The City of Toronto has doubled the financial support it offers through the Basement Flooding Protection Subsidy Program.

The revised program follows severe rainfall events in 2024 that led to basement flooding in more than 1,000 homes. Eligible residential property owners can now access an increase to the maximum subsidy per property from up to $3,400 to a maximum of $6,650 which includes:

• • a 28 per cent increase to backwater valve and sump pump subsidy amounts to reflect inflation and market costs;
  • a new Home Plumbing Assessment subsidy to help identify internal plumbing issues that contribute to basement flooding;
  • eligibility for a second backwater valve subsidy for homes with multiple sewer connections;
  • a $300 subsidy for sump pump battery backup systems including retrofits; and
  • an extension of the application period from one to two years after eligible work is completed.

Since the program was established in 2007, it has received approximately 59,000 applications. The City has issued about $86 million in subsidies, with nearly 14 per cent of Toronto’s eligible property owners participating.