In December 2016, the Province of Ontario introduced legislation that will allow municipalities to enact inclusionary zoning (IZ) as part of a broader plan to increase the stock of affordable housing. This was welcome news for many who have called for inclusionary zoning as part of the solution to Ontario’s affordable housing crisis.

At the same time, the impact of IZ will depend on how it is implemented at the provincial and municipal levels. The legislation, regulations and bylaws must respond to the evidence on what is effective and what is not for generating a significant volume of affordable housing.

Drawing upon US evidence, this paper provides an overview of IZ and the key ingredients to ensure its success in Ontario.