Federal grant fuels Belleville housing push with zoning reforms

Belleville is in the midst of a broad push to increase housing supply and affordability, underpinned by federal funding, municipal zoning reforms and targeted incentive programs. The city received a $10.5 million federal Housing Accelerator Fund grant in December 2024, aimed at accelerating construction of 259 homes over three years and more than 10,500 homes over a decade, according to the city’s planning department.

In March 2025, the city approved zoning changes allowing up to four residential units as-of-right on urban serviced residential parcels, affecting more than 1,230 properties. The reform is designed to support what planners call ‘missing middle’ housing, a category between single-family homes and large apartment blocks, by enabling duplexes, triplexes and fourplexes without special approvals.

Affordable Housing on Former School Site

Council approved a Community Improvement Plan in May 2025 for the former Queen Mary School property, which is expected to accommodate up to 145 new units, including at least 45 affordable housing units, as noted in a city housing needs assessment. That project will add to the city’s rental stock in the west end, a priority area identified by local planners.

Financially, the city is backing accessory dwelling units, often called granny flats or laneway suites, with a $5,000-per-unit incentive for both new construction and conversions of existing space. The program operates on a first-come, first-served basis, providing direct financial support to homeowners who add rental units.

Infrastructure and Performance Funding

On the infrastructure side, Belleville received $801,040 in October 2025 from the provincial Building Faster Fund after meeting 97 percent of its 2024 housing target. Those dollars are designated for the Avonlough Sewage Pumping Station project, which supports capacity for new development in the city’s growth areas. For residents, that means sewer and water upgrades that unlock more housing supply without overwhelming existing systems.

The combination of federal grants, provincial performance payments, zoning flexibility and direct homeowner incentives gives Belleville multiple tools to address housing demand. The Housing Accelerator Fund grant alone is projected to generate hundreds of new homes in the near term while shaping the city’s growth trajectory over the next decade.