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Council has officially endorsed the County of Brant’s Housing Needs Assessment and Strategic Roadmap, marking an important step toward a more inclusive, affordable, and complete community. Thank you to everyone who participated and shared their experiences. Your feedback helped shape the strategy now guiding our next 10 years of housing planning.
Why This Matters
Housing is essential to a thriving and sustainable community. As Brant continues to grow, we’re seeing rising housing costs, limited rental options, and a disconnect between what’s being built and what residents actually need. This strategy outlines how the County will address these challenges with clear, phased actions.
Read the complete Roadmap to Housing Needs in Brant.
What We Heard
From open houses to online surveys, residents shared what matters most:
- Affordability is a top concern, especially for young adults, seniors, and people with disabilities.
- There is strong support for more housing options, including townhomes, tiny homes, and accessible units.
- Growth must be matched with proper infrastructure like roads, water, schools, and healthcare.
- People want to protect farmland and green space.
- Renters want better protections and quality standards.
- Residents want to see their voices reflected in decisions.
Key Findings
- The County will need 2,455 new homes by 2035 - with at least 680 affordable units.
- Over 7,700 homes are already approved but not yet built - these will roll out over time, and we will focus on ensuring these are the types of homes that the community needs.
- There are major gaps in accessible housing and rental availability.
What’s the Plan?
The Housing Needs Strategy includes a 10-year roadmap with actions like:
✔ Updating the Official Plan with housing targets
✔ Creating an Affordable Housing Strategy
✔ Expanding rental supply and supporting Additional Residential Units (ARUs)
✔ Encouraging a mix of housing types (ARUs, low-rise apartments, etc.)
✔ Requiring barrier-free units in new developments
✔ Coordinating housing growth with infrastructure
✔ Launching a growth tracking model and public dashboard
What’s Next?
In 2025, staff will begin rolling out the short-term actions - including updates to planning documents, new incentive programs, and community education efforts. Proposals for medium- and long-term actions will be developed through ongoing monitoring and community input.
Thank you for being part of this important journey. With your continued support, we can ensure that everyone in the County of Brant has access to a safe, suitable, and affordable place to call home. For more information and to follow the plan through implementation, please visit brant.ca where a webpage dedicated to the Housing Needs Assessment and Strategic Roadmap will be available in the coming weeks.
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Thank you to everyone who took the time to share their input and ideas throughout this project.
The final reports are now available and will be presented to Council at the upcoming Council meeting on Tuesday, June 24 at 6:00 pm. Meetings are open to the public and can also be viewed on the County of Brant YouTube Channel at brant.ca/Live
Your feedback has played an important role in shaping these recommendations. The final plan, once approved, will be posted to this page. Be sure to subscribe for updates by adding your email to the Stay Informed box on this page and click ‘Subscribe'.
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A big thank you to everyone who joined us at our recent Housing Needs Assessment Open Houses in St. George, Scotland, and Paris. We were pleased to welcome over 50 residents who came out to share their experiences, learn more about local housing challenges, and provide feedback on potential solutions.
Your input is incredibly valuable. It will help shape the final Housing Needs Assessment, which will be presented to Council on June 17, 2025. This assessment will include clear goals, practical tools, and recommendations to:
- Create more affordable and diverse housing
- Improve rental options
- Support housing that meets the needs of all residents
The final plan, once approved, will be posted to this page. Be sure to subscribe for updates as they are available by adding your email to the Stay Informed box on this page and click ‘Subscribe'.
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On May 13, 2025, County of Brant Council approved a zoning change that will allow up to four housing units on fully serviced residential lots in Paris and St. George.
Read the presented report.
This change supports the County’s goal of offering more diverse and affordable housing options by allowing gentle growth in existing neighbourhoods. The updated zoning by-law also includes measures to help reduce impacts on surrounding homes and ensure that new development fits well in the community.
Four units can be achieved in different ways, including:
- Construction of a new primary dwelling
- Additions to an existing dwelling
- Interior Conversion
- Construction/conversion of a detached accessory building
- Addition to an existing accessory structure (e.g., above-garage additions)
To make it easier to add different types of housing units, the County has updated its Zoning By-law with the following:
- Allowing up to four dwelling units as-of-right on fully serviced residential lots
- Applying a more flexible limit to the size of accessory structures by basing the maximum coverage only on a percentage of the total lot area
- Increasing the maximum permitted building height for two-level detached habitable structures
- Requiring larger setbacks for two-level detached habitable structures
- Prohibiting rooftop amenity spaces above the second storey of a detached structure
- Simplifying and updating the definitions of residential uses in the Zoning By-law
These changes are part of the County’s ongoing efforts to plan for a growing population while supporting vibrant, inclusive communities.
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Thank you to everyone who shared feedback as part of the County of Brant’s Housing Needs Assessment. Your input is helping us better understand what kind of housing is needed now and, in the future, to support our growing and changing community.
What We’re Seeing
Through data analysis, community input, and feedback from local housing providers and developers, we’ve identified several key challenges:
- Many people are struggling to find housing that is affordable, safe, and suitable.
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Renters are being hit hardest, with lower incomes and fewer housing options than homeowners.
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There’s a shortage of two-bedroom rental units and not enough homes for seniors, young adults, or people with mobility needs.
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Most homes in Brant are single-family houses, and there’s limited availability of other types like townhomes or apartments.
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Over 60 households are waiting for affordable housing, and many more are just getting by.
What You Told Us
At the time the summary report was created, over 250 community members responded to the survey. Here’s what you’ve shared:
Affordability is a major concern – 81% of respondents say housing costs are too high.
“Even a single woman with a modest income cannot afford to rent, let alone buy.”
There aren’t enough housing choices.
“My elderly mother-in-law wants to downsize, but there’s nowhere affordable or suitable for her to go.”
People with the greatest needs – seniors, youth, and those with disabilities – are being left out.
“There’s nothing for people on fixed incomes or with mobility needs.”
Top priorities for the next 3 years:
- More affordable housing
- More rental options
- Support for seniors and first-time buyers
You want housing that fits with the character of Brant’s communities.
“Stop turning our small towns into cities. We don’t want to lose the rural charm that makes Brant special.”
You want innovative solutions.
“Encourage tiny homes, co-op housing, and generational living.”
What We Heard from Developers and Housing Providers
Feedback from developers and housing organizations echoed community concerns:
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High costs and long approval timelines are slowing down the creation of new housing.
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Rising demand and limited supply are driving up prices.
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We need a better mix of housing types, like townhouses, rental units, and accessory dwellings.
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More incentives and partnerships are needed to build affordable housing.
For more detailed information, please view the complete Housing Needs Assessment Preliminary Findings Summary Report.
What’s Next
We’re taking the next step by hosting Open Houses around the County in the coming weeks, and we’d love to hear from you!
Join us at an upcoming Open House
These events are a chance for you to:
- Learn more about the housing challenges we’re facing locally
- Share your lived experiences and ideas
- Review and provide feedback on potential solutions
| Date |
Time |
Location |
| Thursday, May 29, 2025 |
7:00 to 9:00 pm |
Gaukel Memorial Community Centre, Banquet Hall
7 Gaukel Drive, St. George |
| Monday, June 2, 2025 |
7:00 to 9:00 pm |
Scotland Community Centre
85 Simcoe Street, Scotland |
| Tuesday, June 3, 2025 |
11:00 am to 2:00 pm |
County of Brant, Council Chambers
7 Broadway Street West, Paris |
| Tuesday, June 3, 2025 |
6:00 to 9:00 pm |
Brant Sports Complex, Lafarge Room
944 Powerline Road, Paris |
Can’t make it in person? No problem. You can still share your thoughts on this page until June 6, 2025.
The feedback you share will help shape the final Housing Needs Assessment, which will be presented to Council in June 2025. The final assessment will include clear goals, tools, and recommendations for how we can:
- Create more affordable and diverse housing
- Improve rental options
- Support housing that meets the needs of all residents
Together, we’re working toward complete communities - places where everyone has a safe, suitable, and affordable place to call home.
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The County of Brant has completed its Housing Needs Assessment (HNA), a report that looks at current and future housing needs in our community. This was done using a federal template required by Housing, Infrastructure and Communities Canada, making the County eligible for federal infrastructure funding. The Government of Canada has reviewed the report and confirmed it meets all their requirements. View the Housing Needs Assessment Report.
The County will now use the information in the Housing Needs Assessment to help create an action plan to present to Council in June 2025. This plan will outline steps to address housing needs in Brant over the coming years. Residents will have the chance to learn more and share their ideas at open house sessions taking place in late May and early June. Subscribe to this project for updates as they are available by adding your email to the Stay Informed box on this page and click ‘Subscribe'.
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Join us for a Public Information Meeting regarding proposed zoning changes to support four residential units as of right in Paris and St. George.
- Tuesday, May 13, 2025
- 6:00 pm
- County of Brant Council Chambers, 7 Broadway Street West, Paris
Meetings are open to the public and can also be viewed on the County of Brant YouTube Channel at brant.ca/Live
*This meeting is part of the Council Planning Meeting. To view the agenda, visit brant.ca/CouncilCalendar - agendas are published the Friday before the meeting date.
What is the meeting about?
The County of Brant is proposing changes to Comprehensive Zoning By-Law 61-16 in response to the need for more innovative, diverse, and affordable housing options in primary settlement areas, where infrastructure is already available.
What changes are being considered?
The County is updating rules for backyard buildings, basement apartments, and other extra housing units to provide more flexible housing options while maintaining gentle densities and responsible growth. A recommendation from staff and a decision on the changes are proposed for this meeting.
Can't attend the meeting but want to share your feedback?
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Community input is essential to this project! Share your thoughts to help shape the future of housing in the County of Brant.
For your convenience
- Complete the online survey. Survey closes Tuesday, April 22, 2025.
- Prefer a printed survey? Stop by the main County of Brant Customer Service locations to pick up a copy until Tuesday, April 22, 2025 at 4:30 pm.
- You can also complete the survey over the phone by calling 519.44BRANT (519.442.7268) or 1.855.44BRANT (1.855.442.7268).
- Have a question or comment about the Housing Needs Assessment? Let us know.
Attend a Public Meeting
The public meeting will present preliminary zoning changes and information to support four residential units as of right in Paris and St. George. These zoning changes are an early step in expanding housing options for residents of the County of Brant.
- Tuesday, April 8, 2025
- 6:00 pm
- County of Brant Council Chambers, 7 Broadway Street West, Paris
The meeting can also be viewed on the County of Brant YouTube Channel at brant.ca/Live
Meeting Details
The County of Brant is considering changes to Comprehensive Zoning By-Law 61-16 in response to the Canada Housing Infrastructure Fund (CHIF). This federal funding supports expansions and improvements to water, wastewater, stormwater, and waste systems to help communities grow responsibly. To become eligible for CHIF, the County must commit to four residential units as-of-right per lot in low-density residential areas with municipal servicing.
What changes are being considered?
The County is looking at updating rules for backyard buildings, basement apartments, and other extra housing units to provide more flexible housing options while maintaining gentle densities and responsible growth.
Can't attend the meeting but want to share your feedback?
Level of Engagement
For more information, please read the County of Brant's Community Engagement Framework.
