Housing in Waterloo Region

Why does housing come up so much during municipal elections?

Housing is one of the most direct ways municipal government shapes daily life. Local councils make decisions about zoning, development approvals, and affordable housing programs that determine where homes get built, who can afford them, and what neighbourhoods look like over time.

What does the Region do on housing?

The Region of Waterloo is responsible for social housing: subsidized rental housing for low-income residents. This includes managing thousands of units directly and overseeing wait-lists that have historically stretched to a decade or more.

What do area municipalities do on housing?

The cities (Cambridge, Kitchener, Waterloo) and townships handle their own zoning by-laws. These are the rules about what can be built where in their cities. When a developer wants to build a new apartment building or a homeowner wants to add a secondary suite, they are usually dealing with city approvals.

City councils also set policies on things like:

• Inclusionary zoning: requiring that new developments include some affordable units
• Accessory dwelling units and secondary suites: allowing more housing types in residential neighbourhoods
• Community improvement plans: targeting investment and incentives in specific areas

Some municipalities (for example Kitchener) also own and manage some social housing.