The Toronto basement flooding protection subsidy pays 80% of the invoice for eligible work, up to caps that total $6,650 per property. It covers a plumbing assessment, backwater valves, a sump pump, battery backup, and weeping tile severance. You must own a house of one to four units in Toronto. The contractor must hold a City business licence. Apply within two years of the work, on the City of Toronto program page.
This guide was checked against that page on October 29, 2026. Amounts and rules can change, so read the page again before you spend money.
What the subsidy pays for
The City lists five types of work. For each one, it pays 80% of the invoiced cost, up to a cap. The figures below apply to work completed on or after November 12, 2025.
| Eligible work | City pays | Cap |
|---|---|---|
| Home plumbing assessment (one time) | 80% of invoice | $500 |
| Backwater valve and alarm | 80% of invoice | $1,600 per device, up to two devices |
| Sump pump and alarm | 80% of invoice | $2,250, one device |
| Sump pump battery backup | 80% of invoice | $300 |
| Storm sewer or weeping tile severance and capping | 80% of invoice | $400 |
The caps add up to $6,650. You will only reach that total if you do all five types of work and your invoices are large enough. Because the City pays 80%, you carry at least 20% of every invoice, and all of any amount above a cap.
For work finished before November 12, 2025, the older amounts apply. They were $1,250 for one backwater valve, $1,750 for one sump pump and $400 for weeping tile severance. That older work had a one-year application window.
Each property also has a lifetime maximum for each type of work. If a previous owner already claimed a backwater valve, you may not be able to claim another. The City can check the subsidy history of an address if you ask.
What the subsidy does not pay for
The City does not list interior drain systems, exterior excavation and membrane, crack injection, or wall repair. A waterproofing job is therefore a cost the owner pays in full. The subsidy can still lower the cost of a flood plan that includes a pump or a valve.
The City also says that disconnecting downspouts is not eligible for a subsidy. That work is a condition of the program, not a benefit of it. Your downspouts must be disconnected from the City sewer system, or you must hold a City exemption.
Who can apply
The City sets these rules:
- You must be the registered owner of a single-family, duplex, triplex or fourplex home in Toronto.
- Downspouts must be disconnected from the City sewer, or the property must have an exemption.
- Paved front yard areas, such as parking pads, must meet the City’s Zoning By-law.
- You must not owe outstanding taxes or other debts to the City when the application is processed.
- The property must be under its lifetime maximum for each type of work.
Tenants cannot apply unless they are the registered owner. A landlord who owns a building with five or more units is outside the listed property types.
Contractor, permit and invoice rules
Most denied applications fail on paperwork, not on the work itself. The City’s page sets these conditions.
Licences
The contractor and every sub-contractor must hold a valid City of Toronto business licence on the day of the work. The home plumbing assessment must be done by a licensed plumber who completes the City’s assessment form. The City accepts plumbing and drain contractor licence classes for the listed work. Ask the contractor which licence class they hold and check it against the City’s list before you sign.
Permits and inspection
A backwater valve needs a City building permit and an inspection. The valve must stay uncovered until the inspector has seen it. If a crew closes a wall too early, the application can fail. The City’s page does not mention a permit for a sump pump, but it does ask for photos of the pump and the outside discharge pipe.
Invoices
The City asks for an original electronic invoice. It must show the contractor’s name and address, your property address, the completion date, an itemized cost breakdown, and a total marked paid in full. A deposit receipt or a quote is not enough.
How to apply and how long it takes
- Confirm that the property and the downspouts meet the rules above.
- Hire a licensed contractor and get a permit where one is needed.
- Pay the invoice in full and keep the electronic copy.
- Apply on the City’s page within two years of the work.
- Wait. The City says payment can take up to 10 weeks.
The City does not process incomplete applications. It sends denials by email. Subsidies are first-come, first-served and depend on annual funding approved by City Council, so an application does not guarantee a payment. If you plan a large job, ask the City about the funding position before you commit.
Why Toronto offers the subsidy
Heavy rain can overload a sewer and push water back into a basement through the floor drain. A backwater valve stops that flow. A sump pump removes groundwater that collects around the footing. These two devices solve different problems, and a house can need both. Weeping tile that connects to the City sewer is one reason the City pays for severance and capping.
The City says the program started in 2007. It expanded after storms in July and August 2024 flooded more than 1,000 homes. Read the City’s basement flooding page for the latest on sewer work and flood risk by area.
Subsidy work and waterproofing are different jobs
A subsidy job protects the house from sewer backup and from water that already reached the sump. A waterproofing job stops groundwater from entering through the wall, the floor joint or the footing. If water seeps through a wall after rain, with no sewer backup, a valve will not fix it. If the cause is a cracked foundation wall, the repair is a separate job.
Many homeowners combine the two. A contractor may install a sump pump as part of an interior drain system. In that case, ask for the pump to be itemized on its own line. The City needs an itemized breakdown, and the sump pump is the part that may qualify. Confirm with the City before you assume that any line qualifies.
What our boards show for the Toronto area
Our boards rank companies by Google rating and review count. They are data, not endorsements. Check licences, insurance and the City’s licence list yourself.
| Board | Companies ranked | Median rating | Median reviews | Total reviews | Under 20 reviews |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Toronto basement waterproofing | 20 | 5.0 | 81.5 | 3,934 | 1 |
| North York basement waterproofing | 20 | 5.0 | 70.0 | 3,276 | 1 |
| Scarborough basement waterproofing | 20 | 5.0 | 97.5 | 3,577 | 2 |
| Etobicoke basement waterproofing | 20 | 5.0 | 66.0 | 2,703 | 3 |
Each board ranks 20 companies, and the median rating is 5.0 on all four. A high rating therefore does not separate the companies. The review count does a better job. A company with 800 reviews has a longer record than one with 15, though a count is not proof of quality.
Some companies appear on several boards because they serve more than one part of the city. The same names recur at the top of the Toronto, North York, Scarborough and Etobicoke lists. A pump or valve installer who is not a waterproofing company may not appear on these boards at all. Use the foundation repair companies in Toronto board if the problem is a cracked or shifting wall.
How to choose a contractor for subsidy work
- Ask for the City licence number first. If the contractor cannot show it, the City can deny your subsidy.
- Ask who pulls the permit. For a backwater valve, the permit and the inspection are part of the claim.
- Get an itemized quote. Ask for separate lines for the valve, the pump, the battery backup and any other work.
- Ask for the electronic invoice format. It must show the completion date and a paid in full total.
- Compare review counts, not only ratings. Read recent reviews for mentions of permits and inspections.
- Get at least three quotes. Costs vary with the house, the access to the floor drain and the depth of the work. Any price you hear before an inspection is an estimate, not a quote.
If you also see mold after a flood, deal with the water source first. Then see the mold removal companies in Toronto board. For a wider view of the trade, see the basement waterproofing hub.
Before you claim
Keep a folder with the invoice, the permit, the inspection record, the photos and the licence details. Take photos of the work before any wall or floor is closed. Apply as soon as the invoice is paid. The City may change the amounts, the deadline or the funding at any time, so treat this guide as a summary and the City page as the rule.
Frequently asked questions
How much is the Toronto basement flooding protection subsidy?
For work finished on or after November 12, 2025, the City pays 80% of the invoice for each eligible item, up to set caps. The caps add up to $6,650 per property. Funding is first-come, first-served and depends on annual approval by City Council.
Does the subsidy pay for basement waterproofing?
No. The City’s list covers a plumbing assessment, backwater valves, sump pumps, battery backup, and weeping tile severance and capping. It does not list interior drains or exterior waterproofing, so a waterproofing job is paid by the owner.
Can I apply if a contractor without a City licence did the work?
No. The City says the contractor and any sub-contractors must hold a valid City of Toronto business licence when the work is done. Work by unlicensed contractors is denied funding. Ask for the licence before you sign.
How long do I have to apply after the work?
Under the expanded program you have two years from each installation or service. Work finished before November 12, 2025 had a one-year window. Apply early, because funding is first-come, first-served.