The Town of Fort Smith has developed two initiatives that aim to incentivize the development of multi-family housing within Municipal Boundaries through the support of the Housing Accelerator Fund (HAF), a program facilitated by the Canadian Mortgage and Housing Corporation (CMHC).
Initiative 1
Multi-Family Housing Construction
The Multi-Family Housing Construction Incentive aims to provide incentives for eligible property owners and developers to encourage them to develop incremental residential housing units through per-unit contributions on eligible building projects.
The 3-Year Property Tax Exemption initiative aims to accelerate housing growth by incentivizing new builds and accessory units through a structured, declining municipal tax exemption.
The Single Detached Home Incentive Program aims to encourage the development of new single detached homes through the Housing Accelerator Fund (HAF). This initiative aims to stimulate construction, support energy-efficient design, and ensure timely housing delivery.
All 3 initiatives are open to individuals, developers and organizations interested in increasing the housing stock in the Town of Fort Smith.
Housing projects vary by incentive. For Initiative 1, the Multi-Family Housing Incentive Program, duplexes, semi-detached housing, basement or garden suites are supported. For Initiative 3, the Single Detached Home Incentive Program, only single detached homes will be eligible.
If you are developing a property to increase the amount of units, you can apply on Initiative 1 or 3, depending on how many units the property may have, and also Initiative 2 to engage in our Property Tax Exemption Program.
Each Initiatives varies slightly, like for Initiative 3, the Single Detached Home Incentive Program, occupant must be achieved by December 31st, 2028.
For Initiative 1, the Multi-Family Housing Construction Incentive Program, occupancy must be achieved 24 months after the project begins with no projects funded past 2029.
Yes. However, each project must be submitted individually and meet the program’s evaluation criteria. Priority may be given to shovel-ready projects or those addressing urgent housing needs.
Yes. Projects must comply with the Town’s development bylaws, zoning regulations, and building code standards. Energy efficiency and sustainability features may strengthen your proposal.
