Whitby Green Standard

The Whitby Green Standard is a planning tool used to help guide sustainable new development in Whitby.

The goal of the Whitby Green Standard is to increase the uptake of sustainability measures for new development in the community. This will help new developments improve environmental, social, and economic performance, increase community resiliency, and support the reduction in greenhouse gas emissions to mitigate the effects of climate change.

The Whitby Green Standard Checklist helps developers understand Whitby’s sustainability goals and identify opportunities to incorporate higher-performance design features into new projects.

Version 2 of the Whitby Green Standard is organized into three tiers:

• Tier 1: Encouraged sustainability practices for all new development. These criteria represent best practices the Town recommends every project strive to meet.
• Tier 2 and Tier 3: High-performance tiers that outline more ambitious sustainability measures. Developers who achieve these higher tiers may be eligible for Town incentives that reward leadership in sustainable, resilient, and energy-efficient design.

By following the Whitby Green Standard, developers can better navigate municipal sustainability expectations, and contribute to building healthier, more climate-ready communities across Whitby.

Version 2 of the Whitby Green Standard is not mandatory, however all developers are strongly encouraged to complete Tier 1 as a minimum best-practice level, participation in any tier of the Standard is voluntary.

Version 2 is designed as an incentive-based program. Developers who choose to go beyond Tier 1 and achieve Tier 2 or Tier 3 performance levels may qualify for municipal incentives that recognize and reward leadership in sustainable, resilient development.

No. Version 2 of the Whitby Green Standard is incentive-based and voluntary, meaning it is not expected to delay the current development review process. The Standard is designed to make it easier—not harder—for developers to navigate sustainability expectations by providing a clear, streamlined set of best practices and optional higher-performance measures.

Because there are no mandatory requirements, participating in Tier 1, Tier 2, or Tier 3 is entirely voluntary. Developers who choose to pursue higher tiers may access Town incentives, but those who do not participate will continue through the existing development process without additional steps or delays.

The Whitby Green Standard is designed to evolve as industry practices, technology, and municipal sustainability goals advance. Performance measures will be reviewed and updated on a regular multi-year cycle, with the goal of gradually increasing expectations for new development in alignment with the Town’s long-term climate and energy targets.

Future updates may include elevating higher-performance measures into lower tiers or introducing new practices as they become more common in the development industry. The long-term objective is to support continuous improvement toward low-carbon, high-performance buildings, consistent with the Town’s greenhouse gas (GHG) reduction commitments.

Exact timelines and tier transitions will be confirmed through future updates to the Whitby Green Standard and Council approval processes.