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Various multi-unit buildings in and around the downtown

Built Form Standards

We're updating our Urban Design Manual and Built Form Standards, including standards for Downtown.

The Urban Design Manual was adopted in 2018, and the Downtown Streetscape was adopted in 2014, so it’s time for a refresh.

The updates are not intended to introduce major revisions, but instead will focus on:

  • streamlining existing guidelines and standards
  • consolidating information that is currently repeated in multiple places, and
  • update language.

This project will adapt existing built form standards to ensure there is design guidance for tall buildings throughout Guelph. In the end, our goals is to make the standards easier to implement as Guelph continues to grow.

Phases

Phases overview
Background work
Technical feedback from industry users
Building draft content
Draft Content Open Houses
More engagement coming soon

Background work

January 1, 2025 - September 28, 2025

The updates to the Built Form Standards follows from the project to increase permitted heights in downtown. Now that the heights have been approved, the built form standards and design guidelines must be updated to align with the new height permissions. 

Read more about the work already completed that will guide many of the updates we need to address

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