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Green Roof Requirements in GDS / By-law

Active Transportation Plan - 29Community Adaptation / Resilience Plan - 23Community Climate Change Action / Environment Funds - 21Community Emissions Reduction/ Mitigation Plan - 27Community Emissions Reductions Progress Report - 18Community EV Strategy - 17Community GHG Reduction Targets - 30Community Retrofit Program - 26Complete Streets Policy - 21Corporate Adaptation / Resilience Plan - 20EV Ready Requirements in GDS / Parking By-law - 12Green Development Policies (GDS)- Community - 17Green Roof Requirements in GDS / By-law - 12Municipal Fleet Electrification Plan - 25Net Zero Municipal Facilities Commitment/Standard - 22Urban Agriculture Plans - 17Urban Forest Plans - 24

Ajax

The Ajax Green Standard includes voluntary criteria for green roofs for both non-residential and mid-to high-density residential proposals. For example, tier 2 requires green roofs to be at least 10% of the total roof surface.
  • Ajax Green Standard for Mid- to High-Density Residential and Non-residential opens in a new tab

Aurora

Aurora's Green Development Standards has a Green Roof metric as part of its points based GDS. For example, Tier 1 - Roof areas are provided with one or a combination of the following covering 30% of available roof space (excludes mechanical): Green Roof, Solar PV or thermal and Cool Roof.
  • Aurora's Green Development Standards opens in a new tab

Brampton

Brampton's Sustainable New Communities Program has a Green Roof metric . For example: 4 points are given if 50% of the rooftop is green; and 6 points are given if 75% of the rooftop is green.

Burlington

In December 2021, City Council approved a recommendation to draft a business case for the preparation of a green roof bylaw and green roof construction standard in 2023. Staff continue to consider how to move this work forward, in view of several provincial policy and legislative changes aimed at increasing housing supply.

King

King Township has a cool/green roof metric within their point based green standard.

Kingston

The City of Kingston does not have gren roof requirements but By-Law No. 8499: Green Roofs and Other Rooftop Elements, states: i. Architectural appurtenances to support green roofs, other rooftop sustainability elements, or rooftop amenity spaces shall be permitted to exceed the maximum allowable building height by up to 3.5 metres.
  • By-Law No. 8499 opens in a new tab

Newmarket

Ottawa

Sustainable roofing is included as a metric in the City’s approved High Performance Development Standard. Providing a green roof is one of three options to achieve compliance.

Pickering

Integrated Sustainable Design Standards, 2022 has Green Roof Requirements. For example, for MURB green roof should cover at least 50% of available roof space, or a combination of a green roof, cool roof and solar PV installed for at least 75%.
  • https://www.pickering.ca/en/living/resources/Appendix-II---ISDS-Checklist-Mid-to-High-Rise-ResNon-Res_ACC2.pdf opens in a new tab

Richmond Hill

Sustainability Metrics Program (SMP) Guidebook has green roof requirements set in metric IB-8. For example, to reduce ambient surface temperatures the following must be provided: Cool roof for 100% of available roof space/ Green roof for 50% of available roof space/ Green roof for 75% of available roof space (depending on the Target Level - Good/Great/Excellent).
  • Richmond Hill Sustainability Metrics Program Guidebook opens in a new tab

Toronto

Toronto's Green Roof Bylaw sets out a graduated green roof requirement for new development or additions that are greater than 2,000 m² in gross floor area. The requirement ranges from 20-60% of the available roof space of a building.
  • Green Roof Bylaw opens in a new tab

Vaughan

Green Roofs Requirements are incorporated in the Sustainability Metrics Program. For example, in MURB: Provide garden space that is equal to 25 square metres (or 250 square feet) of the rooftop or total landscaped site area. On corporate side, the city is also creating a Green Building Policy that will take into consideration green roof requirements for City buildings.

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