Housing is on the Ballot in Orillia this October
As residents prepare to vote in the October 26 municipal election, OnePoint Association of REALTORS® is calling on candidates to prioritize housing affordability, expand housing choices, and keep homeownership within reach.
October 19, 2026, ORILLIA, ON — When Orillia residents head to the polls on October 26, they will be making decisions that could shape the future of housing in their community for years to come.
Municipal governments play a critical role in determining how and where homes are built, how quickly development applications move through the approval process, and how much it costs to bring new housing to market. The decisions made by the next City Council will help determine whether Orillia continues building on its recent housing reforms or risks slowing progress at a time when residents need more attainable housing options.
For Orillia, the conversation should begin by recognizing the progress already underway.
The City has updated its zoning to permit up to four homes on residential lots across the community. It has also advanced affordable housing initiatives, reduced parking requirements for affordable housing projects, and taken steps to modernize development approvals through electronic permitting and clearer timelines.
Orillia has further secured $4.5 million through the federal Housing Accelerator Fund to support its housing action plan, including incentives for affordable housing and faster reviews for non-market housing projects.
These are meaningful steps toward creating more housing options and making better use of existing neighbourhoods. However, progress
must translate into more homes that residents can afford.
For young families hoping to put down roots, workers trying to live closer to their jobs and seniors looking to downsize, access to suitable housing remains a significant challenge. The next City Council must continue removing unnecessary barriers to housing construction and ensure Orillia remains a community where people can afford to live, work and build their future.
Three housing priorities for Orillia's next City Council
OnePoint Association of REALTORS® believes the upcoming municipal election is an opportunity for candidates to demonstrate their commitment to housing affordability and supply. Three priorities should be central to that conversation.
1. Lower the cost of building homes and accelerate approvals
Development charges contribute to the cost of creating new homes, while lengthy and unpredictable approval processes can increase financing costs, delay construction and make projects more difficult to deliver.
The next Council should build on Orillia's efforts to modernize development approvals by establishing clear performance targets, reducing unnecessary studies and streamlining administrative requirements.
Council should also pursue provincial and federal infrastructure funding to help ensure that efforts to reduce housing costs go hand in hand with the roads, water and wastewater services needed to support responsible growth.
Making it easier, faster and more predictable to build housing can help unlock new projects and expand the supply of homes available to residents.
2. Expand opportunities for missing-middle housing
Orillia's decision to permit up to four homes on residential lots is an important step toward providing greater housing choice. The next Council should build on this foundation by creating more opportunities for five- to twelve-unit multiplexes, townhomes, stacked townhomes and other forms of gentle density in appropriate locations.
This includes considering opportunities along transit routes, major corridors, on larger and corner lots, and in areas close to existing services and amenities.
Missing-middle housing helps bridge the gap between traditional single-detached homes and large apartment buildings. It can provide more attainable ownership and rental options for first-time buyers, young families, working professionals and residents looking to downsize.
Orillia should continue making better use of serviced land near employment, shops, transit and community amenities while ensuring infrastructure planning keeps pace with growth.
Expanding housing options is not simply about building more units. It is about creating a community where residents at different stages of life can find a home that meets their needs and budget.
3. Oppose a municipal land transfer tax
The next Council should commit to opposing the introduction of a municipal land transfer tax in Orillia.
Municipal land transfer taxes are an additional tax on the purchase of a property. Local governments across Ontario have been advocating for the authority to introduce this type of tax, which would add another upfront cost for homebuyers.
For residents already struggling to save for a down payment and manage closing costs, an additional tax would create another financial hurdle to homeownership.
At a time when governments should be working to make housing more attainable, introducing another tax on home purchases would move in the wrong direction. Candidates should clearly state their position and commit to opposing any effort to bring a municipal land transfer tax to Orillia.
The choices made today will shape Orillia's housing future
These priorities represent practical opportunities for the next City Council to build on the City's existing work, reduce barriers to development and expand the range of homes available to residents.
As the October 26 election approaches, voters should ask candidates how they intend to address housing affordability, increase supply and ensure young people can afford to remain in the community where they grew up.
Orillia has already taken important steps toward housing reform. The challenge for the next Council is to turn that progress into tangible results: more homes, more housing choices and fewer barriers for the people who want to call Orillia home.
Housing is on the ballot in Orillia this October. Voters deserve to know which candidates will champion housing affordability, support responsible growth and help keep the dream of homeownership within reach.
Mike Stahls Government & External Relations Chair OnePoint Association of REALTORS®
