City of Waterloo Council Summary Feb. 9, 2026

** The council summary below provides a snapshot of the major items presented at Monday’s council meeting. The council meeting webcast is available on the City of Waterloo YouTube page. Please refer to the minutes for an official record of the meeting.

Waterloo continues by-law dispatch collaboration with Waterloo Regional Police Service

City of Waterloo council endorsed the implementation of the Dedicated By-law Dispatch Operation model with Waterloo Regional Police Service (WRPS) for by-law complaints, effective July 1, 2026. 

WRPS has provided dispatch services for by-law complaints for the City of Waterloo and partner municipalities since approximately 1998. WRPS has identified operational challenges associated with continuing to managing bylaw dispatch, including the impact of by-law calls (non-emergency) on 911 emergency call handling capacity, privacy risks associated with the use of shared police channels for municipal enforcement, and an overall strain on the existing WRPS communication infrastructure. 

WRPS will establish a dedicated dispatch and radio channel for by-law, and a dedicated phone number for members of the public to report by-law concerns. These initiatives are intended to improve customer service, provide more efficient call triage and deployment, and fully comply with privacy standards.


City of Waterloo approves Inclusionary Zoning in major transit station areas effective July 1, 2027

City of Waterloo Council approved the implementation of Inclusionary Zoning for affordable housing with an effective date of July 1, 2027. Council previously approved the introduction of Inclusionary Zoning (IZ) within major transit station areas (requiring new private developments along the ION route to include affordable rental units), with an implementation date to be determined following a further market review. The subsequent analysis of the local real estate market indicated ongoing challenges in the housing market, and the need for a balanced approach to IZ implementation.

On January 12, 2026, the Ontario Minister of Municipal Affairs and Housing proposed an amendment to Ontario Regulation 232/18 (Inclusionary Zoning) to pause Inclusionary Zoning in the cities of Kitchener, Mississauga and Toronto (the three cities that have enacted Inclusionary Zoning) until July 1, 2027.

The approved City of Waterloo IZ framework also includes an exemption for affordable housing units from residential density calculations, as an incentive to industry. The July 1, 2027 start date is consistent with the anticipated amendment to Ontario Regulation 232/18, providing a clear effective date for Inclusionary Zoning, and additional time for the development industry to incorporate IZ requirements into project planning and land purchases. The City of Waterloo continues to support affordable housing, while acknowledging the current challenges facing the housing market.

Waterloo will consider Heritage Property Tax Rebate program as part of 2027 budget

City of Waterloo Council passed a unanimous motion directing staff to refer to implementing a heritage property tax rebate for consideration as part of the 2027 budget. Council had previously directed staff to consider options for heritage property tax rebates before designating further heritage properties, and staff presented a report with three options to be considered for information. Council passed a motion to refer specifically to Option B: Annual Tax Rebates for Maintained Properties during the 2027 budget process.

If approved through the budget process, the program would provide annual property tax rebates to owners of eligible heritage properties so long as their property is maintained to standards specified in a Heritage Conservation Agreement with the City.

Additional information on the financial implications of a heritage property tax rebate program will be provided as part of the 2027 budget process. Public engagement about heritage property tax rebates will occur during budget consultations. Staff will continue to engage with owners of properties on the heritage registry, and owners of properties on the potential heritage designation shortlist.

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Media contact:
Cari Van Niekerk
Director, Corporate Communications
cari.vanniekerk@waterloo.ca