Development charges & levies — Regional Municipality of Waterloo, Ontario

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

In the Regional Municipality of Waterloo, Ontario, development charges & levies rules are set by By-law 19-037, A By-law to Establish Development Charges for The Regional Municipality of Waterloo and to Repeal By-law 14-046 and 1 other bylaw, verified 2026-10-19. Charge per single-detached home: Single/Semi Detached: $28,056 per unit (City); $25,630 per unit (Township), effective August 1, 2019. Charge per apartment unit: Apartment Dwelling: $15,278 per unit (City); $13,957 per unit (Township), effective August 1, 2019. Non-residential charge: $16.07 (City) / $14.17 (Township) per sq ft GFA, full services, effective August 1, 2019 (indexed each Dec 1).

By-law 19-037, A By-law to Establish Development Charges for The Regional Municipality of Waterloo and to Repeal By-law 14-046 adopted bylaw
single detached charge Single/Semi Detached: $28,056 per unit (City); $25,630 per unit (Township), effective August 1, 2019 Schedule A, Part I
apartment charge Apartment Dwelling: $15,278 per unit (City); $13,957 per unit (Township), effective August 1, 2019 Schedule A, Part I
non residential charge $16.07 (City) / $14.17 (Township) per sq ft GFA, full services, effective August 1, 2019 (indexed each Dec 1) Schedule A, Part II
services covered General Government, Police Service, Paramedic Services, Airport, Operations, Transportation, Waste Management, Transit Services (Cities only), Library Services (Townships only), Water Supply Schedule A footnote; Schedule A, Part I
exemptions Municipal/conservation/education/Crown; additional residential units; home occupation; farming; accessory buildings; industrial expansion ≤50%; hospitals; brownfields; office third-floor 50% reduction; industrial 60% reduction; Cambridge Core Area s. 3(4); s. 4(10)-(12)
payment timing Calculated at rate in effect at building permit issuance; paid in full prior to issuance; if multiple permits for one building, payable on first permit s. 5; s. 12(1)-(2)
indexing expiry Charges adjusted December 1 each year, commencing December 1, 2019, per s. 7 of Regulation; in force August 1, 2019 s. 6; s. 19
scout note

Region of Waterloo DC by-law passed June 26, 2019, in force Aug 1, 2019 (repeals 14-046), expires July 31, 2029; indexed each Dec 1. Original 2019 rates: $28,056 single/semi full services in a City, $25,630 in a Township (indexed to $43,285/$39,542 as of Dec 1, 2025).

Regional Development Charges brochure, rates effective December 1, 2025 adopted bylaw
single detached charge City: $43,285/unit; Township: $39,542/unit (full services, effective December 1, 2025) "Total full services" row, Residential Development Charges table (Effective December 1, 2025)
apartment charge City: $23,570/unit; Township: $21,533/unit (full services, effective December 1, 2025); large/small variants not distinguished "Total full services" row, Residential Development Charges table (Effective December 1, 2025)
non residential charge City: $24.83/sq ft; Township: $21.85/sq ft gross floor area (full services, effective December 1, 2025) "Total full services" row, Non-residential Development Charges table (Effective December 1, 2025)
services covered General Government, Police, Paramedic, Airport, Operations, Transit (Cities), Library (Townships), Waste Management, Transportation, Water Supply, Wastewater "Growth-related projects in the following service categories are included"
exemptions Industrial buildings: 60% discount; office >20,000 sq ft (3rd floor+) in urban growth centres: 50% discount on non-residential rate "eligible for a 60% discount to the Non-Residential Rate" / "eligible for a 50% discount to the Non-Residential Rate"
payment timing At Building Permit issuance; paid through area municipal offices "application procedures for Building Permit issuance"
indexing expiry Indexed annually per Section 6 of the By-law; By-law 19-037 expires July 31, 2029 "indexed annually in accordance with Section 6 of the By-law" / "expires July 31, 2029"
scout note

rates page: effective 2025-12-01. Total full services $43,285 per single/semi in a City, $39,542 in a Township; $32,350 townhouse (City); $23,570 apartment (City); non-residential $24.83 (City) / $21.85 (Township) per unit of area as shown.

Regional Development Charges page

Region page listing by-law 19-037, annual rate brochures, interest policy, background studies and adequacy reports; says rates index 3.9% Dec 1 2025.

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