The Town of Aurora, Ontario, has officially started using new building rules for its downtown core that require more affordable housing and remove parking requirements for new apartments. These changes come after the appeal period for the new permit system ended on February 22, 2026, with no objections filed by the public or developers.
The new system, adopted by council on January 27, 2026, applies to the area between Temperance Street and Victoria Street, stretching from just north of Wellington Street to just south of Church Street. Under these rules, at least 25 per cent of all new residential units in the downtown must be kept as affordable housing for at least 25 years. This ensures that a portion of new construction remains priced for average residents over the long term.
Developers of buildings with five or more storeys and 10 or more units must now pay a community levy equal to 4 per cent of the land value. Additionally, the town has removed the requirement for developers to provide parking spaces for residents living in new apartment buildings or mixed-use projects downtown. According to the official notice, the town may allow taller buildings if a developer provides extra community benefits like more affordable units or better public spaces.
To make construction faster, the town created a three-tier approval process where projects that meet all standards can be approved quickly by town staff. Projects that need larger changes to the rules will still go before council for a final decision. The project has been in development since October 2019 and included public feedback gathered through the Engage Aurora platform, an open house in June 2025, and a public meeting in October 2025.
This new process combines several different types of building approvals into one application to help manage how the community grows while protecting the look of downtown buildings. It replaces the previous zoning rules and site plan controls that were used to manage construction in the historic area. Residents can now see these rules applied to all new development applications within the downtown boundary.
