The Simcoe County Secondary Suite Grant —
Up to $50,000 Toward Your Garden Suite

As of 2026, the County of Simcoe’s Secondary Suites Program offers a forgivable loan of up to $50,000 toward creating a secondary or garden suite on an eligible property, plus up to $5,000 for permanent accessibility modifications. The loan is forgiven over a set period (commonly 15 years) as long as you keep the unit and meet the program’s affordability conditions. Some municipalities layer additional incentives on top — in Barrie and Collingwood, combined local funding can reach roughly $40,000 to $65,000. Always confirm the current amounts with the County, as program figures are updated periodically.

You generally must own a residential property in Simcoe County, be a Canadian citizen, permanent resident, or refugee, and have your property taxes and mortgage in good standing with full-replacement-value insurance. The new garden or secondary suite must comply with all municipal zoning and Ontario Building Code requirements, and — this is the key condition — the unit typically must be rented at an affordable rate to an eligible household for a set period in exchange for the funding. Applicants cannot be in bankruptcy. Exact criteria are set by the County and can change, so confirm before you count on it.

Both qualify. The program funds the creation of a secondary or garden suite, which includes a detached backyard garden suite as well as an in-house secondary suite such as a basement apartment. For rural Simcoe County properties on well and septic, a detached garden suite is often the better fit — but the suite must be permitted and compliant either way to be eligible. A feasibility report confirms your lot can support a compliant suite before you apply.

Applications go through the County of Simcoe’s Affordable Housing department, with intake accepted year-round. Funding is limited and provided on a first-come, first-served basis to eligible applicants, so applying early matters. You’ll need proof of ownership, evidence your taxes and mortgage are current, insurance details, and a plan for a compliant suite. We can point you to the current application requirements and confirm your project is eligible as part of your feasibility report.

Yes, in most cases. The County forgivable loan is designed to reduce your out-of-pocket cost, and homeowners commonly combine it with a HELOC, a construction loan, or the federal CMHC Secondary Suite refinancing program, which lets owner-occupied properties refinance up to 90% of the post-renovation value. Stacking the County grant with municipal incentives and a financing product is how many Simcoe County owners make a garden suite cash-flow from year one. See our financing guide for the full picture, and confirm details with a mortgage professional.