and other key stakeholders, such as the Ontario Building Officials' Association, to ensure a successful transition to 2024 OBC.

Resources

• For the Building Code Regulation on E-laws, click here.
• Subscribe to Ontario CodeNews to receive the latest information from the Ministry of Municipal Affairs and Housing.

Key Dates and Transition Plan

• The filing of the next edition took place on April 10, 2024; however it will not come into effect until January 1, 2025.
• Using a "Transition Plan," MMAH has extended the lifespan of the 2012 code by 9 month, with a 3-month extension for permit applications that are substantially complete by December 31, 2024, based on requirements of the 2012 code.
• During this transition period, only one edition of the Building Code (either 2012 or 2024) could be used in the design and construction of a building.  The version of the building code that applies at the time of permit application is the version that will continue to apply to the building throughout processes of plans review, permit issuance, construction, inspection, and occupancy of buildings.
• March 31, 2025 - Deadline for permit applications using the 2012 Ontario Building Code, where working drawings were substantially complete before January 1, 2025.
• April 1, 2025 - All permit applications must use the 2024 Ontario Building Code.

Proposed Code Changes that ARE NOT Moving Forward Within the 2024 OBC

There are two key items that were proposed for adoption into the 2024 Ontario Building Code that will not be moving forward within the next edition as they did not meet the key criteria applied under the Ministry's analysis:

1. Energy Efficiency for Houses and Large Buildings.  Note: Ontario will not be adopting Tier 1 and Tier 3.  Supplementary Standards SB-10 and SB-12 to remain in place.
2. Tornado resiliency of houses.

Key Aspects of the 2024 Ontario Building Code

Division A and C administrative changes introduce multiple definitions supporting harmonization with the National Building Code (NBC) and Ontario-only requirements.  We recommend that members take the time to review all the proposed changes, but have flagged the following key items to be aware of:

Radon

• Harmonize with the NBC on mitigating the effects of radon in buildings across Ontario.
• Ontario to adopt a proactive approach to address soil gas/Radon by requiring new houses to have a rough-in for a subfloor depressurization system, if subsequently required.
• Changes include corresponding revisions to reference Supplementary Standard SB-9 and a new Appendix Note to clarify that buildings occupied for a few hours a day may not be required to implement soil gas protection methods.
• The OBC to keep the three townships in code that require full radon abatement.

Two Unit Houses (Secondary Suites)

• Harmonize Ontario's two-unit provisions with National, except for National's limitation around minimum suite sizes.
• Secondary suites will require two HVAC systems.

Large Buildings (Accessibility)

• Harmonize with 2020 NBC accessibility requirements where they enhance current OBC requirements.

Structural Design

Fully harmonize with National's recent structural design changes, including:

• Earthquake design: a web-based seismic data tool available for design support.
• Importance categories: revised description of types of buildings.
• Solar panels: provisions to calculate wind and snow loads for roofs with roof-mounted solar panels.

Additional information around the 2024 OBC will be delivered to members through a series of OHBA webinars and training sessions.  Please look out for registration in the coming days.

OHBA will be supported by MMAH as they look to roll out the 2024 OBC and have committed to providing members with technical bulletins, webinars and seminars.

DRHBA is hosting an OBC Update session as part of the LEEP session on May 2, 2024 at Deer Creek in Ajax.  More details on this event can be found here.

Oshawa – March 18, 2024 – The Durham Region Home Builders’ Association (DRHBA) has released the finalists for the 2024 Awards of Excellence.  This year, DRHBA had over 100 entries and judges from across Canada have scored the submissions and chosen this year’s winners.

These prestigious awards celebrate excellence in new homes, home renovations, innovative technology and construction, outstanding presentation, and marketing of projects within Durham Region.

Please join us in person for this year’s Awards of Excellence ceremony!  DRHBA will be hosting the in-person gala on Thursday, April 25^th at 5:30 p.m. at the Towneplace Suites by Marriott, located at 1011 Bloor Street East in Oshawa.  Please click here  to purchase your tickets.  Don’t delay – ticket sales close on April 12, 2023.

If you have any questions regarding DRHBA’s Awards of Excellence, please contact Erica at erica@drhba.com or 905-579-8080 ext. 1.

This year’s finalists include:

Sales & Marketing Finalists

Excellence in Digital Advertisement

• Great Gulf – Whitby Meadows
•  Minto Communities – The Heights of Harmony Phase II

Excellence in Interior Decorating

• To be announced at the Awards Gala

Excellence in Logo Design

• Coughlan Homes – Five
• Esquire Homes – Fresh Urban Towns
• Geranium - Clarehaven

Excellence in New Homes Sales Office

• Great Gulf – Whitby Meadows
•  In2ition Realty – The Grand at Universal City Condos

Excellence in Sales Brochure Design

• Esquire Homes – Fresh Urban Towns
• Esquire Homes – Meadow Towns
• Geranium - Clarehaven

Excellence in Signage

• Esquire Homes – Fresh Urban Towns
• Geranium – Clarehaven
• Holland Homes – Kings Cross

Excellence in Social Media

• Great Gulf – Corporate Social Media
• Minto Communities – The Heights of Harmony Phase II
• Pinchin Ltd. – Pinchin Ltd.

Excellence in Website Design

• Coughlan Homes – Coughlan Homes
• Esquire Homes – Esquire Homes

Finalists – New Home Design - Custom

Excellence in Custom Built Bathroom Design

• A&R Development Group Ltd. – Luxurious Bathroom Design for Elevated Living
• Fourteen Estates Ltd. – Grand Central Primary Ensuite – with credit to Cassidy + Company
• Holland Homes – 229 Gibbons St. Oshawa Bathroom Design

Excellence in Custom Built Kitchen Design

• A&R Development Group Ltd. – Crafting a Custom Dream Kitchen at 1421 Rougemount Dr.
• Fourteen Estates Ltd. – Grand Central Kitchen – with credit to Cassidy + Company

Excellence in Custom Built Home Under 3,500 sq.ft.

• Hausworks Design Inc. – Holiday House
• Holland Homes – 3330 Tooley Rd, Courtice
• RN Design Ltd. – 30 3^rd Avenue South

Excellence in Custom Built Home Over 3,501 sq.ft.

• A&R Development Group Ltd. – Rougemount Residence: Crafting a Custom Dream at 1421 Rougemount Dr.
• Fourteen Estates Ltd. – Grand Central – with credit to Cassidy + Company
• LCM Project Management & General Contracting – Simple Elegance Nestled on the Nineth

Finalists – New Home Design – Production

Excellence in Back-to-Back Townhome

• To be announced at the Awards Gala

Excellence in Stacked/Back-to-Back Townhouse Building Design

• To be announced at the Awards Gala

Excellence in Stacked/Back-to-Back Townhouse Unit Design

• To be announced at the Awards Gala

Excellence in Building Design (Mid-Rise & High-Rise)

• To be announced at the Awards Gala

Excellence in Multi-Unit Suite Design (Mid-Rise and High-Rise)

• Kiya Developments Ltd. – Interior Suite
• Kiya Developments Ltd. – Mid-Rise - Dundas

Excellence in Production Built Bathroom Design

• To be announced at the Awards Gala

Excellence in Production Built Home Under 2,500 sq.ft.

• Delpark Homes – The Homewood – with credit to: Cassidy + Company
• Khanani Developments Inc. – Lot 14 Whitby
• ·Minto Communities – The Heights of Harmony Phase II

Excellence in Production Built Home 2,501 – 3,500 sq.ft.

• Geranium - Clarehaven
• Holland Homes – 229 Gibbons St. Oshawa
• Khanani Developments Inc. – Lot 4 Whitby

Excellence in Production Built Home over 3,501 sq.ft.

• Coughlan Homes – 4502B Pente
• Coughlan Homes - 4503A Tano
• Geranium - Clarehaven

Excellence in Production Built Kitchen Design

• Khanani Developments Inc. – Lot 16 Kitchen
• Minto Communities – The Heights of Harmony Phase II

Excellence in Townhome under 2,000 sq.ft.

• Brookfield Residential – The Claremont – with credit to: RN Design Ltd.
• Great Gulf – Whitby Meadows
• Minto Communities – The Heights of Harmony Phase II

Excellence in Townhome Over 2,000 sq.ft.

• Brookfield Residential – The Mapleridge – with credit to: RN Design Ltd.
• Coughlan Homes – 2504 Wick
• Great Gulf – Whitby Meadows

Finalists – RenoMark Home Renovator Awards

Excellence in Bathroom Renovation

• To be announced at the Awards Gala

Excellence in Home Renovation/Addition Over $250,001

• Accubuilt Construction Ltd. – Solina Renovation
• Kooger Custom Homes & Renovations – Henderson St. Renovation
• Paradisaic Building Group – Dell Addition

Excellence in Home Renovation/Addition Under $250,000

• To be announced at the Awards Gala

Excellence in Kitchen Renovation

• Accubuilt Construction Ltd. – Solina Kitchen
• Paradisaic Building Group – Claremont Kitchen

Excellence in Unique Space

• To be announced at the Awards Gala

Outstanding Achievement Awards

Excellence in Training & Development

• Brookfield Residential
• Cassidy + Company
• Minto Communities

Innovation of the Year

• Render Developments – Virtual Flythrough Video
• Minto Communities – Minto Communities
• My Design Studio – My Design Studio Décor Management Software

Sales Team of the Year

• In2ition Realty – The Grand at Universal City Condos
• Pinchin Ltd. – Pinchin Ltd. Has an all-star sales team!

Supplier of the Year

• Pollard Windows & Doors
• Reliance Home Comfort

Professional of the Year

• D.G. Biddle & Associates Ltd.
• Peter Skowron at Hausworks Design

Renovator of the Year

• Accubuilt Construction
• Kooger Custom Homes & Renovations
• Paradisaic Building Group

Corporate Citizenship

• To be announced at the Awards Gala

Community of the Year

• Brookfield Residential – Station No. 3
• Great Gulf – Whitby Meadows
• Geranium - Clarehaven

Green Builder of the Year

• Brookfield Residential - myEnergy
• Great Gulf
• Minto Communities

Builder of the Year – Small Volume

• Esquire Homes
• Khanani Developments Inc.

Builder of the Year – Large Volume

• Coughlan Homes
• Great Gulf
• Minto Communities

People’s Choice Award – Finalists

• Accubuilt Construction
• Brookfield Residential
• Coughlan Homes
• Esquire Homes
• Great Gulf
• In2ition Realty
• Khanani Developments Inc.
• Kooger Custom Homes & Renovations
• Minto Communities
• Paradisaic Building Group
• Pinchin Ltd.
• Pollard Windows & Doors
• Reliance Home Comfort

Vote Online for the People’s Choice Winner here:  https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/SG2N77N

Voting for the People's Choice Award closes on Friday, April 5, 2024 at 5 p.m.

The Ontario Home Builders' Association is currently investigating a fee increase for the 2024-2025 membership year.

OHBA dues are billed through and collected by DRHBA and remitted back to OHBA.  Currently, members pay $400 to OHBA as part of their yearly dues.  

OHBA created a presentation to explain/justify the fee increase, which can be reviewed here.

There are two fee options currently being proposed:

Flat Fee

Under the proposed Flat Fee model, the proposed rates are as follows:

• Builders/Developers - $1,000
• Renovators - $700
• Professionals/Suppliers/Trades - $600

Tiered Fee

The tiered fee model provides a breakdown of builder/developer members into further categories based on number of units, with an annual flat fee charged for each category.  The proposed rates are as follows:

Builder/Developers

• Ultra (151 plus units) - $5,000
• Large (101-150 units) - $3,000
• Medium (51-100 units) - $1,500
• Small (11-50 units) - $1,000
• Custom - $500

Renovators - $600

Professionals/Suppliers/Trades - $500

Rebate

OHBA fees are paid with every local HBA that you are a member of.  For example, if you belong to three local home builders' associations, you would pay the OHBA fees three times.  To account for this, OHBA is proposing that under the new fee structure, members who join multiple locals will receive a rebate directly from OHBA.  The proposed rebate is:

• 20% for 2-5 local memberships
• 22.5% for 6-10 local memberships
• 25% for 11-22 local memberships

Response to OHBA

DRHBA's board of directors is looking for feedback from members on OHBA's proposed fee increase.  This feedback will be used to create DRHBA's official response to OHBA.  Members can send their feedback to Stacey or you can take the survey here: https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/2ND2QRZ.  

Your voice matters!  Please provide your feedback to ensure that your voice is heard.

The Township of Scugog is currently in the midst of a Development Charge Background Study.  Their current DC by-law will expire on May 28, 2024.

The Township has retained the services of Hemson Consulting Ltd. to prepare the background study.  A high-level overview was provided to council on January 15th.

An informal open house to present the high-level information prior to the release of the background study will be held on Friday, February 2, 2024 in council chambers at 181 Perry Street, second floor in Port Perry, from 1 p.m. to 3 p.m.

The background study will be released on February 22, 2024 and a public meeting will be held on March 5, 2024.  Council is planning on passing the new by-law on April 22, 2024.

If you have any questions or concerns, please contact Stacey.

The Municipality of Clarington is reviewing its building permit fees, within the building by-law, as a requirement under the Building Code Act.

The Municipality is projecting the providing building code services will cost $3,667,600 in 2024.

In accordance with the provisions of the Building Code Act, the Municipality is proposing an increase of 8.99 per cent for building permit fees and inspection fees as of March 1, 2024.  This represents an increase from $15.33 to $16.71 per square metre for a single family dwelling.

The Municipality believes that this increase will ensure that building permit revenue covers all direct and indirect costs to the Municipality in delivering these services, based on projected trends and building data.  The increase is also projected to contribute to the reserve fund, which would be used to maintain services during an economic downturn.

A public meeting will be held on Monday, February 12 at 6:30 p.m. You can join in person or virtually.

To participate virtually, please pre-register by completing the online form at www.clarington.net/delegations, by calling 905-623-3379 ext. 2109 or emailing clerks@clarington.net by February 9, 2024 at 3:30 p.m.  You do not need to pre-register as a delegate in order to speak in person.

Written comments can be sent to Brent Rice at brice@clarington.net or to Stacey before the public meeting.

The City of Oshawa invites you to provide feedback on the Bloor-Simcoe Intensification Study (the “Study”). The purpose of the Study is to develop an intensification policy framework to guide future development in suitable locations and at appropriate densities within the Study Area.

The City is advancing the following public consultation opportunities related to the Study:

• A Public Open House on Tuesday, January 30, 2024 from 6:30 p.m. to 8:45 p.m. in the C-Wing Committee Room at City Hall (50 Centre St. S., enter from the main south entrance and immediately turn right).
• • Two identical 30-minute presentations will be made – at 6:45 p.m. and at 7:45 p.m., each followed by 30 minutes for discussion and questions on the presentation.
  • The presentation and display boards are available for viewing on Connect Oshawa (ConnectOshawa.ca/BloorSimcoe).
• A feedback form on Connect Oshawa or on paper at Service Oshawa, located at City Hall (50 Centre St. S.).
• A mapping exercise for the Study Area on Connect Oshawa and also submit questions through Connect Oshawa.

It is requested that you submit comments related to the Study directly to Victoria White at vwhite@oshawa.ca. Please note that feedback will be received until 12 p.m. on Friday, February 9, 2024 and will be considered in a future staff report to be presented to the Economic and Development Services Committee.

The City of Pickering is exploring new opportunities to support urban agriculture within Pickering and is seeking your input. Urban agriculture comes in many forms, but it's considered by many to be simply growing or producing vegetables, herbs, and fruits in urban spaces. 

Recent years have seen the development community incorporate urban agriculture opportunities into new communities where possible. This includes providing community gardening plots (on the ground and integrated within buildings terraces and podiums), edible landscaping to container balcony gardening. The integration of urban agriculture provides various opportunities for growing local food on site where future residents can establish a community garden for social, economic and well-being benefits.

To better understand why urban agriculture consideration is (or not) part of your company's business sustainability plan, as well as the challenges to undertaking these programs, the City of Pickering has prepared a short survey. Your ideas and feedback will help City staff understand the opportunities and barriers facing the development community when considering these types of design features. This information will help shape the City's short-term actions and long-term planning to meet the needs of the community.

The results and feedback from individuals will not be shared. The overarching ideas/themes will be included as part of a report that staff are preparing for Council in March 2024. If you cannot comment on behalf of your company, please forward the survey link to an appropriate colleague. We request that surveys be completed by January 29, 2024.

SUMMARY

OHBA has been closely following the Ontario Minister of Energy’s commitment to reverse an Ontario Energy Board (OEB) decision in late December 2023 that denied Enbridge’s amortization of natural gas connection costs.

The OEB’s decision would have had the effect of front-ending the entire cost of the natural gas servicing connection on the construction of any new homes connected to natural gas utility. This is estimated to add several thousands of dollars in additional costs to the construction costs of a new home.

Minister of Energy Todd Smith committed to introducing legislation to reverse the decision, citing that the decision would lead to increased costs and reduced choice for consumers.

BACKGROUND

On December 21st, the OEB released a decision that Enbridge could no longer amortize natural gas connection costs for new customers over a 40-year period and would have to charge the complete costs upfront (estimated by the OEB at roughly $4,400 per new home).

The OEB’s position is that Enbridge’s long-term plan is unreasonable because it assumes that every new housing development will include gas servicing and that homebuyers will remain on gas for 40 years, with OEB citing an energy transition toward electrification in new home construction.

"The OEB is not satisfied that Enbridge Gas's proposal will not lead to an overbuilt, underutilized gas system in the face of the energy transition," much of the board wrote.

The OEB stated the connection cost should be paid upfront by home developers to address that risk and incentivize developers "to choose the most cost-effective, energy-efficient choice." Per the OEB: “Consumers would benefit if developers chose to forego that up-front cost and opted against gas lines.”

The decision also noted that “connection costs have escalated sharply for Enbridge Gas in recent years due to rising construction costs and additional costs related to municipal permit and restoration requirements.”

The final decision was two to one, with the dissenting commissioner arguing that a 20-year horizon would be appropriate for amortizing gas connection costs for Enbridge’s customers.

MINISTER’S RESPONSE

Minister Todd Smith Released the following statement on December 22nd, 2023.

“Our government was elected with a mandate to rebuild Ontario’s economy as we keep costs down for people and businesses and build the homes our growing province needs.

“I am extremely disappointed in yesterday’s split decision by the Ontario Energy Board to reduce the amortization period for the cost of installing new natural gas connections for homes. This decision, which would mean costs that are normally paid over 40 years would be owed in full upfront, could lead to tens of thousands of dollars added to the cost of building new homes.

“At a time when Ontario, like the rest of Canada, is already dealing with the difficult headwinds of high-interest rates and inflationary pressures, the Ontario Energy Board’s decisions would slow or halt the construction of new homes, including affordable housing. We will not stand for this.

“In response, I will use all of my authorities as Minister to pause the Ontario Energy Board’s decision. At the earliest opportunity, our government will introduce legislation that, if passed, would reverse it, so that we protect future homebuyers and keep shovels in the ground.” [Emphasis added].

The Legislature is in recess till February 20th – so the earliest any legislation can be introduced would be on or after this date.

Some notable points that Minister Smith highlighted during his press conference:

“We’re still doing the math on how many thousands of dollars it could be. More than half of the delegations I’ve had as minister of energy over the last two years are from municipalities that want new natural gas in their communities; they want that expansion program expanded again.”

“We’ve been trying to take a pragmatic approach to the energy transition and not heaping tons of new costs on new homes, making sure that life is affordable for people, particularly for those looking to buy a home for the first time.”

There have been no further statements from the Ministry on the announcement to overturn the decision. Due to the sensitive precedent of overruling an independent regulator’s decision, the Minister has not speculated on precisely what the government will bring forward regarding legislation.

NEXT STEPS FOR OHBA

• OHBA will be sending official correspondence to the Minister of Energy and the Premier communicating OHBA’s support for the government’s move to ensure housing affordability by reversing this decision AND encourage local HBA’s to send letters as well, reinforcing the OHBA position. We will provide a sample form letter to ease of reference.
• OHBA will continue to engage directly with the Ministry of Energy and the Ontario Government to reinforce the sector’s position and seek clarity regarding the legislative vehicle that the government introduces to reverse the decision, as well as the anticipated timeline.
• OHBA will coordinate efforts with our industry partner, Enbridge Gas, on any efforts we may mutually agree are in the best interest of OHBA members to ensure this decision is rescinded.

RESOURCES

OEB Decision Backgrounder December 21, 2023

https://www.oeb.ca/sites/default/files/backgrounder-EGI-EB-2022-0200-20231221-en.pdf

OEB Decision and Order

https://www.rds.oeb.ca/CMWebDrawer/Record/827754/File/document

Minister’s Statement

Ontario Government Standing Up for Families and Businesses | Ontario Newsroom

OHBA has released their Weekly GR Reports for the first two weeks of January, which can be viewed here:

• OHBA Weekly GR Report - January 2 - 4, 2024
• OHBA Weekly GR Report - January 8 - 11, 2024

On December 7, 2023, the OHBA Board of Directors passed a motion to enter into a new operating agreement with BILD.  This agreement aims to highlight each Association's strengths and avoid duplication in efforts to deliver the best possible value to our members.  The agreement will see BILD staff support OHBA in areas of advocacy, jointly supported efforts in research and communication campaigns, and a clearer role sort between the Associations.  BILD released this member update on the agreement.