Development charges & levies — Waterloo, Ontario

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

In the City of Waterloo, Ontario, development charges & levies rules are set by Community Benefits Charges Bylaw 2022-072 and 2 other bylaws, verified 2026-10-19. Charge per single-detached home: $25,201 per unit ($14,553 general + $10,648 engineered; effective Apr 1 2026). Non-residential charge: General: $1.00/sq ft ($10.73/m2); engineered: $6.78/sq ft ($73.03/m2); total $7.78/sq ft ($83.76/m2); effective Apr 1 2026. Payable: prior to issuance of the first building permit, or in accordance with an alternative arrangement satisfactory to the City.

Community Benefits Charges Bylaw 2022-072 adopted bylaw
services covered capital costs of facilities, services and matters required because of development or redevelopment "capital costs of facilities, services and matters"
exemptions City/local board, Board of Education, Region/local board; long-term care, retirement home, post-secondary, Royal Canadian Legion, hospice, non-profit housing; in-force Section 37 bylaw; in-kind contributions reduce charge s. 2(2)-(4); s. 4(2)(b)
payment timing prior to issuance of the first building permit, or in accordance with an alternative arrangement satisfactory to the City s. 3(1)
scout note

City of Waterloo community benefits charge bylaw 2022-072 (Planning Act s.37), passed and in force September 26, 2022. Charge equals 4% of the value of the land being developed or redeveloped, determined as of the valuation date; each phase of a phased development is charged separately.

Development Charges Bylaw 2026-019 adopted bylaw
single detached charge $25,201 per unit ($14,553 general + $10,648 engineered; effective Apr 1 2026) Schedules B and C; s. 17
apartment charge 3 bedrooms or less: $14,816 per unit ($8,556 general + $6,260 engineered); 4 or more bedrooms: $30,835 per unit ($17,806 general + $13,029 engineered); effective Apr 1 2026 Schedules B and C; s. 17
non residential charge General: $1.00/sq ft ($10.73/m2); engineered: $6.78/sq ft ($73.03/m2); total $7.78/sq ft ($83.76/m2); effective Apr 1 2026 Schedules B and C; s. 17
services covered Library; protective; parks and major indoor recreation; development-related studies; land acquisition; roads; water supply and wastewater; stormwater drainage and control Schedule A
exemptions Temporary uses; accessory buildings; additional residential units; affordable/attainable/non-profit housing; long-term care; existing industrial building enlargements up to 50% s. 3(3)-(9)
payment timing Rental housing and institutional development: equal annual instalments beginning at occupancy and continuing on five anniversaries; other residential: full at occupancy; non-residential: full at building permit; no permit: at approval; s.27 agreements may vary s. 9(2), (5)
indexing expiry Indexed Dec 1 annually by the second quarter Statistics Canada Non-residential Building Construction Price Index for Toronto, commencing Dec 1, 2026 s. 14
scout note

City of Waterloo DC bylaw 2026-019, passed March 23, 2026, in force April 1, 2026 (repeals 2019-064). Singles/semis: $14,553 general services (parks/indoor recreation $11,522, library $1,477) plus $10,648 engineered (roads $5,121, water/wastewater $4,162, stormwater $1,365), about $25,201 total; non-residential $1.00 + $6.78 per sq.ft.

Parkland Dedication Bylaw 2022-073 adopted bylaw
parkland rate Residential ≤100 units/ha: 5% of net land area; residential >100 units/ha: 0.15 ha per 300 units; institutional: 5% of net land area; commercial/industrial: 2% of net land area; Uptown high-density residential (temporary until Dec 31, 2024): 0.10 ha per 300 units, capped at 15% of net land area s. 3.1.1, s. 3.1.2, s. 3.1.4, s. 3.2.1, s. 10.1.1, s. 10.1.2
services covered Park or other public recreational purposes "park or other public recreational purposes" (s. 3.0)
payment timing Prior to issuance of building permit; or per conditions of approval of a plan of subdivision, condominium, or provisional consent s. 8.1, s. 8.2
indexing expiry Temporary reductions and exemptions end at 11:59 p.m. on December 31, 2024; no indexing rule stated in bylaw s. 10.2: "shall end and cease at 11:59 p.m. on December 31, 2024"
scout note

City of Waterloo parkland dedication / cash-in-lieu bylaw 2022-073 (Planning Act s.42/51.1), in force September 26, 2022. Residential up to 100 units/ha conveys 5% of land; denser residential 0.15 ha per 300 units (Uptown 0.10 ha, capped at 15%); institutional 5%; commercial/industrial 2%.

Development Charges (city page)

Explains when DCs apply, 2026 bylaw update, exemptions, treasurer statement; rates are in the by-law schedules.

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