More Homes for Ottawa: OREB’s 2026 Municipal Housing Platform
Ottawa voters will be heading to the polls in October to choose the next City Council. This election will arrive at a moment when housing affordability has become one of the defining economic and social issues facing our city.
Decisions made by the next Council will determine whether Ottawa can deliver the homes our residents need, whether costs continue to rise faster than incomes, and whether young families, workers, and seniors can continue to build their lives here.
In anticipation of that election, OREB has developed a new municipal housing policy platform that will guide OREB’s engagement throughout the 2026 campaign.
More Homes for Ottawa is an evidence-based plan that sets out 10 achievable recommendations to improve affordability for buyers, renters, and those in need of affordable and non-profit housing.
The platform is built around three core pillars that reflect the full spectrum of Ottawa’s housing needs:
For Home Buyers
OREB is calling for policies that lower the cost of new homes, allow more housing types in every neighbourhood, and speed up approvals so families can afford to buy in the communities where they work and live. In addition, OREB is asking all candidates to commit to opposing any future municipal land transfer tax in the City of Ottawa.
For Renters
This platform focuses on increasing purpose-built rental supply, expanding effective incentive programs, and avoiding new municipal regulations that could unintentionally reduce the number of rental homes available.
For Affordable and Non-Profit Housing
OREB is urging the City of Ottawa to accelerate approvals, optimize the use of public land, and support making Ottawa the most pro-housing innovation municipality in Ontario.
In the months ahead, OREB will be engaging directly with candidates across the city, asking them to review this platform, to endorse its recommendations, and to commit to policies that help deliver more homes for Ottawa.
