Canada

What is the maximum amount that CMHC can insure in total?

Regulatory cap
Total insured limit
R.S.C., 1985
Statute year
c. N-11
Act chapter
s. 78
Section number
The Short Answer

CMHC’s total insured amounts outstanding cannot exceed the limit set by regulation under the National Housing Act.

What the Law Says

The National Housing Act sets a statutory ceiling on how much CMHC can have insured at any given time.

Section 78 of the National Housing Act states that CMHC’s total outstanding insured amounts must stay within a regulatory limit. This limit is not fixed in the Act itself but is instead established by regulation — meaning it can be adjusted by the federal government as needed to manage risk and housing market stability.

This provision ensures CMHC maintains financial resilience and avoids overexposure to mortgage default risk across Canada’s housing market.

Statutory Text

The total of insured amounts outstanding shall not exceed the limit set by regulation.

— National Housing Act, s. 78 — Mortgage default insurance limit

What to Do

1

Monitor official CMHC and Government of Canada announcements for updates to the regulatory insurance limit.

2

Consult a licensed mortgage professional or financial advisor when planning large insured mortgage portfolios.

3

Review CMHC’s annual reports and Department of Finance regulatory notices for current exposure thresholds.

Sources

statuteNational Housing Act, s. 78 — Mortgage default insurance limit

Not legal advice. This article is general information based on publicly available sources, written for educational purposes. Laws change and individual situations vary. Consult a licensed attorney in your jurisdiction before acting on anything you read here. Last reviewed: 2026-06-08.