Every spring, GTA homeowners deal with the same situation: water in the basement, a contractor quote that stings, and no idea the City of Toronto will pay for a significant chunk of it.
The Basement Flooding Protection Subsidy Program (BFPSP) has been around for years, but a lot of homeowners have never heard of it. And as of late 2025, the maximum subsidy was expanded from $3,400 to $6,650 per property — a big jump that makes a real difference on the projects that matter most this time of year.
What the program covers
The subsidy applies to four main categories of work:
Backwater valve installation — prevents sewage from backing up into your basement through the floor drain or lower-level toilets. This is the most common qualifying project. The subsidy covers 80% of the cost up to a maximum of $1,250.
Sump pump installation or replacement — a qualifying pump with a battery backup system can now receive an additional $300 subsidy for the backup component, which is new as of the expansion.
Severance of the downspout from the foundation drain — disconnecting your roof downspout from the weeping tile or storm sewer. Covers 80% up to $400.
Plumbing work to correct internal drainage issues — the expansion added a new Home Plumbing Assessment subsidy as well, helping homeowners identify what is actually causing flooding before they commit to a fix.
Homes with multiple sewer connections can now also apply for a second backwater valve subsidy, which was not possible under the old program.
Who qualifies
The program is open to residential property owners in the City of Toronto. That includes detached, semi-detached, townhouses, and low-rise multi-unit residential properties. You need to use a licensed plumber for the work.
Importantly, the expanded subsidy amounts apply to eligible work completed on or after November 12, 2025 — so if you had qualifying work done since then, you may already be eligible to apply retroactively. The application window is now two years from the date the work was completed (up from one year).
Why this matters right now
We have done waterproofing work across the GTA for over 50 years, and April is consistently when we see the most urgent basement flooding calls — frozen ground thawing fast, sudden heavy rain, and drains that have been holding on all winter finally giving up.
The difference between a backwater valve properly installed before a wet spring and one installed after a backup is expensive in ways that go beyond the repair bill — contents, flooring, insurance claims, and in older homes, contamination risk.
If you are already thinking about basement work this spring, this program is worth understanding before you sign a contract. The City’s application process is straightforward, but you need the contractor to be licensed and the work to be permitted. Ask your plumber up front whether the project qualifies.
The bigger picture on basement flooding in Toronto
Toronto has been dealing with aging combined sewer infrastructure in many of the older neighbourhoods — Etobicoke, East York, parts of North York — where storm water and sanitary sewage share the same pipes. When those systems get overwhelmed, the water has to go somewhere. Most of the time, it goes into basements.
The subsidy program is the City’s recognition that individual property owners are being asked to pick up the tab for an infrastructure problem that is, at its root, a public one. Using it is just smart planning.
Have you had work done that might qualify? Or are you trying to figure out whether your project is eligible? Drop your situation in the thread — happy to give a read on whether it sounds like it fits the program. And if you are new here, take a look at our Most Commonly Asked Questions for more on how the forum works.