The City of Yorkton officially opened its 2026 commercial tax abatement and incentive programs for applications. These programs are designed to encourage new business investment and construction throughout the community.
A major change for the 2026 season is the removal of the local ownership requirement. Previously, businesses were required to have at least 51 percent of their shareholders living within the local planning district to qualify for incentives. By removing this rule, Yorkton City Council has opened these programs to all developers, regardless of where they reside.
The city has also increased funding for the Façade and Site Improvements Incentive Program to $115,000 for 2026, up from $100,000. This program has been a popular resource for local upgrades, having supported 31 businesses with more than $251,000 in funding since it began in 2021.
Commercial developers can also take advantage of the New Construction Incentive, which offers a tax break that starts at 100 percent in the first year and decreases by 20 percent annually over five years. This incentive applies to projects that create more than $50,000 in assessed improvements, with a cap of $500,000.
The city is also focusing on housing needs, as the Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation reports that Yorkton’s rental vacancy rate is currently 2.3 percent. This is below the three percent threshold that the federal agency considers a healthy market. To help address this, the city continues to offer the Rental Housing Incentive Program, which provides a five-year, 100 percent tax abatement for projects that create five or more rental units. More information on all available programs and how to apply can be found on the City of Yorkton website.
