Rental Replacement Bylaw
People in our community are looking for housing that they can afford. To help, we need to preserve the affordable housing and rentals that Guelph already has.
A Rental Replacement Bylaw can help us do this. It requires landlords to get a permit from the City before removing through demolition or converting affordable units. If affordable units are removed, the same number must be built again and rented at similar rates.
The bylaw will help ensure tenants in affordable rental homes get compensation and a new place to live if their unit is demolished or no longer available as a rental accommodation.
This bylaw only applies when a developer wants to demolish or convert six or more rental units. The bylaw does not apply to evictions through renovations.
How can I participate right now?
Familiarize yourself with what a Rental Replacement Bylaw is, and what it is intended to do by reviewing the information on this page. Be sure to check out the “In-depth project background” section below.
You are welcome to contact the project team directly to learn about the proposed bylaw direction and share your thoughts with us. Check out the “Who’s Listening” section for contact information.
There is a Statutory Public Meeting for the City-initiated Official Plan Amendment to enable the administration of a Rental Replacement By-law on July 14, 2026.
The proposed Official Plan Amendment, Draft Rental Replacement By-law and Draft Demolition Control By-law are available for your review.
Instructions to delegate will be available below under phase 4.
Further reading
Phases
Presentation to Council
On June 10, we presented a draft Bylaw to City Council along with other new bylaws that support housing in Guelph.
On July 14, City staff will present a recommendation report to Council on the City-initiated Official Plan Amendment and the proposed Rental Replacement Bylaw. The Official Plan amendment will enable the administration of the Rental Replacement Bylaw.
If you would like to register to speak to City Council and/or submit written comments about the proposed Official Plan Amendment and/or the Demolition Control Bylaw Amendment, please do so no later than 10 a.m. on Friday, July 10, 2026. You can register to speak to City Council at the combined public meeting and decision meeting in the following ways:
- Register online at guelph.ca/delegation
- Call 519-837-5603 or TTY 519-826-9771
- Email clerks@guelph.ca
When we receive your registration, we will send you a confirmation message and instructions for participating in the hybrid Council meeting. Instructions will also be provided during the meeting to ensure those watching the hybrid public meeting have the opportunity to speak. You can submit written comments to be included in the Council agenda in the following ways:
- Email clerks@guelph.ca
- Drop off in-person at the Service Guelph counter at City Hall, 1 Carden Street, Guelph
- Send by regular mail or courier to Guelph City Clerk, 1 Carden Street, Guelph, ON N1H 3A1
Written comments must be received by Friday, July 10, 2026, at 10 a.m. to be included in the Council agenda.
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