If you’ve been putting off basement waterproofing because of the cost, May 2026 is worth paying attention to. The City of Toronto expanded its Basement Flooding Protection Subsidy Program as of May 1, raising the maximum payout from $3,400 to $6,650 per property.
The part most homeowners are missing: the expanded amounts apply retroactively to eligible work completed on or after November 12, 2025. If you had a backwater valve or sump pump installed over the winter, you may already qualify for the higher rate.
This is a direct subsidy to registered property owners, not a contractor incentive.
Who can apply
The program covers owners of low-rise residential properties within Toronto city limits — single-family homes, duplexes, triplexes, and fourplexes. Condos and commercial properties aren’t eligible.
The property has to be within the City of Toronto’s jurisdiction specifically. Mississauga, Brampton, and Markham are GTA municipalities but each runs its own separate program.
What the subsidy covers
The City reimburses up to 80% of the invoiced cost, up to per-device caps:
- Backwater valves and sump pumps: up to $1,600 per device, maximum two devices. Install both and you can claim up to $3,200 on those two items.
- Other eligible devices (window well covers, storm overflow valves, similar): up to $2,250 for one device.
- A home plumbing assessment by a licensed plumber before any work: up to $500.
Total maximum across everything: $6,650.
The assessment is worth doing regardless. It gives you documented evidence of the pre-work condition, which matters if you ever need to make a claim.
Permit and inspection requirements
This is where applications fall apart. For backwater valve installations, you need a City permit and a City inspection. Work done without a permit isn’t eligible, full stop.
The permit is normally pulled by your licensed plumber, not by you. Before work starts, ask directly: “Is this job going to be permitted and inspected?” Don’t assume.
Sump pump installations usually don’t need a permit the same way, but confirm that with your contractor for your specific setup.
The City also checks that your downspouts are disconnected from the municipal sewer. If they’re not, you need an exemption on file before your application goes through.
Picking a contractor
The subsidy requires a licensed plumber for the permit-eligible work. Some homeowners have run into trouble hiring a general contractor who subcontracts the actual plumbing without disclosing it, which can complicate the permit records and make the invoice harder to match against the subsidy application.
Get a written quote that breaks out the permit fee separately from labour and materials. That itemization matters when you submit your claim — the City is reimbursing the installation cost, not the permit filing fee itself.
Check that whoever you hire is licensed with the Ontario College of Trades and carries liability insurance. That’s standard due diligence anyway, but for permitted work where the City is reviewing the records, it’s worth verifying before you commit.
How to apply
Applications go through the City’s online portal at toronto.ca. You’ll submit proof of ownership, contractor invoices, permit and inspection records for any backwater valve work, and sometimes before/after photos.
The May 2026 update extended the application window from one year to two years after the work was completed. If you installed a backwater valve in late 2024 and never got around to applying, it’s worth checking whether your work date still qualifies.
Questions: [email protected] or 416-338-7668.
Timing
Spring is high-risk season for basement flooding in the GTA, which means every waterproofing contractor in the city is fielding calls right now. If your basement isn’t actively flooding but you’ve been planning the work, scheduling for early summer tends to mean better availability and no real delay on the subsidy — the two-year application window gives you time.
Compare notes with other homeowners
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