Development charges & levies — Whitchurch-Stouffville, Ontario

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

In the Town of Whitchurch-Stouffville, Ontario, development charges & levies rules are set by By-law 2023-146-FI (Consolidated) - Development Charges, Parks and Recreation Services and 4 other bylaws, verified 2026-10-19. Non-residential charge: $1.161 per sq.ft. GFA (parks and recreation service only; effective Jan 1, 2024). Parkland dedication: 2% of lands (commercial/institutional/industrial); 5% of lands (residential); cash-in-lieu equal to value of land otherwise required. Payable: Payable in full on date first building permit is issued; rental/institutional in six installments from occupancy; Town may enter agreement to defer.

By-law 2023-146-FI (Consolidated) - Development Charges, Parks and Recreation Services adopted bylaw
non residential charge $1.161 per sq.ft. GFA (parks and recreation service only; effective Jan 1, 2024) NON-RESIDENTIAL (per sq.ft of Gross Floor Area) 1.161
services covered Parks and Recreation Services s. 2.1(a)
exemptions Additional residential units; rental housing bedroom reductions; affordable/attainable units; industrial enlargement ≤50%; non-residential farm buildings. s. 3.5; "Discounts for Rental Housing"; "Other Exemptions"; s. 3.6.1; s. 3.7(a)
payment timing Payable in full on date first building permit is issued; rental/institutional in six installments from occupancy; Town may enter agreement to defer. s. 3.12; s. 3.13; s. 3.15
indexing expiry Adjusted annually on July 1st in accordance with the prescribed index in the Act. s. 5.1
scout note

One of the DC by-laws 2023-146-FI to 2023-152-FI approved Dec 6, 2023 effective Jan 1, 2024, replacing By-law 2018-165; consolidated version covers parks and recreation.

Community Benefits Charge By-law 2024-086-FI adopted bylaw
services covered Parks and Recreation Services; and Community Benefits Charge Strategies. s. 1.2(c)
exemptions Long-term care, retirement homes, post-secondary, Royal Canadian Legion, hospice, non-profit housing, inclusionary affordable units, affordable/attainable units; developments <5 storeys or <10 units. s. 2.4(b), 2.5
payment timing Prior to issuance of any building permit for the proposed Development or Redevelopment. s. 2.11
scout note

Community Benefits Charge By-law 2024-086-FI passed and effective June 25, 2024 under Planning Act s.37; charge is 4% of the value of the land for eligible developments of 5+ storeys with 10+ residential units.

Development Charges Guide effective July 1, 2026 (York Region, Town, school boards) adopted bylaw
single detached charge $38,646 (no water/sewer) / $41,752 (water only) / $48,081 (water & sewer) per unit (Town of Whitchurch-Stouffville, July 1, 2026); York Region adds $47,644-$84,718; school boards $8,934 YORK REGION / WHITCHURCH-STOUFFVILLE / YORK EDUCATION SCHOOL BOARDS rate tables; 'EFFECTIVE on July 1, 2026'
apartment charge 2+ bedrooms: $25,520 / $27,571 / $31,751; 1-bedroom: $17,483 / $18,888 / $21,751 per unit (Town, no W&S / water only / W&S; July 1, 2026); York Region and school board DCs extra YORK REGION / WHITCHURCH-STOUFFVILLE rate tables; 'EFFECTIVE on July 1, 2026'
non residential charge Commercial/industrial: $7.45 / $9.04 / $12.25 per ft² (Town, no W&S / water only / W&S; July 1, 2026); York Region and school board DCs extra YORK REGION / WHITCHURCH-STOUFFVILLE / YORK EDUCATION SCHOOL BOARDS rate tables; 'EFFECTIVE on July 1, 2026'
exemptions Guide not applicable to developments prepaid or credited under an agreement; unspecified exemptions or credits may reduce charges 'not applicable to developments prepaid or credited under an agreement' / 'unless the development qualifies for an exemption or credit'
payment timing Charges calculated and usually due based on date of Building Permit issuance 'Applicable charges are calculated (and usually due) based on the date of Building Permit issuance'
scout note

rates page: Jul 1, 2026 Town charges per single/semi-detached: $38,646 (no water/sewer), $41,752 (water only), $48,081 (water and sewer); apartments 2+ bed $25,520 to $31,751; commercial/industrial $7.45 to $12.25/ft2. York Region single/semi $47,644 to $84,718.

Development Charges and Costs (Town page, by-laws 2023-146-FI to 2023-152-FI, 2024-137-FI) adopted bylaw
services covered Infrastructure including roads, sewers, water, fire stations, police stations, transit, recreation centres, schools, libraries etc. roads, sewers, water, fire stations, police stations, transit
exemptions Agricultural buildings and residential garages/sheds exempt; redevelopment/conversion credits within 60 months; non-profit housing exempt. Agricultural buildings and residential garages/sheds are exempt from paying DCs.; Redevelopment/conversion within 60 months; Section 4.2 of the Development Charges Act exempts non-profit housing development
payment timing Usually at building permit issuance; subdivision developers may prepay; balance at permit; rental/institutional deferral under s. 26.1. usually collected at the time of building permit issuance; Most residential subdivision developers prepay a large portion; balance is paid at the time of Building Permit issuance; deferral of payment of development charges related to building permits; for rental housing and institutional development
scout note

rates page: lists the DC by-laws, credits, interest policy and the dated DC guides; current guide effective July 1, 2026.

Parkland Dedication By-law 2022-094-FI adopted bylaw
parkland rate 2% of lands (commercial/institutional/industrial); 5% of lands (residential); cash-in-lieu equal to value of land otherwise required s. 4(a)(I)-(II); s. 5(a)
services covered park or public recreational purposes s. 4(a)(II)
exemptions Residential lots/plans pre-Sept 8, 1992; max parkland dedicated; prior 2% commercial/industrial payment; additions <50% GFA (commercial/industrial/institutional); agricultural buildings. s. 7(a)-(e)
payment timing prior to issuance of a building permit s. 5(b)
scout note

Parkland Dedication By-law 2022-094-FI (passed Sept 7, 2022) requires 5% of land for residential and 2% for commercial/industrial/institutional development, normally as cash in lieu paid before building permit; repeals By-law 2002-118-FI.

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