Author Description

A 1992 study called the Regulatory Processes Fact-Finding Project examined the steps and timeframes of the regulatory processes in ten Canadian cities that developers must typically follow to build housing. The objective of this update report is the same as that of the original study, with the same method of data generation (municipal official & developer surveys). The regulatory processes considered include land development approval, building approval, and inspection. The steps & timeframes for each process are analyzed with respect to two housing types under four typical development scenarios. The fourth scenario is new to this update study and is added as a proximate measure of the response of the regulatory system to the production of more affordable housing. Analysis of the survey results includes comparison with the 1992 study results, as well as among the cities themselves, where possible. Finally, some insights are offered on process design with respect to efficiency, flexibility, and responsiveness to affordable housing.