Development charges & levies — Essex County, Ontario

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

In the County of Essex County, Ontario, development charges & levies rules are set by County of Essex By-law 2026-02, Development Charges By-law and 1 other bylaw, verified 2026-10-19. Services covered: Library Services; Ambulance Services; Waste Diversion; Development-Related Studies; Land Acquisition; Services Related to a Highway.

County of Essex By-law 2026-02, Development Charges By-law adopted bylaw
single detached charge $0 per unit (Feb 4, 2026–Dec 31, 2027); $2,147 per unit (Jan 1–Dec 31, 2028); $4,295 per unit (Jan 1–Dec 31, 2029); $6,442 per unit (Jan 1–Dec 31, 2030); $8,589 per unit (from Jan 1, 2031) Schedule B1–B5
apartment charge $0 per unit (Feb 4, 2026–Dec 31, 2027); $1,142 per unit (Jan 1–Dec 31, 2028); $2,285 per unit (Jan 1–Dec 31, 2029); $3,427 per unit (Jan 1–Dec 31, 2030); $4,569 per unit (from Jan 1, 2031) Schedule B1–B5
non residential charge $0.00 per m² (Feb 4, 2026–Dec 31, 2027); $7.85 per m² (Jan 1–Dec 31, 2028); $15.71 per m² (Jan 1–Dec 31, 2029); $23.56 per m² (Jan 1–Dec 31, 2030); $31.41 per m² (from Jan 1, 2031) Schedule B1–B5
services covered Library Services; Ambulance Services; Waste Diversion; Development-Related Studies; Land Acquisition; Services Related to a Highway Schedule A
exemptions County/local board/Board of Education lands; hospitals, places of worship/cemeteries, colleges/universities, farm buildings, affordable/attainable/non-profit housing, institutional uses, temporary buildings; existing dwelling enlargement, intensification/additional units, rental reductions, industrial enlargement s. 3(2); s. 12; s. 13
payment timing Payable in full from effective date; calculated/payable on first building permit; residential in full on earlier of occupancy permit or first occupation; County may agree to earlier/later payment s. 10(1)-(4)
indexing expiry Adjusted annually on Jan 1 beginning Jan 1, 2028 based on most recent one-year change in Statistics Canada Quarterly, Non-Residential Construction Price Index; expires ten years after Feb 4, 2026 s. 9(1)-(2); s. 18(2)-(3)
scout note

County-wide DCs for library, ambulance, waste diversion, studies, land acquisition, highways; passed Feb 4, 2026. Phased in by percentage (e.g. 25% step: $39 library, $92 ambulance per single/semi).

County of Essex Development Charges Pamphlet (By-law 2026-02) adopted bylaw
services covered Library Services; Ambulance Services; Waste Diversion; Development-Related Studies; Land Acquisition; Services Related to a Highway SERVICES INCLUDED
exemptions Additional residential units (max 3 on lot); rental housing discounts 15–25%; industrial enlargement up to 50%; long-term care, hospitals, places of worship, colleges/universities, farm buildings, affordable/attainable/non-profit housing, institutional uses EXEMPTIONS & DISCOUNTS
payment timing Rental housing and institutional development: equal annual installments with interest, 6 installments commencing at occupancy and each anniversary thereafter. Other residential: full on earlier of occupancy-authorizing building permit or first occupation. All other development: first building permit; agreements may vary timing. TIMING OF PAYMENT
indexing expiry Indexed annually on January 1st, beginning January 1, 2028, per Statistics Canada Construction Price Statistics (catalogue 62-007). INDEXING OF DEVELOPMENT CHARGES
scout note

Rates page: charges as of February 4, 2026; indexed annually from Jan 1, 2028; residential non-rental payable at building permit/occupancy; rental in 6 annual installments. Rate table is an image in the PDF.

Development Charges Initiative (County of Essex)

County page with notice of passing, by-law, pamphlet and background study.

Machine-readable: development-charges.json · Official website: https://www.countyofessex.ca/en/index.aspx · Last verified 2026-10-19 · Development charges & levies across Ontario · Development charges & levies in other municipalities