Opportunities and barriers to sustainable urban development: an analysis of the Toronto Green Standard (Version 3)

The City of Toronto has pushed for sustainable development as a normative goal through the creation of the ‘Toronto Green Standard’ (TGS). The TGS requires all developments in the municipal boundary to meet a specified level of sustainability requirements. Since 2018, the TGS has provided the opportunity to reach three voluntary tiers beyond the required tier (tiers 2-4), further enhancing sustainable building performance in exchange for a development charge

refund. This report aims to determine the development characteristics most associated with Tier 2+. Results indicate that Tier 2+ developments are typically large-scale and mixed-use but vary given geographic context and developer characteristics. Moreover, results suggest that the

development charge refund may not be a sufficient incentive for most developers, indicating a need for incentive reform. This research is a significant case study for planners considering the challenges and opportunities of encouraging sustainability in urban development.

Key Words: Sustainable Development, Resilience, Toronto Green Standard, Incentives