Development charges & levies — Hamilton, Ontario

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

In the City of Hamilton, Ontario, development charges & levies rules are set by By-law No. 24-072 - Being a By-Law Respecting Development Charges on Lands within the City of Hamilton (office consolidation, June 1, 2026) and 4 other bylaws, verified 2026-10-19. Parkland dedication: Land conveyance (or cash-in-lieu) for parks required under Parkland By-law 22-218; rate not stated on this page. Payable: Payable at building permit issuance; deferral/prepayment agreements available (up to 5 years, extendable 2; hospitals 10; universities 30). Indexing and expiry: Indexed annually by Statistics Canada Building Construction price index (non-residential, Toronto) each June 1; expires ten years after June 1, 2024.

By-law No. 24-072 - Being a By-Law Respecting Development Charges on Lands within the City of Hamilton (office consolidation, June 1, 2026) adopted bylaw
single detached charge $37,863 per unit city-wide services, plus area-specific: wastewater $17,755 (Urban Area A), water $6,856 (Area A), W/WW studies $543, stormwater by sewer area (full rate, unindexed, June 1, 2024) Schedule A; Schedule B-a; Schedule B-b; Schedule C-1-a; Schedule C-1-b; Schedule C-2-a; Schedule D-a; Schedule D-b; Schedule E-a
apartment charge 2+ bedrooms $23,215; bachelor/1 bedroom $14,381 per unit city-wide services, plus area-specific water, wastewater and stormwater charges (full rate, unindexed, June 1, 2024) Schedule A; Schedule B-a; Schedule B-b; Schedule C-1-a; Schedule C-1-b; Schedule C-2-a; Schedule D-a; Schedule D-b; Schedule E-a
non residential charge $18.00 per sq ft of GFA city-wide services, plus area-specific: wastewater $11.28 (Urban Area A), water $4.36 (Area A), W/WW studies $0.35, stormwater (full rate, unindexed, June 1, 2024) Schedule A-b; Schedule B-c; Schedule B-d; Schedule C-1-c; Schedule C-1-d; Schedule C-2-b; Schedule D-c; Schedule D-d; Schedule E-b
services covered Highway, public works, transit, fire, policing, parks/recreation, library, long-term care, child care, public health, ambulance, waste diversion, growth studies, wastewater, water, stormwater, special area. Schedules A through E
exemptions City/Board/local board/CityHousing; industrial enlargement 50% and reductions; agricultural, place of worship, farm labour, non-profit housing, child care; Downtown CIPA; temporary 4%/20% reductions. sections 21-32 and 57
payment timing Payable at building permit issuance; deferral/prepayment agreements available (up to 5 years, extendable 2; hospitals 10; universities 30). s. 37; ss. 39-44
indexing expiry Indexed annually by Statistics Canada Building Construction price index (non-residential, Toronto) each June 1; expires ten years after June 1, 2024. s. 50; s. 60
scout note

City-wide development charges by-law, consolidated June 1, 2026 (convenience copy, not legal version). Rates are set in the annual pamphlet.

Community Benefits Charges (City of Hamilton page, By-law 22-158) adopted bylaw
services covered Public service assets not already covered by Development Charges or Parkland Dedication Fees "A CBC can be collected for any public service asset providing those costs are not already covered by Development Charges or Parkland Dedication Fees"
exemptions Long-term care homes, retirement homes, universities/colleges, Royal Canadian Legion facilities, hospices; 40% reduction in Downtown CIPA; 50% reduction for Residential Facility or Lodging House within existing building envelope "List of CBC mandatory exemptions under Subsection 37(4) of the Planning Act" and "discretionary exemptions are included CBC policy and By-law"
payment timing One-time fee paid at building permit issuance, based on 4% of land value the day before the building permit is issued "The CBC is paid as a one-time fee by the property developer or builder based on a rate of 4% of land value the day before the building permit is issued"
scout note

CBC by-law 22-158 passed 2022-06-22, amended 2025-01-23; applies to buildings of 5+ storeys and 10+ units; paid at 4% of land value the day before building permit issue. By-law text itself not opened (page only).

Development Charges Pamphlet, rates effective June 1, 2026 to May 31, 2027 adopted bylaw
single detached charge City DC (Single/Semi-Detached, June 1 2026–May 31 2027): Rural Area $44,415/unit; Combined Sewer Urban Area A $89,729/unit; Separated Sewer Urban Area A $102,451/unit; Separated Sewer Urban Area B $81,302/unit. Education DCs additional: $3,579/unit. "Residential DC Rates" table, p. 3; "rates effective June 1, 2026 to May 31, 2027"
apartment charge 2+ Bedroom Apartment/Stacked Townhouse/Mobile Home: Rural $27,225; Combined Urban A $55,006; Separated Urban A $62,806; Separated Urban B $49,841 per unit. 1 Bedroom/Bachelor Apartment/Stacked Townhouse/Mobile Home: Rural $16,875; Combined Urban A $34,087; Separated Urban A $38,919; Separated Urban B $30,887 per unit. Education DCs additional: $3,579/unit (June 1 2026–May 31 2027). "Residential DC Rates" table, p. 3; "rates effective June 1, 2026 to May 31, 2027"
non residential charge Non-Industrial: Rural $21.08/sq ft; Combined Urban A $39.85/sq ft; Separated Urban A $46.88/sq ft; Separated Urban B $33.42/sq ft. Industrial: Rural $15.39/sq ft; Combined Urban A $29.09/sq ft; Separated Urban A $34.23/sq ft; Separated Urban B $24.40/sq ft. Industrial Manufacturing/Production Studio/Artist Studio: Rural $13.28/sq ft; Combined Urban A $25.13/sq ft; Separated Urban A $29.56/sq ft; Separated Urban B $21.08/sq ft. Education DCs additional: $1.40/sq ft (June 1–30 2026); $1.57/sq ft (July 1 2026–May 31 2027) (June 1 2026–May 31 2027). "Non-Residential DC Rates" table, p. 4; "rates effective June 1, 2026 to May 31, 2027"
services covered Roads, water and wastewater systems, emergency services, parks and recreation, library, long-term care, public health, police, fire, ambulance, transit, waste diversion, growth studies "roads, water and wastewater systems and emergency services", p. 1; Figure 6 "DC Service Component Breakdown", pp. 11–13
exemptions 20% partial (Sept 1 2025–Aug 31 2027); 4% partial (Jun 1 2026–May 31 2027); 100% non-profit housing; 100% up to two additional dwelling units ancillary to detached/semi/rowhouse; 100% long-term care homes; 30% Downtown CIPA residential; 15–25% rental housing by bedroom count "Residential DC Exemptions", p. 3
payment timing Education DCs prior to building permit issuance. City DCs: rental housing and institutional — 6 yearly payments starting at occupancy; non-rental housing residential — one full payment at occupancy; non-residential and non-institutional — one full payment at building permit issuance. Delay permitted for ERASE Redevelopment Grant Program projects, non-residential developments, and condo developments. "Payment of DCs", p. 1
indexing expiry Applicable DC rate increases on June 1 of each year; Special Area Charges not adjusted each year; By-law No. 24-072. "increases on June 1 of each year", p. 2; note (e) "This charge is not adjusted each year", p. 13; "DC By-law, 24-072", p. 1
scout note

2026-27 rates: Rural Area $44,415 per single/semi-detached; $33,150 per townhouse/other multiple; $27,225 per 2+ bedroom apartment; $16,875 per 1-bedroom/bachelor apartment. Rates rise each June 1; rental and institutional pay in 6 yearly instalments, non-rental residential at occupancy, non-residential at permit.

Development Charges, Community Benefits Charges and Parkland page: Development Charges adopted bylaw
services covered roads, transit, water and sewer infrastructure, fire and police services roads, transit, water and sewer infrastructure, fire and police services
payment timing At building permit issuance; rental/institutional developments: 6 equal annual payments commencing at occupancy when a building permit is issued; 6 equal annual payments commencing at occupancy
indexing expiry Annual DC fee adjustments allows for annual DC fee adjustments
scout note

City DC page listing by-law 24-072, annual pamphlets, background study, deferral program and instalment rules for rental/institutional.

Parkland Dedication Fees (City of Hamilton page, Parkland By-law 22-218) adopted bylaw
parkland rate Land conveyance (or cash-in-lieu) for parks required under Parkland By-law 22-218; rate not stated on this page requires the conveyance of land for park or other public recreational purposes
services covered park or other public recreational purposes for park or other public recreational purposes
scout note

City page on Parkland By-law 22-218 requiring land conveyance or cash-in-lieu as a condition of development, redevelopment or subdivision. By-law text not opened (page only).

Development charges hub page

Hub for DC, CBC and parkland pages.

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