FAQs

Although successful, the City's current Green Development Standards (MGDS) do not explicitly address climate change. As buildings emit a large share of the City's greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions, we need to ensure that private new developments take resiliency and GHG emissions into account when they are built. This will help us reach our GHG emission reduction targets in the City's Climate Change Action Plan.

The objective of MGDS 2023 is to develop resilient and energy-efficient building standards and more sustainable site designs.

The City will develop the Mississauga Green Development Standards (MGDS) 2023 for all private developments, such as office, residential, and commercial buildings. 

The MGDS 2023 will not apply to single-family houses and some industrial buildings, as the City does not have planning authority on some developments.

A community engagement process will be included in the project's development. Please sign-up to be notified of future engagement opportunities; check back on this website, or you can post a question about the project here.

The City of Mississauga has green building standards, which apply to buildings it owns and operates. The Corporate Green Building Standard (CGB) represents a comprehensive set of environmental performance requirements. These established the City of Mississauga as a leader in sustainable buildings in Canada and complement existing policies such as the Green Building Standard for New Construction and Major Renovation. Please see the Corporate Green Building Standards Program Manual for more information.

Stormwater management will be considered as part of this project in alignment with the upcoming Stormwater Master Plan titled Build Beautiful. 

The Stormwater Master Plan will outline actions and recommendations for managing rainwater over the immediate and long-term in Mississauga. With this new plan, the City will chart a course toward protecting our businesses and residents and preserving our natural environment by addressing issues facing Mississauga, including flooding and water quality. For questions about this project, please email buildbeautiful@mississauga.ca or visit the project website here.

The Ontario Building Code (OBC) is a regulation that applies to buildings in Ontario with its main objective to ensure life safety, accessibility and functionality. Although there are minimum standards to ensure energy efficiency, the OBC does not regulate those measures that are typically considered "green" standards.

Yes, both Vancouver and Toronto have been leaders and have had successful green standards in place for several years. Toronto, Halton Hills, Whitby, and Ajax are some of the municipalities in Ontario with mandatory standards.

There are many programs that the City has initiated, please see the list with links below:

1. In 2019, the Mississauga City Council approved the City's first comprehensive Climate Change Action Plan, which includes 89 actions to be implemented over the next ten years.
2. Also, in 2019, Mississauga City Council approved the City's Corporate Green Building Standard, a performance requirement that applies to new construction and major renovations at City-owned and operated buildings.
3. The City is exploring the use of district energy systems to help reach our climate goals, including completing a study on the feasibility of district energy in the Downtown.
4. The City has installed 22 electric vehicle chargers for public use in the Downtown and the Streetsville neighbourhood. Find the locations here.
5. The City has also approved changes to its off-street parking regulations in the Zoning By-law to require a minimum number of electric vehicle-ready parking spaces in new developments and redevelopments.
6. In 2022, Council endorsed the region-wide Peel Zero Emission Vehicle Strategy in support of Mississauga's role in implementing the Strategy.
7. In 2022, Council endorsed the City's first Urban Agriculture Strategy. The Strategy has 18 actions designed to help remove barriers and enable urban agriculture in Mississauga.