City of Toronto proposes new supports to help property owners protect their homes from flooding

Today, Mayor Olivia Chow provided an update on the City of Toronto’s proposed expansion of the Basement Flooding Protection Subsidy Program (BFPSP), one of the City’s key stormwater management initiatives. If approved by the Infrastructure and Environment Committee (IEC) this month and by Toronto City Council in November, the enhanced program will give Toronto property owners more tools to protect their homes from basement flooding.   

Following heavy rainfall events in July and August 2024 that caused basement flooding in more than 1,000 homes, City staff reviewed existing programs and consulted with the public on new incentives to reduce stormwater runoff and basement flooding risks. Based on the consultation feedback and City Council direction, staff are recommending five key changes to the BFPSP including: 

• increasing the maximum subsidy per property from $3,400 to $6,650 

• increasing backwater valve and sump pump subsidy amounts by 28 per cent to reflect inflation and market costs 

• introducing a new Home Plumbing Assessment subsidy to help homeowners identify internal plumbing issues contributing to basement flooding 

• allowing a second backwater valve subsidy for homes with multiple sewer connections 

• adding a $300 subsidy for sump pump battery backup systems including retrofits 

• extending the application period from one to two years after eligible work is completed. 

If approved, these enhancements could take effect as early as Friday, May 1, 2026. 

Established in 2007, the BFPSP provides eligible residential property owners with subsidies to install flood protection measures that help protect against sewer backups and reduce flooding risks during severe storms. To date, the program has received approximately 59,000 applications and the City has issued nearly $86 million in subsidies, with approximately 14 per cent of Toronto’s residential properties participating. 

Quote: 

“Sump pumps and backwater valves might be the last thing on the mind for a family struggling to make ends meet, but a flood in your basement can be devastating. The Enhanced Basement Protection Subsidy Program will get homeowners up to $6,650 so they can afford to protect their homes and their families from the next big storm.”
– Mayor Olivia Chow 

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