City of Toronto staff have presented a workplan for implementing the new policies for 25 major transit station areas (MTSAs) and 95 protected major transit station areas (PMTSAs) that were approved by the Minister of Municipal Affairs and Housing on August 15.

The move paves the way for the city to increase housing and contribute to the provincial target of 285,000 new homes in the city by 2031.

“The approval of transit station areas across Toronto unlocks a huge housing opportunity for residents, for years to come,” said Mayor Olivia Chow.” With more housing near transit stations, we are looking at a future where Torontonians can more easily live, work and travel across the city we love.” 

MTSAs are defined as areas within an approximate 500-800 metre radius around an existing or planned higher order transit station. They must meet provincially mandated minimum density targets for number of residents and jobs per hectare.

PMTSAs require minimum development density for buildings and structures. They also allow municipalities to implement Inclusionary Zoning, which requires affordable housing in new residential developments. 

Within these areas, approved policies enable building heights of up to 30 storeys within 200 metres of transit stations, and building heights of up to 20 storeys within 200 to 500 metres of transit stations.

The workplan for the implementation of MTSA and PMTSA policies, including updating the City’s zoning bylaws to implement the new policies, will be presented to the city’s Planning and Housing Committee on September 25.

The workplan includes a strategy to move quickly on developing the implementing zoning for Toronto City Council’s consideration by late spring or early summer of 2026.

The MTSA and PMTSA zoning implementation is one of eight initiatives approved by City Council under the federal Housing Accelerator Fund through which the Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation has committed $471.1 million in funding to support the City’s housing targets.