Development Charges
On April 10, 2024 the Province released Bill 185, Cutting Red Tape to Build More Homes Act, 2024, which if passed as drafted, will make changes to the Development Charges Act, 1997 as follows:
- Repeal the mandatory five-year phase-in of DC rates;
- Reinstate studies as an eligible capital cost;
- Streamlined process for extending DC By-laws; and
- Reduced time limit on the DC freeze (from 2 years to 18 months).
To implement these changes, Bill 185 permits a unique six-month window for municipalities to undertake any minor amendments to the DC By-laws impacted by Bill 185 in a streamlined approach, eliminating the requirements for the statutory public process (i.e., no requirement for a public meeting or the completion of a background study and the amending by-law cannot be appealed to the Ontario Land Tribunal).
To prepare for these upcoming changes, staff will present a report to the Finance and Administration Committee on May 14, 2024. The report will outline recommended amendments to remove the phase-in schedules in the Regional Residential and Non-Residential Development Charges (DC) By-law #42-2023 in order to implement the full calculated rates, which will then be reviewed by Regional Council on May 29, 2024. However, the amending By-law will be presented to Regional Council for passage once Bill 185 is in effect. The full calculated rates would come into effect five business days after Council approves the amending By-law.
Since a public meeting is not required for minor amendments under the streamlined process, delegations can only be made at the Finance and Administration Committee meeting on May 14, 2024. If you wish to make a delegation before the Finance and Administration Committee, please submit your request in writing to delegations@durham.ca by noon on Monday, May 13, 2024. Members of the public who register in advance of the meeting will be provided with the details to delegate electronically. Please note that this meeting will be held in a hybrid meeting format with electronic and in-person participation. Members of the public can also view the meeting via live streaming at www.durham.video as an alternative to attending the meeting in person.
Regional development charges are collected from new developments. These charges pay for growth-related infrastructure, including:
- Roads
- Water treatment
- Sewage treatment
Charges are indexed annually on July 1.
Development charge form and application processing system
You can complete and submit the Development Charges Application form online, and track your forms through the application process.
Development charges resources
Public Notices |
Contact Us