Diverse Metropolis: Benefits to date

Last updated July 16, 2024
Reading time: 2 min

Residential real estate developers whose projects are subject to the By-law for a Diverse Metropolis must reach an agreement with the city. Thanks to these agreements, residents have access to a greater supply of social, affordable and family housing. The most recent results are as follows.

This page presents the main benefits arising from this by-law as of June 30, 2024. These data are updated every three months.

Agreements with developers

Since the by-law came into force on April 1, 2021, the city has signed 220 agreements calling for a total of $40 555 643 in financial contributions. The by-law also allowed commitments equivalent to the construction of about 640 social housing units,151 affordable housing units and 826 family housing units.

As required under the by-law, all these agreements include a commitment to a social housing component. Depending on the area and the scope of the project, some agreements also include affordable and family housing commitments.

The commitments take a variety of forms: Creating housing units, transferring land or a building, or a financial contribution. 

Financial contributions are remitted to the city, based on the progress of the projects. It may be several years before the allotted sums are used in full.

Social housing component

Financial contributions expected: $29 671 559

Financial contributions made: $23 327 079

  • Number or agreements calling for a financial contribution: 214
  • Number of agreements calling for the transfer of land or a turnkey building: 6
    • Residential area provided: 57 635 square metres (corresponds to about 640 social housing units)

Affordable housing component

Financial contributions expected: $10 884 084

Financial contributions made: $7 849 851

  • Number of agreements calling for a financial contribution: 33
  • Number of agreements calling for the creation of affordable housing: 1
    • Planned residential area: 13 565 square metres

Family housing component

  • Number of agreements calling for a family housing contribution: 40
  • Commitments in connection with the creation of family housing: 826 family housing units

Creation of affordable housing zones

The By-law for a Diverse Metropolis is closely connected with the evolution of the Master Plan. When the permitted residential density increases or a new “housing” component is authorized in an area, an affordable housing zone is added to the by-law. Two types of zones are possible (zones 1 and 2), depending on the scope of the change to the Master Plan. Zone 1 projects must include 10 per cent of affordable housing, while zone 2 projects must have 20 per cent of affordable housing.

Total area added

  • Affordable zone 1: 94,56 ha
  • Affordable zone 2: 202,42 ha

Overview of the first two years of implementation 

On November 10, 2023, the results of the last two years of the By-law’s implementation were presented at a public meeting before the Commission sur le développement économique et urbain et l’habitation. The consultation documents (in French) and video recording of the meeting can be viewed on this page.   

Open data 

The city’s open data platform provides access to two sets of data regarding the by-law for a mixed metropolis. You may look up and download files pertaining to the maps used for the enforcement of the by-law, as well as to the highlights of the agreements made in accordance with the by-law. For more information, go to the page.

In line with the inclusion strategy 

The By-law for a Diverse Metropolis is a continuation of the strategy for the inclusion of affordable housing in new residential projects, which it replaces. It allows to correct its limitations, particularly with regard to the projects subject to it and its incentive nature. For an overview of the benefits of the strategy, in force from 2005 to 2021, see the final report.