Development charges & levies — Cambridge, Ontario

What development charges or levies apply to new construction? How much per new home?

In the City of Cambridge, Ontario, development charges & levies rules are set by By-law 24-040, Development Charges (Fire Protection Services) and 8 other bylaws, verified 2026-10-28. Charge per single-detached home: $14,707 per single/semi-detached dwelling (services related to a highway only, By-law 24-044; in force June 1, 2024). Charge per apartment unit: Apartments 2+ bed $8,364; bachelor/1 bed $4,542 per unit (services related to a highway only, By-law 24-044). Non-residential charge: $5.02 per sq.ft. ($54.03 per sq.m) of GFA (services related to a highway only, By-law 24-044).

By-law 24-040, Development Charges (Fire Protection Services) adopted bylaw
services covered Fire s. 4.1
exemptions Municipal/boards, hospitals, additional dwelling units, industrial enlargement ≤50%, contaminated sites, temporary uses, heritage sites, farm buildings, home-based businesses, non-profit, affordable/attainable housing, rental housing discount. ss. 3.2–3.15
payment timing Payable upon first building permit; rental housing and institutional developments in six equal annual payments commencing on date of occupancy; agreements may provide earlier/later payment. s. 12.1; s. 12.2; s. 12.4
indexing expiry Adjusted annually on December 1st in each year, commencing December 1, 2024, in accordance with the index prescribed in the Act. s. 10
scout note

City of Cambridge DC by-law 24-040 (Fire Protection Services), passed April 30, 2024, effective June 1, 2024; amended Oct 2024 (24-099 to 24-106) for Bill 185. Imposes charge per dwelling type and per sq ft non-residential; see rates page for current indexed amounts.

Development Charges By-law 24-041 - Library Services adopted bylaw
services covered Library s. 4.1
exemptions Additional residential units; industrial enlargement ≤50%; non-profit, affordable/attainable housing; rental housing discounts per Act. s. 3.4; s. 3.6; 'Non-profit housing is exempt'; s. 3.14; 'subject to reductions, if any, in accordance with the Act'
payment timing Payable on first building permit; rental/institutional in six equal annual payments from occupancy; agreements may alter timing. s. 12.1; s. 12.2; s. 12.4
indexing expiry Adjusted annually on December 1st, commencing December 1, 2024, per Act index. s. 10
scout note

City of Cambridge DC by-law 24-041 (Library Services), passed April 30, 2024, effective June 1, 2024; amended Oct 2024 (24-099 to 24-106) for Bill 185. Imposes charge per dwelling type and per sq ft non-residential; see rates page for current indexed amounts.

Development Charges By-law 24-042 - Parks and Recreation Services adopted bylaw
services covered Parks & Recreation s. 4.1
exemptions Additional residential units; non-profit, affordable, attainable housing; farm buildings; temporary uses; designated heritage; industrial enlargement ≤50%; contaminated-site credit; rental housing discount. ss. 3.4, 3.6, 3.8–3.15
payment timing Payable upon first building permit; rental/institutional due in six equal annual payments commencing at occupancy, including interest; earlier/later agreements allowed. s. 12.1; s. 12.2; s. 12.4
indexing expiry Adjusted annually on December 1, commencing December 1, 2024, per Act index. s. 10
scout note

City of Cambridge DC by-law 24-042 (Parks and Recreation Services), passed April 30, 2024, effective June 1, 2024; amended Oct 2024 (24-099 to 24-106) for Bill 185. Imposes charge per dwelling type and per sq ft non-residential; see rates page for current indexed amounts.

Development Charges By-law 24-043 - Public Works (Facilities and Fleet) adopted bylaw
services covered Public Works (Facilities and Fleet) title; s. 4.1
exemptions Additional residential units; industrial enlargement ≤50%; contaminated sites; farm buildings; non-profit, affordable and attainable housing; designated heritage sites; temporary uses; municipal/board/hospital lands. ss. 3.2-3.4, 3.6, 3.8-3.14
payment timing First building permit; rental/institutional in six equal annual payments from occupancy ss. 12.1-12.2
indexing expiry Adjusted annually on December 1st, commencing December 1, 2024, per Act index s. 10
scout note

City of Cambridge DC by-law 24-043 (Public Works (Facilities and Fleet)), passed April 30, 2024, effective June 1, 2024; amended Oct 2024 (24-099 to 24-106) for Bill 185. Imposes charge per dwelling type and per sq ft non-residential; see rates page for current indexed amounts.

Development Charges By-law 24-044 - Services Related to a Highway adopted bylaw
single detached charge $14,707 per single/semi-detached dwelling (services related to a highway only, By-law 24-044; in force June 1, 2024) Schedule "A"; s. 18
apartment charge Apartments 2+ bed $8,364; bachelor/1 bed $4,542 per unit (services related to a highway only, By-law 24-044) Schedule "A"
non residential charge $5.02 per sq.ft. ($54.03 per sq.m) of GFA (services related to a highway only, By-law 24-044) Schedule "A"
services covered Services Related to a Highway s. 4.1
exemptions Additional residential units, industrial enlargement 50% or less, non-profit, affordable/attainable housing, farm buildings, temporary uses, designated sites, contaminated sites, hospitals, municipal/board lands, rental housing discount s. 3.2-3.15
payment timing Payable on first building permit; subdivision agreement charges immediately on agreement; rental/institutional in six equal annual payments from occupancy; earlier/later payment agreements allowed s. 12.1-12.5
indexing expiry Adjusted annually on December 1st, commencing December 1, 2024, per Act index; in force June 1, 2024 s. 10; s. 18
scout note

City of Cambridge DC by-law 24-044 (Services Related to a Highway), passed April 30, 2024, effective June 1, 2024; amended Oct 2024 (24-099 to 24-106) for Bill 185. Imposes charge per dwelling type and per sq ft non-residential; see rates page for current indexed amounts.

Development Charges By-law 24-045 - Stormwater Drainage and Control Services adopted bylaw
services covered Stormwater drainage and control services s. 4.1
exemptions Municipal/board lands, hospitals, additional dwelling units, industrial enlargement, contaminated sites, temporary uses, heritage sites, farm buildings, home-based businesses, non-profit, affordable/attainable housing; rental housing reductions ss. 3.2–3.15
payment timing Payable on first building permit; subdivision agreement immediately upon agreement for single/semi lots; rental/institutional six equal annual payments from occupancy; earlier/later payment agreements allowed ss. 12.1–12.5
indexing expiry Adjusted annually on December 1st, commencing December 1, 2024, in accordance with the Act's index s. 10
scout note

City of Cambridge DC by-law 24-045 (Stormwater Drainage and Control Services), passed April 30, 2024, effective June 1, 2024; amended Oct 2024 (24-099 to 24-106) for Bill 185. Imposes charge per dwelling type and per sq ft non-residential; see rates page for current indexed amounts.

Development Charges By-law 24-046 - Wastewater Services adopted bylaw
single detached charge $3,188 per single/semi-detached dwelling (wastewater service only, By-law 24-046; in force June 1, 2024) Schedule "A"
apartment charge Apartments 2+ bed $1,813; bachelor/1 bed $985 per unit (wastewater service only, By-law 24-046) Schedule "A"
non residential charge $1.13 per sq.ft. ($12.16 per sq.m) of GFA (wastewater service only, By-law 24-046) Schedule "A"
services covered Wastewater s. 4.1
exemptions Additional residential units; affordable, attainable, non-profit housing; industrial enlargement ≤50%; farm buildings; temporary uses; designated/contaminated sites; rental housing discounts; municipal/board/hospital lands ss. 3.2, 3.3, 3.4, 3.6, 3.8, 3.9, 3.10, 3.12, 3.14, 3.15, 3.16
payment timing Payable on first building permit; subdivision/consent agreement immediately upon entering; rental/institutional six equal annual payments from occupancy; site plan/zoning rates at application; earlier/later payment agreements ss. 12.1–12.5
indexing expiry Adjusted annually on December 1st, commencing December 1, 2024, per index prescribed in the Act s. 10
scout note

City of Cambridge DC by-law 24-046 (Wastewater Services), passed April 30, 2024, effective June 1, 2024; amended Oct 2024 (24-099 to 24-106) for Bill 185. Imposes charge per dwelling type and per sq ft non-residential; see rates page for current indexed amounts.

Development Charges By-law 24-047 - Water Services adopted bylaw
services covered Water s. 4.1
exemptions Additional residential units; farm buildings; non-profit, affordable and attainable housing; rental housing discount; industrial enlargement ≤50%; contaminated sites; temporary uses; designated heritage sites. ss. 3.4, 3.6, 3.8–3.15
payment timing Payable upon first building permit; subdivision/consent agreement immediately for single/semi; rental/institutional six equal annual payments from occupancy; earlier/later payment agreements allowed. ss. 12.1–12.5
indexing expiry Adjusted annually on December 1st commencing December 1, 2024 in accordance with the Act. s. 10
scout note

City of Cambridge DC by-law 24-047 (Water Services), passed April 30, 2024, effective June 1, 2024; amended Oct 2024 (24-099 to 24-106) for Bill 185. Imposes charge per dwelling type and per sq ft non-residential; see rates page for current indexed amounts.

Development Charges webpage and rates (effective Dec 1, 2025) adopted bylaw
single detached charge $42,450 per unit (effective Dec 1, 2025) — City of Cambridge; Grand Total Urban Area Services "Rates Effective December 1, 2025" — City of Cambridge row, "Grand Total Urban Area Services"
apartment charge Apartment 2 or more bedrooms: $24,141/unit; Apartment bachelor & 1 bedroom: $13,111/unit; Special Care/Special Dwelling: $12,222/unit (effective Dec 1, 2025) — City of Cambridge "Rates Effective December 1, 2025" — City of Cambridge row, apartment columns
non residential charge $9.44 per sq. ft. / $101.72 per sq. m. of Gross Floor Area (effective Dec 1, 2025) — City of Cambridge, Urban Area total "Rates Effective December 1, 2025" — City of Cambridge row, Non-Residential column; "Grand Total Urban Area Services"
services covered Fire Protection, Library, Parks and Recreation, Public Works (Facilities & Fleet), Highway services, Stormwater, Wastewater, Water, Growth Studies "The following services are funded from development charges"
exemptions Lands owned by and used for municipality, school board, hospital, or farm related structures are exempt "except lands owned by and used for the purposes of the municipality, school board, hospital or farm related structures"
payment timing Collected at the time of a building permit; interest may apply under sections 26.1 and 26.2 of the Development Charges Act per City's Development Charge Interest Policy "fees collected from developers at the time of a building permit"; "sections 26.1 and 26.2 of the Development Charges Act"
scout note

rates page: effective 2025-12-01: City of Cambridge $42,450 per single/semi; $28,386 other multiples; $24,141 apartment 2+ bedrooms; $13,111 bachelor/1-bedroom; $9.44/sq ft non-residential. Lists all DC by-laws, amendments (Bill 185) and a pending Parks and Recreation DC update (Bill 17) not yet adopted.

Machine-readable: development-charges.json · Official website: http://www.cambridge.ca/ · Last verified 2026-10-28 · Development charges & levies across Ontario · Development charges & levies in other municipalities