Brownfield Remediation Tax Assistance (BRTA)
The BRTA program encourages investment in sites where contamination has rendered the property vacant, under-utilized, unsafe, unproductive or abandoned.
The BRTA allows the City of Toronto to cancel all or a portion of the tax increase directly attributed to the increase in assessed value related to the remediation and development to help brownfield property owners offset the remediation costs incurred.
Offered by Economic Development & Culture Division (City of Toronto)
Amount
No fixed amount
Quick eligibility check
Who can apply
To qualify for BRTA, the property must be developed for employment generating uses. Ancillary retail (up to a maximum of 20 per cent of the gross floor area of the development), concert halls and theatres are considered employment generating uses.
In addition, the following criteria must be met:
- The property must not be in arrears of taxes or other fees and charges imposed by the City
- The Owner must enter into a Financial Incentives Agreement with the City to be registered on title, pursuant to Section 28(7) and 28(11) of the Planning Act
- The applicant must meet any further conditions as may be included in the By-law passed pursuant to Section 333(2) of the City of Toronto Act, 2006, if any.
About the funding
The BRTA allows the City of Toronto to cancel all or a portion of the tax increase directly attributed to the increase in assessed value related to the remediation and development to help brownfield property owners offset the remediation costs incurred.
BRTA may be provided for either:
- Up to two years or until all eligible remediation costs are compensated through the program (whichever occurs first), or
- Up to three years or until all eligible remediation costs are compensated through the program (whichever occurs first), if the property is also receiving development grants. In this case, the property is eligible for combined BRTA and Development Grants for a maximum of seven years.
Show all funding details
In addition, the Province of Ontario, through their Brownfield Tax Incentive Program may allow for the cancellation of all or a portion of the education property taxes for up to three years as a proportionate match to the City of Toronto BRTA incentive.
Assistance in each year is based upon all or a portion of the municipal property tax increase resulting from post-remediation development.
The BRTA will not exceed the municipal tax increment in any given year nor will it exceed the property owner’s eligible remediation costs.
- Costs incurred for remediation within 12 months prior to the submission of an application for the Brownfield Remediation Tax Assistance
- Environmental studies (i.e. Phase II Environmental Site Assessment and/or Phase III Environmental Site Assessment/Remedial Workplan)
- Environmental remediation
- Environmental insurance premiums
- Demolition or removal of debris relating to remediation
- Costs of complying with a Certificate of Property Use.
Similar programs
| Program | Type | Amount | Status |
|---|---|---|---|
| Farm Property Class Tax Rate Program | Tax Credit | Farmland is taxed at no more than 25% of your municipality's residential property tax rate | Open |
