Housing

Housing is essential to the long-term health, vitality, and inclusiveness of the Township of Centre Wellington. A strong housing system supports residents at every stage of life, helps local employers attract and retain workers, and contributes to complete, resilient, and connected communities.

The Township is committed to supporting a broad range of housing forms, tenures, and price points so that current and future residents can find housing that is suitable, accessible, and responsive to changing needs. As the community grows and evolves, the Township is working to support housing that is diverse, attainable, and well-connected to services, employment, parks, and community amenities.

This page serves as the Township’s general housing hub. It brings together housing-related policies, studies, programs, initiatives, and resources in one place, and connects residents and partners to the Township’s housing work.

Housing Needs Assessment

The Township of Centre Wellington is experiencing ongoing housing pressures that are being felt across the community. Population growth, an aging population, limited rental vacancy, rising housing prices, and a relatively narrow housing stock have all contributed to the need for more housing choice, greater affordability, and improved access to housing that can support a range of household types and life stages. The Township’s Housing Needs Assessment identifies these trends clearly and points to the importance of coordinated action through policy, programs, and partnerships.

Residents need housing that reflects household size, income, accessibility needs, family structure, and changing life circumstances. For that reason, the Township is working to support a more diverse housing system that includes rentals, ownership housing, Additional Residential Units, smaller homes, and housing options that allow residents to remain in the community over time. The Housing Needs Assessment identifies single-parent families, seniors, and youth-led households among the groups experiencing particular pressure in the local market.

• Centre Wellington Housing Needs Assessment
• Centre Wellington 2025 Housing Needs Assessment Final Report
• Centre Wellington Housing Needs Assessment Council Presentation July 2025

Housing Action Plan

The Township is in the process of initiating and developing a Housing Action Plan to identify practical and implementable actions that will help the municipality respond to local housing needs. This work will help define priorities, identify municipal actions, and establish a roadmap for future implementation.

The Housing Action Plan will build on the findings of the Housing Needs Assessment and will guide the Township’s next steps related to housing supply, affordability, diversity, and delivery. It will also identify where Township action can remove barriers, improve coordination, or support housing opportunities.

Visit the Housing Action Plan project page on ConnectCW.

Additional Residential Units

An Additional Residential Unit (ARU) is a smaller self-contained living unit that is either located within the main dwelling, such as a basement apartment or an addition, or in an accessory structure that is separate from the main dwelling, such as above a garage or in a smaller coach house. ARUs create more year-round rental housing and allow homeowners to earn rental income.

The Township has made efforts to update the Zoning By-law to align with Provincial changes enacted through Bill 23, More Homes Built Faster Act, 2022. These changes include allowing up to three residential units per lot and outlining parking space requirements to ensure accessibility of ARUs to many residents.

ARUs can support multigenerational living, aging in place, independent living arrangements for younger family members, as well as creating rental housing options in established neighbourhoods. ARUs are ideal to develop for empty nesters, new homeowners, or anyone who is “over-housed” with extra living space that is not being used. They are one of the most practical ways to create new housing opportunities within the existing community structure.

Affordable Housing and Incentives

The Township uses financial and planning tools to help support housing outcomes, particularly where projects contribute to rental supply, housing retention, redevelopment, or community improvement. Relevant Community Improvement Plan (CIP) grant opportunities include:

• Rental Housing Grant Program
• Rental Housing Development Charge (DC) Deferral Program
• Tax Increment Equivalent (TIEG) Program

Visit the Community Improvement Plan webpage for more information.

Additionally, non-profit developments do not need to pay Development Charges or Parkland Dedication fees if they meet Section 4.2 of the Development Charges Act, 1997. No application is required.

For-profit developments do not need to pay Development Charges or Parkland Dedication fees for affordable housing units if they meet Section 4.1 of the Development Charges Act, 1997 and align with the Township's By-law No. 2025-08. For-profit developers must enter into an agreement with the Township of Centre Wellington confirming the units will remain affordable for at least 25 years.

Resources and Partner Organizations

Housing is a shared responsibility. The Township works alongside Wellington County, housing providers, community organizations, other levels of government, and private-sector partners to support housing delivery. Residents and partners may also wish to explore external resources such as:

Get Involved!

Public input helps shape housing policy and implementation. The Township will continue to share housing-related updates, planning information, and engagement opportunities as housing initiatives move forward.

Residents, community organizations, non-profit and private development corporations, and other interested individuals are encouraged to follow the Township’s housing work through ConnectCW and stay informed about projects, studies, and Council direction.

Visit the project page on ConnectCW to learn more.