Affordable Housing Incentives
Proposed Changes to Affordable Housing Incentives
The City is reviewing how it supports affordable housing through incentives. As part of this work, a new development incentives policy is being created. This will involve the current Policy C09-002 – Innovative Housing Incentives being repealed and replaced with a new policy that includes affordable housing incentives. This new approach will better align with current needs and available funding opportunities.
To learn more, please visit the Planning and Development – New Development Incentives Program Engage Page.
Closed Incentives
Affordable Housing Incentives (2025)
The application intake for the 2025 Affordable Housing Incentives closed on August 8, 2025.
The Affordable Housing Incentives (2025) provided funding for the construction of new affordable rental units, including affordable rental units within mixed market developments.
Applying the Housing Accelerator Fund (HAF) funding, the City of Saskatoon prioritized support for new affordable rental units through Council Policy C09-002, Innovative Housing Incentives Policy. Certain exemptions to the policy were approved for HAF funding projects to allow for increased flexibility on timing, criteria, and incentive amounts. This flexibility served to enhance the City's contributions and further incentivized the construction of new affordable rental units.
From June 16, 2025 to August 8, 2025, the City of Saskatoon accepted applications for Affordable Housing Incentives. Funding was allocated to eligible projects for the construction of new affordable rental units through capital grants of up to $27,000 per unit and a five-year incremental tax abatement, subject to City Council approval. Priority was given to registered non-profits, housing co-operatives, Indigenous organizations and/or governments, and First Nations. Additionally, projects which had already received approval for a HAF capital grant for affordable housing and wished to increase the number of affordable units within their development, was prioritized as these projects are already underway.
Information about the eligibility and evaluation criteria, and the application processed can be found within the Frequently Asked Questions.
Development of City-Owned Land (2024)
The application intake for the Development of City-Owned Land (2024) closed on December 13, 2024.
An initiative of the Housing Accelerator Fund - Housing Action Plan is to develop City-Owned properties, with a focus on increasing the supply of affordable housing across the city. Four (4) properties were offered for sale throughout Saskatoon. City Administration undertook a Call for Proposals for the four sites. Please visit the City-Owned Land webpage for additional information.
Funding may be allocated to eligible projects for the construction of new affordable rental units through Capital Grants of up to $50,000 per unit and a five-year incremental tax abatement, subject to City Council approval. The City is also offering Building and Development Permit fee rebates of up to $1,500 per unit for eligible units. Applicants are eligible for the permit rebate upon closure of the final building permit for their project. Applicants eligible for the permit rebates will be contacted by City Administration.
All successful applicants will be required to enter into a legal agreement with the City, provide income screening, and report on rental rates on an ongoing basis for the length of the agreement term (minimum 20 years).
The supplementary package, including contact information, FAQs and Terms and Conditions can be found here.
Affordable Housing Incentives (2024)
The application intake for the 2024 Affordable Housing Incentives closed on July 5, 2024.
The Affordable Housing Incentives (2024) provided funding for the construction of new affordable rental units, including affordable rental units within mixed market developments.
Applying the Housing Accelerator Fund (HAF) funding, the City of Saskatoon prioritized support for new affordable rental units through Council Policy C09-002, Innovative Housing Incentives Policy. Certain exemptions to the policy were approved for HAF funding projects to allow for increased flexibility on timing, criteria, and incentive amounts. This flexibility served to enhance the City's contributions and further incentivized the construction of new affordable rental units.
From June 5, 2024 to July 5, 2024, the City of Saskatoon accepted applications for Affordable Housing Incentives. Funding was allocated to eligible projects for the construction of new affordable rental units through capital grants of up to $27,000 per unit and a five-year incremental tax abatement, subject to City Council approval. Priority was given to registered non-profits, housing co-operatives, Indigenous organizations and/or governments, and First Nations.
The City also offered a Building & Development Permit fee rebate of up to $1,500 per unit for eligible units. Applicants are eligible upon issuance of the final building permit for their project and Administration will reach out to eligible applicants about this rebate.