$170,321 in 2025 property tax relief goes to Council Nov. 9, and how to apply if your home was damaged

Council gets $170,321 in 2025 property tax relief Nov. 9. $98,016 is for Devonshire Mall renovations; homeowners get $1,065. Fire or renos left your place unusable 3+ months? You can apply for your 2026 taxes until end of Feb.

Topics: Money and taxesCouncil and City Hall

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Windsor City Council will be asked on Monday, Nov. 9 to approve $170,321 in property tax cancellations, reductions and refunds for 2025. Most of it goes to commercial property, and the decision is coming after the legal deadline.

Where the money goes

Staff recommend $170,321 in total relief for the 2025 tax year. Of that, $139,160 is the City's share and $31,161 is charged back to the province as the education portion.

Devonshire Mall: $98,016, for repairs and renovations of retail units for new tenants and for moving some existing tenants.

285 Giles Blvd. E.: $25,875, a 30 per cent reduction for the whole year, for renovating the former Greenshield building into residential units.

Homeowners: $1,065 in total, for two houses, both damaged by fire.

The rest of the commercial relief is for fire damage and demolitions. All commercial relief together is $169,256.

Seven applications to be denied

Staff recommend denying seven applications covering four properties, including requests on 285 Giles Blvd. E. to change its tax class before residential occupancy is granted, two applications on 200 Morton Dr. about land staff say was not actually severed until 2026, and a request to make leased units at 1011 Ouellette Ave. tax-exempt, which the Municipal Property Assessment Corporation (MPAC) denied for insufficient evidence.

Past the deadline

The Municipal Act requires Council to decide these applications by Sept. 30 of the year after the tax year. Staff brought an early report in July because of the election and say the rest are coming after the deadline. Affected applicants were told they can appeal to the Assessment Review Board on the basis of "no decision", and can keep or withdraw that appeal once Council decides.

What it means for you

Under section 357 of the Municipal Act, any owner can apply to the City to cancel, reduce or refund property taxes for a year if, for example:

a building was razed or damaged by fire or demolition so it could not be used as before

the property could not be used normally for at least three months because of repairs or renovations

the property became tax-exempt, or

there was a clerical or typing error on the bill.

You can apply any time during the tax year, or until the last day of February of the next year. For 2026 taxes, that means by the end of February 2027. Staff may inspect the property, and you need documents showing the dates and the damage or work. Applicants are invited to speak to Council when their file comes up, and can appeal Council's decision to the Assessment Review Board within 35 days.

Council meets Monday, Nov. 9, 2026 at 10 a.m. at City Hall.