Brownfield Remediation Tax Assistance (BRTA)

Brownfield Remediation Tax Assistance (BRTA) is a component of the IMIT Business Incentive Program. The BRTA program encourages investment in sites where contamination has rendered the property vacant, under-utilized, unsafe, unproductive or abandoned.

Remediation of sites and their subsequent development may result in an increase in the assessed  of value of a property The BRTA allows the City of Toronto to cancel all or a portion of the tax increase directly attributed to the increase in assessed value related to the remediation and development to help brownfield property owners offset the remediation costs incurred.

Incentive Duration

BRTA may be provided for either:

  • up to 2 years or until all eligible remediation costs have been compensated through the program (whichever occurs first); or
  • up to 3 years or until all eligible remediation costs have been compensated through the program (whichever occurs first), if the property is also receiving Development Grants. In this case the property will be eligible for combined BRTA and Development Grants for a maximum of 12 years.

In addition, the Province of Ontario, through their Brownfield Tax Incentive Program (BFTIP) may allow for the cancellation of all or a portion of the education property taxes for up to three years as a proportionate match to the City of Toronto BRTA incentive.

Eligibility

To qualify, the property must be remediated and then developed for non-retail employment uses. For a property developed for a combination of eligible and ineligible uses, the portion attributable to the ineligible uses will be determined based on the gross floor area of the ineligible use.

The following criteria must be met:

  • A Phase II Environmental Site Assessment confirming that the property does not meet standards that would permit a Record of Site Condition to be filed with the Ministry of Environment;
  • A brief description of the remediation proposed, including technologies to be used and the expected duration of remediation work;
  • A statement and summary of all costs to be incurred in connection with the remediation;
  • The applicant must meet any further conditions as may be included in the By-law passed pursuant to Section 333(2) of the City of Toronto Act, 2006, if any.

Eligible Costs

  • Environmental studies, (i.e. Phase II Environmental Site Assessment and/or Phase III Environmental Site Assessment/Remedial Workplan);
  • Environmental remediation;
  • Environmental insurance premiums;
  • Demolition or removal of debris relating to remediation;
  • Costs of complying with a Certificate of Property Use.

How the Assistance is Calculated

Assistance in each year is based upon all or a portion of the municipal property tax increase resulting from post-remediation development.

The BRTA will not exceed the municipal tax increment in any given year nor will it exceed the property owner’s eligible remediation costs.