Ontario needs to consider…

Ontario needs to consider extreme weather risk (flooding, wildfire) in new home and community development. Ontario is well-positioned to lead on climate-resilient development, supported by organizations such as the Intact Centre on Climate Adaptation.

At the Intact Centre, our team has collaborated with standard-setting bodies (with several recommendations already adopted into standards such as CSA W204:19 Flood Resilience for Residential Communities) and subject matter experts across Canada to develop practical, evidence-based, and cost-effective measures to help individuals and communities adapt to the physical risks of climate change.

Drawing on findings from our research — including Weathering the Storm: Developing a Canadian Standard for Flood-Resilient Existing Communities (2019), Home Flood Protection Program (2019), Ahead of the Storm: Preparing for Climate Risks (2019), and Preventing Disaster Before It Strikes (2017) — we know how new and existing homes, and both inland and coastal communities, can be built or retrofitted to reduce risk from floods and wildfires.

Key recommendations for lot-level (outside of buildings) development standards include:

Flood Resilience

Grade lots to direct surface water away from foundations and toward permeable areas or drainage systems.

Require permeable driveways, rain gardens, and swales to manage runoff on-site.

Install backwater valves and sump pumps with battery backup where municipal standards allow.

Avoid below-grade window wells or ensure they are protected with watertight covers and proper drainage.

Promote tree planting and vegetated buffers to absorb runoff and stabilize soil.

Wildfire Resilience

Maintain a 10–30 metre defensible space around structures by removing combustible vegetation and debris.

Require non-combustible materials for decks, fences, and exterior landscaping within 1.5 metres of buildings.

Encourage community-wide vegetation management plans, including use of fire-resistant native species.

Community-Level Planning

Incorporate lot-level measures into municipal stormwater and wildfire management plans.

Support public education programs for homeowners to maintain resilience features over time.

Incentivize retrofits through development charges, insurance incentives, or provincial grant programs.

Integrating these proven, science-based approaches into Ontario’s enhanced development standards will ensure homes and communities are built right the first time — resilient to today’s and tomorrow’s climate risks.

Resources below for more detail:
https://www.intactcentreclimateadaptation.ca/wp-content/uploads/2017/09…

https://www.intactcentreclimateadaptation.ca/recent-reports/weathering-…

https://www.intactcentreclimateadaptation.ca/wp-content/uploads/2019/04…

https://www.intactcentreclimateadaptation.ca/wp-content/uploads/2019/10…

https://www.intactcentreclimateadaptation.ca/rising-seas-and-shifting-s…