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REGIONAL MUNICIPALITY OF DURHAM
DEVELOPMENT CHARGE INFORMATION
The following pamphlet summarizes the Development Charge Policy of the Regional Municipality of
Durham. The information provided is intended only as a guide. Applicants should review the
approved by-laws and consult with the Regional Works Department to determine the charges that
may apply to specific development proposals.
PURPOSE OF DEVELOPMENT CHARGES
New development generates capital costs which should be financed from this new development.
Development charges are a viable capital funding source to recover the net cost of these capital
expenditures. In arriving at the net cost, allowance is made for provincial and/or federal grants,
where applicable, and other sources of funding as well as the other deductions required by the
Development Charges Act, 1997 (DCA).
BY-LAW No. 42-2023 and 39-2022 DEVELOPMENT CHARGES FOR
THE REGIONAL MUNICIPALITY OF DURHAM
On June 14, 2023, in accordance with the DCA, the Council of the Regional Municipality of Durham
passed By-law No. 42-2023, effective July 1, 2023 for the imposition of uniform DCs against all lands
within the boundaries of the Region that are developed for residential and non-residential uses (with
the exception of the Seaton community for the water and sewer components).
On June 26, 2024, By-law No. 42-2023 was amended (By-law No. 2024-037) to remove the
mandatory 5-year phase in of new DC rates in accordance with Bill 185, 2024.
On January 31, 2025, By-law 42-2023 was amended by the Ontario Land Tribunal to amend the rates
(OLT-23-000888).
The Council of the Regional Municipality of Durham passed By-law No. 39-2022 on June 29, 2022,
effective July 1, 2022, amended on June 14, 2023 (By-law No. 44-2023) which imposes a Regional
Transit residential and non-residential use DC against all lands within the boundaries of the Region.
The Region's development charges are set out in the following schedules and are current as of July
1, 2026. The Region's residential development charges will apply to most new residential buildings
and certain expansions. The Region's commercial, industrial and institutional development charges
will apply for Water Supply, Sanitary Sewerage, Regional Roads and Regional Transit and applies to
most types of new non-residential buildings and certain expansions.
July 1, 2026
Page 1
RESIDENTIAL DEVELOPMENT CHARGES (1)
Current as of July 1, 2026
$ PER DWELLING TYPE
SERVICE CATEGORY
Single and
Semi
Detached
$
Medium
Density
Multiples
$
Apartment Two
Bedrooms and
Larger
$
Apartment
One Bedroom
and Smaller
$
Region-Wide Charges
27,609
21,989
16,074
9,873
2,639
2,079
1,476
907
1,052
838
612
376
590
469
344
211
474
378
277
170
Regional Roads
Regional Transit
Regional Police Services
Long Term Care
Paramedic Services
Waste Diversion
101
80
60
37
Total
32,465
25,833
18,843
11,574
Regional Water Supply &
Sanitary Sewer Charges
22,453
17,881
13,071
8,029
Water Supply (2) (3)
Sanitary Sewerage (2) (3)
21,309
16,970
12,406
7,621
Total of All Charges
$76,227
$60,684
$44,320
$27,224
(1) GO Transit services charges were removed as of January 1, 2026.
(2) These charges are only payable in areas where the services are, or will be, available, or the lands to be
developed are in an area designated for the particular service in the Region's Official Plan.
(3) The water and sewer component of the residential development charge is not applicable to lands
developed within the Seaton Community.
July 1, 2026
Page 2
All Regional development charges will be indexed annually in accordance with the annual change in
the Statistics Canada Building Construction Price Index (BCPI).
COMMERCIAL USE DEVELOPMENT CHARGES
Current as of July 1, 2026 $ PER SQUARE FOOT OF
GROSS FLOOR AREA
SERVICE
$ per square foot
Water Supply (1) (2)
Sanitary Sewerage (1) (2)
Regional Roads
Regional Transit
6.96
11.10
22.40
1.19
Total
$41.65
SERVICE
$ per square foot
Water Supply (1) (2)
Sanitary Sewerage (1) (2)
Regional Roads
Regional Transit
1.93
2.72
17.06
1.19
Total
$22.90
SERVICE
$ per square foot
Water Supply (1) (2)
Sanitary Sewerage (1) (2)
Regional Roads
Regional Transit
4.48
6.36
7.77
1.19
Total
$19.80
Notes:
(1) These charges are only payable in areas, where the services are, or will be, available or the lands
to be developed are in an area designated for the particular service in the Region's Official Plan.
(2) Not applicable to lands developed within the Seaton Community
July 1, 2026
Page 3
INSTITUTIONAL USE DEVELOPMENT CHARGES
Current as of July 1, 2026 $ PER SQUARE FOOT OF
GROSS FLOOR AREA
INDUSTRIAL USE DEVELOPMENT CHARGES
Current as of July 1, 2026 $PER SQUARE FOOT OF
GROSS FLOOR AREA
OVERVIEW
-
By-law No. 86-2001 expired on December 31, 2025
-
OLT-23-000888 became effective on January 31, 2025
-
By-law No. 2024-037 became effective on July 1, 2024
-
By-law No. 42-2023 became effective on July 1, 2023
-
By-law No. 28-2018 expired on July 1, 2023
-
By-law No. 39-2022 became effective on July 1, 2022
-
By-law No. 81-2017 expired on July 1, 2022
-
By-law No. 44-2023 became effective on July 1, 2023
-
the residential charge varies by type of dwelling and Regional services available
-
the commercial, industrial and institutional charge varies by building floor area and Regional
services available
COLLECTION POLICY
Bill 17, Protect Ontario by Building Faster and Smarter Act, 2025 (Bill 17) requires development
charges for non-rental residential development to be collected at the earlier of the issuance of an
occupancy permit or the building's first occupancy. This includes residential DCs that are a part of a
plan of subdivision.
While payment at execution of the subdivision agreement for water, sewer, and roads is no longer
required, developers may choose to prepay for all services at that time to lock in rates, or defer
payment until occupancy, with rates set at building permit issuance.
Rental housing, for-profit retirement homes and hospices developments will continue to pay
development charges in six equal instalments over five years commencing at occupancy. On May
27, 2026, Regional Council approved a motion to introduce an extended development charge
deferral program for purpose-built rental developments, beyond the statutory five-year requirement.
Interest charges will apply after the first five years of deferral. The program will be in place until May
26, 2028.
DCs for non-residential development continue to be collected at building permit issuance. Regional
Council has approved time-limited development charge deferral programs: industrial projects may
pay charges over five years (available until March 31, 2027); eligible hotel projects (60+ rooms) can
defer charges from building permit issuance to occupancy (until July 1, 2027); and eligible medical
clinic developments may defer payment until the earlier of 24 months after permit issuance or
occupancy (until July 1, 2027).
All Regional development charges payable are collected by the area municipality and forwarded to
the Region except early payments made at time of execution of the subdivision agreement, which
are paid directly to the Region.
EXEMPTIONS
Bill 17 (effective June 5, 2025) introduced legislation that exempts long-term care homes from paying
DCs. Bill 23, More Homes Built Faster Act, 2022 (effective November 28, 2022) provides additional
DC exemptions (i.e. non-profit housing, affordable residential units and secondary units) and
discounts for rental housing development. Further, the Region will provide a redevelopment credit for
certain demolitions. Please contact Development Approvals at 905-668-7711 if you have any
questions regarding the payment timing, exemptions and/or demolition credits.
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July 1, 2026
SERVICES INCLUDED
-
Regional Roads, Water Supply and Sanitary Sewerage
-
Regional Transit
-
Regional Police Services
-
Paramedic Services
-
Long Term Care
-
Waste Diversion
STATEMENT OF TREASURER
Each year the Regional Treasurer will document the continuity of each Development Charge
Reserve Fund, inclusive of services covered, draws, interest earnings, development charge
collections, borrowings and landowner credit transactions.
The annual statement by the Treasurer of the Region regarding the Development Charge
Reserve Funds will be available by June 30th of the subsequent year and is available upon
request from the offices of the Regional Clerk at 905-668-7711.
FURTHER INFORMATION
For further information, please contact:
Development Approvals (Works Dep't)
Regional Municipality of Durham
605 Rossland Road East
Whitby, Ontario
L1N 6A3
(905) 668-7711
OR
The Regional Clerk
Regional Municipality of Durham
605 Rossland Road East
Whitby, Ontario
L1N 6A3
(905) 668-7711
The Development Charge By-law No. 42-2023, the Regional Transit Development Charge
By-law No. 39-2022, and subsequent amendment by-laws, the DC Reports No. 2024-F-10
and No. 2022-F-15, and the Regional DC Background Studies are available upon request
from the offices of the Regional Clerk at 905-668-7711 and are also posted on the Regional
website at durham.ca.
July 1, 2026
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