Development charges & levies — Regional Municipality of Durham, Ontario
What development charges or levies apply to new construction? How much per new home?
In the Regional Municipality of Durham, Ontario, development charges & levies rules are set by Regional Residential and Non-residential Development Charges By-law No. 42-2023 and 2 other bylaws, verified 2026-10-19. Charge per single-detached home: $75,081 per detached/semi unit (July 1, 2026–June 30, 2027, 95% phase-in); $79,033 from July 1, 2027 (by-law schedule, before annual July 1 indexing). Charge per apartment unit: 2+ bedrooms $43,713; 1 bedroom & smaller $26,849 per unit (July 1, 2026–June 30, 2027, 95% phase-in; before annual indexing). Non-residential charge: Commercial $39.41; institutional $20.48; industrial $18.53 per sq ft GFA (July 1, 2026–June 30, 2027, 95% phase-in; before annual indexing).
Regional Residential and Non-residential Development Charges By-law No. 42-2023
adopted bylaw
single detached charge
$75,081 per detached/semi unit (July 1, 2026–June 30, 2027, 95% phase-in); $79,033 from July 1, 2027 (by-law schedule, before annual July 1 indexing)
Schedule "B"
apartment charge
2+ bedrooms $43,713; 1 bedroom & smaller $26,849 per unit (July 1, 2026–June 30, 2027, 95% phase-in; before annual indexing)
Schedule "B"
non residential charge
Commercial $39.41; institutional $20.48; industrial $18.53 per sq ft GFA (July 1, 2026–June 30, 2027, 95% phase-in; before annual indexing)
Schedules "C", "D", "E"
services covered
Water supply, sanitary sewerage, regional roads, long term care, regional police, paramedic services, and waste diversion.
s. 2.10
exemptions
Additional dwelling units, non-profit housing, inclusionary zoning affordable units, agricultural/farm, places of worship, public hospitals, parking, canopies, university land; industrial enlargement and redevelopment reductions.
ss. 2.12, 2.23-2.30
payment timing
Payable in full when building permit is issued (s. 3.1); residential plan of subdivision water/sewer/roads at subdivision agreement, with 50%/50% option (ss. 3.2, 3.4); rental housing and institutional development in five annual instalments from occupancy (s. 3.13).
ss. 3.1, 3.2, 3.4, 3.13
indexing expiry
Adjusted annually on July 1 from 2024 using Statistics Canada Construction Price Statistics catalogue 62-207 (s. 3.16); in force July 1, 2023 (s. 3.20).
ss. 3.16, 3.20
scout note
Region-wide DC by-law (water, sewer, roads, police, paramedics, LTC, waste diversion), effective July 1, 2023; amended by 2024-037 and OLT decision Jan 2025.
Regional Transit Development Charges By-law 39-2022
adopted bylaw
single detached charge
$2,184 per single/semi unit (Regional transit DC only; effective July 1, 2022; indexed annually July 1)
Schedule "B"
apartment charge
2+ bedrooms $1,221; 1 bedroom & smaller $750 per unit (Regional transit DC only; effective July 1, 2022)
Schedule "B"
non residential charge
$0.99 per sq ft GFA (Regional transit DC only; effective July 1, 2022)
Schedule "C"
services covered
Transit: buses/vehicles and equipment, facilities/terminals/lands/buildings, transit stops, system improvements, studies.
Schedule "A"
exemptions
Additional dwelling units (limits), agricultural uses/farm buildings, places of worship, public hospitals, parking, certain structures, university lands; industrial enlargement and redevelopment reductions.
s. 8(2); s. 11(2); s. 12; s. 13
payment timing
Payable in full when building permit is issued; Council may enter agreements for before/after payment; rental/non-profit housing may pay equal annual instalments (5 or 20 years).
s. 14; s. 15; s. 16
indexing expiry
Indexed annually each July 1 from July 1, 2023 per Statistics Canada Construction Price Statistics; expires five years from the date it comes into force; comes into force July 1, 2022, unless repealed earlier.
s. 19; s. 21; s. 23
scout note
Region-wide transit DC by-law, passed June 29, 2022, in force July 1, 2022 to July 2027. July 2022 rates: $2,184 single/semi; $1,720 medium-density multiples; $1,221 apartment 2+ bedrooms; $750 one-bedroom; $0.99/sq ft non-residential; indexed annually. Amended by By-law 44-2023.
Seaton Area-Specific DC By-law 2024-029 (water supply and sanitary sewerage)
adopted bylaw
single detached charge
$24,835 per single/semi unit (Seaton area water + sewer only; July 1, 2026–June 30, 2027, 90% phase-in); full charge $27,595
Schedule "B"; s. 3.18
apartment charge
$11,425 per apartment (Seaton area water + sewer only; July 1, 2026–June 30, 2027, 90% phase-in); full charge $12,693
Schedule "B"; s. 3.18
non residential charge
Institutional: $2.94 per sq ft GFA full charge (Seaton Mixed-Use Area water + sewer only; phase-in reductions apply to 2028)
Schedule "C"
area levy
$454,936 per net hectare full charge (Seaton Prestige Employment Land Area water + sewer only; phase-in reductions apply)
Schedule "E"
services covered
Water supply and sanitary sewerage (watermains, pumping stations, reservoirs, feedermains, water supply plants; sewage pumping stations, forcemains, trunk/sanitary sewers, water pollution control plants).
s. 2.8; Schedule "A"
exemptions
No additional dwelling unit, existing dwelling enlargement, additional units within limits, non-profit housing, inclusionary zoning/affordable units; industrial enlargement; rental housing reductions (75-85%).
s. 2.10; s. 2.20; s. 2.23
payment timing
Payable in full on building permit issuance (s. 3.1); for residential plan of subdivision, immediately upon subdivision agreement (s. 3.2), except high-density/condo blocks per s. 3.1; agreements may defer (s. 3.4); rental housing instalments over five years (s. 3.11).
s. 3.1; s. 3.2; s. 3.4; s. 3.11
indexing expiry
Annual indexing on July 1 starting July 1, 2025 per Statistics Canada Construction Price Statistics catalogue 62-207; no expiry date stated.
s. 3.14; s. 3.20
scout note
Seaton area-specific water supply and sanitary sewerage DCs, passed May 29, 2024, in force July 1, 2024 (replaces 38-2019): $27,595 per single/semi ($12,646 sewer + $14,949 water), $21,801 medium density, $12,693 apartments; indexed each July 1.
By-law 2024-037 amending DC By-law 42-2023
Removes the mandatory 5-year phase-in of DC rates per Bill 185.
Development Charges page
rates page: Durham DC hub with by-laws, July 1, 2026 pamphlets, deferral programs (industrial, rental, hotel, medical clinic).
Region-wide Development Charge Information pamphlet (July 1, 2026)
rates page: as of July 1, 2026. Total of all charges $76,227 single/semi-detached; $60,684 medium-density multiple; $44,320 apartment 2+ bedrooms; $27,224 apartment 1 bedroom or smaller (per pamphlet table, with water/sewer).