The City of Yellowknife includes Land Incentives as one of the key parts of its Development Incentives Program, a set of tax abatements and grants aimed at encouraging development, revitalization, and productive use of land within the city. These incentives help make land development more appealing and affordable for builders, investors, and developers.

Graphic depicting development of land
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Here are a list of the available Land incentives:

  • Development of Vacant Property Abatement

    This is available for new residential, commercial or mixed-use development constructed on a property within the Downtown Zone that has been vacant for more than 5 years.

    This incentive is five years of declining tax abatement.

  • Missing Middle Price Grant

    This helps reduce the purchase price of City land by up to 25% when the buyer agrees to develop townhouses or multi-unit dwellings with a minimum of 5 dwelling units. This grant applies to properties in the Residential Central and Residential Intensification Zones.

    Developments must meet the Missing Middle Housing criteria by being low-rise or mid-rise buildings that fit the character of their neighbourhood.

  • Industrial Relocation Abatement

    This grant encourages the relocation of commercial and industrial uses from specific zones throughout the City to the Engle Business District.

    Sender Land includes Old Airport Road (CS – Commercial Service Zone), Old Town (OT – Old Town Mix Zone), and Kam Lake (KL – Kam Lake Zone).

    Receiver Land includes the Engle Business District (IG – Industrial General Zone).

    Applicants must move existing structures to the Receiver Land or elsewhere in the city.

    This incentive is seven years of declining tax abatement.

  • Environmental Impact Study (EIS) Grant

    This grant supports environmental site assessments for property remediation in the Downtown Zone. Properties can apply for one or both of the following options:

    • A 50% contribution, up to $10,000, for a Phase II Environmental Site Assessment
    • A 50% contribution, up to $10,000, for a Remedial Work Plan or Risk Assessment after the completion of a Phase II Site Assessment

    A property can receive up to $20,000 if both options are applied for.

  • Intensification Servicing Grant

    The Intensification Servicing Grant helps upgrade municipal sewer and water connections for a secondary dwelling being constructed within the primary residence or in a separate structure on the same property.

    This grant covers up to 50% of the cost of service upgrades, with a maximum of $25,000.

  • Development Permit and Building Permit Fee Grant

    This grant is for new residential developments that have received approval for any of the previous incentives. Non-residential developments will not qualify for this grant.

    100% of the Development Permit application fees will be reimbursed, and 100% of the Building Permit application fee will be reimbursed to a maximum of $10,000.