Updates to Peel's Vacant Unit Rebate Program
Program will be Phased Out by 2020
Property owners with vacant commercial and industrial buildings receive a property tax rebate under the province's Vacant Unit Rebate Program. In 2017, the Province of Ontario provided municipalities with added flexibility to tailor the program to reflect community needs and circumstances, while considering the interests of local businesses.
In May 2017, the Region of Peel held consultations with business owners/representatives in Brampton, Mississauga and Caledon to discuss the proposed changes to the program. A staff report entitled, Proposed Changes to the Vacant Unit Rebate Program for Commercial and Industrial Properties (PDF) with recommended changes to the program was approved by Regional Council on June 22, 2017.
The Region has updated Peel's Vacant Unit Rebate program to reflect changes under new Ontario Regulation 581/17 which received Royal Assent on December 14, 2017. These changes will apply to the processing of the 2017 vacant unit rebate applications.
Changes to the Program
The following eligibility criteria updates are prescribed through Ontario Regulation 581/17, beginning with the 2017 tax year:
- An eligible vacant unit must not include any non-permanent structures and must not be used for any form of storage;
- A property / unit / delineated area will no longer be eligible if a vacant unit rebate has been provided in any previous three or more consecutive years;
- Storage units, hotels, fuel storage tanks, gravel pits, a business closed due to strike or lockout and fixturing period will no longer be eligible; and
- Additional supporting documentation must be received within 30 days from the mailing date of the Notice that is sent for applications with incomplete information or the application will be considered void.
The Vacant Unit Rebate Program will be phased out by 2020 as prescribed through the new regulation Ontario Regulation 581/17. The timeline is as follows:
- For the 2017 tax year (applications received by February 28, 2018), the current rebate of 30 percent continue to be available;
- For the 2018 tax year (applications received by February 28, 2019), the rebate be reduced to 20 percent;
- For the 2019 tax year (applications received by February 28, 2020), the rebate be reduced to 10 percent; and
- For the 2020 tax year, the rebate is discontinued.
Vacant Unit Rebate Application
Please visit the following websites to apply for the Vacant Unit Rebate program which will be available until 2020:
Contact
Please contact your local tax department or 311 for further details or questions regarding the changes to the vacant unit rebate program:
