Ontario has introduced Bill 60, the Fighting Delays, Building Faster Act, 2025, a legislative package that reshapes key components of the province’s tenancy, development-charge, and planning frameworks. The reforms arrive at a critical moment: the Landlord and Tenant Board continues to operate under a substantial backlog, municipalities face increasing pressure to finance growth-related infrastructure, and housing demand continues to exceed available supply. Through Bill 60, the Province aims to accelerate decision-making, enhance transparency in development-related costs, and expand its oversight of municipal and adjudicative processes. The following provides a focused legal analysis of the principal changes.

1. Residential Tenancies Act & LTB Procedure Reform

A key aim of Bill 60 is to accelerate the resolution of rental disputes amid prolonged delays at the Landlord and Tenant Board (LTB). The legislation compresses timelines, standardizes procedures, and strengthens enforcement.

The arrears notice period is reduced from fourteen days to seven, allowing non-payment matters to advance sooner. All termination and eviction notices must now use LTB-approved forms. The Bill also eliminates the one-month compensation requirement when a landlord reclaims a unit for personal or family use.

Tenants who seek to raise maintenance-related or other defences in an arrears proceeding must first pay 50% of the rent claimed. Requests to reconsider an LTB order must be filed within 15 days, significantly shortening corrective timelines. The Province may appoint additional adjudicators and staff and must publicly report on backlog-reduction progress. The LTB is also directed to adopt faster scheduling practices, particularly for non-payment cases.

Overall, the reforms create a more accelerated and structured process with quicker hearings, stronger enforcement of rent orders, and reduced windows for asserting procedural rights.

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2. Development Charges and Municipal Finance

Bill 60 introduces several amendments to the Development Charges Act intended to enhance transparency and predictability, issues of ongoing importance to developers, municipalities, and pre-construction purchasers.

Municipalities must now establish a distinct land-acquisition category within development charges and provide detailed public reporting on the collection and use of these funds. The Province may request background studies, calculations, or by-laws supporting development-charge frameworks at any time. In addition, municipalities are required to adopt formal service-level policies and make relevant background materials available before passing new fee by-laws.

These changes create clearer costing structures, more robust disclosure obligations, and expanded provincial oversight. While developers benefit from greater predictability in fee structures, municipalities may experience tighter constraints on how development charges revenue can be allocated, with potential effects on budgeting and long-term infrastructure planning.

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3. Planning Act Amendments & Housing-Supply Acceleration

To address delays in bringing new housing to market, Bill 60 introduces targeted amendments to the Planning Act. Public-notice periods for certain applications are reduced from 30 days to 15, and the Minister is granted broader authority to intervene in municipal decisions or issue expedited planning directions.

The legislation enhances tools for transit-oriented development, facilitating faster approvals for projects near major transit and servicing corridors. It also enables the Province to coordinate water, wastewater, and related servicing across multiple agencies to unlock land that is ready for development but constrained by infrastructure availability.

Municipalities must streamline internal approval processes, meet shorter response timelines, and reduce the number of mandatory studies required for certain rezoning applications. Upper-tier municipalities, whether they traditionally exercise planning authority, may now adopt or revive Community Improvement Plans to support local redevelopment.

Collectively, these measures shorten approval pathways, reduce procedural demands, and shift aspects of planning oversight toward the provincial level.

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Conclusion

Bill 60 brings a significant restructuring of Ontario’s housing, tenancy, and development framework. By tightening timelines, standardizing procedures, and expanding provincial oversight, the legislation introduces a more expedited and centralized system affecting landlords, tenants, developers, and municipalities alike. As these reforms take effect, their practical impact will depend on staffing, enforcement, and how quickly institutions adapt to the new requirements. Ongoing attention to implementation will be essential.

Our team of lawyers at Kormans LLP is available to assist clients in understanding these changes, assessing their obligations, and preparing for the updated regulatory landscape. To discuss your specific questions, connect with one of our lawyers today at 905-270-6660.

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