Development Charges

After the public meetings held on April 12, 2023, and the public commenting period (ending May 5, 2023), the final recommendation report regarding the Regional Development Charge (DC) by-law, along with the final recommendation reports regarding the amendments to the Regional Transit Services and GO Transit Services DC By-laws, are now available. 

The recommended DC rates would be phased-in over the next five years with a 20 per cent discount in the first year. Durham’s DC rates are set to increase over the current rates, due in part to the ongoing rise in construction costs. It costs significantly more to build a new road and install watermains than it did five years ago. The Region believes that growth should pay for growth, and that tax and rate payers should not have to see their rates increase because of growth-related costs. Without an increase in DCs to partially recover the costs of new communities built by developers, the costs would have to be paid by existing tax and rate payers in Durham. 

The corresponding DC background studies follow a clearly defined process set out by the province and are governed by strict regulations that leave little room for interpretation. Durham’s studies were undertaken in collaboration with Watson & Associates, a well-known firm specializing in DCs. 

Durham Region is one of Ontario’s fastest growing municipalities. Preparing for this growth requires significant Regional infrastructure investments to ensure new communities have the services they need to thrive. Even with an increase in DCs to meet growth needs, Durham’s average DC rate would remain below the provincial average, as it has historically been. 

The final recommendation reports, provided below, will be considered by Regional Council at a Special Council Meeting on June 14, 2023.

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