Properly planned growth in our city is good for everyone, but with new development comes costs to accommodate the new development. This usually includes roads, water and sewer infrastructure, community centres and fire protection.

On this page:

  1. How we set development charges
  2. Bill 108
  3. Central neighbourhood rates
  4. Suburban area rates
  5. Other charges
  6. How to pay your fees
  7. Development charge annual statements

How we set development charges

The fees we charge are regulated by Ontario's Development Charges Act, a set of guidelines every municipality in the province must follow.

We conduct a background study on every new development to determine the fees we'll charge. Each study includes:

  • a forecast of the number, type and location of planned housing units, population and non-residential development expected in the city
  • the average capital service levels we've provided over the previous 10 years
  • future capital projects, which includes analyzing gross expenditures, funding sources and net expenditures that we've either incurred or will incur, to support the expected development

For more information, read the 2022 Development Charges Background Study and the 2022 Development Charges Bylaw.

Bill 108

Please see the Bill 108 letter from our building division for information on:

  • deferral of development charges
  • freezing of development charges

Central neighbourhood rates

Open a map of the central neighbourhood areas

Please note that these charges are subject to change. Reference the 2022 bylaw for clarification.

Rates for permits issued before December 1, 2022

Residential

  • single detached or semi-detached dwelling: $16,612 per dwelling unit
  • townhouse or row dwelling: $11,667 per dwelling unit
  • multiple or duplex dwelling: $8,399 per dwelling unit
  • lodging house: $4,719 per dwelling unit

Non-residential

  • $25.08 per square metre of gross floor area of building or $2.33 per square foot
Rates for permits issued after November 30, 2022

Residential

  • single detached or semi-detached dwelling: $14,419 per dwelling unit
  • townhouse or row dwelling: $10,127 per dwelling unit
  • multiple dwelling (condo): $7,290 per dwelling unit
  • lodging house: $4,096 per dwelling unit

Residential rental units - multiple dwelling

  • one bedroom/bachelor: $6,197
  • two bedroom: $5,832
  • three bedroom: $5,468

Non-residential

  • $21.77 per square metre of gross floor area of building or $2.02 per square foot

Suburban rates

Open a map of the suburban area

Please note that these charges are subject to change. Reference the 2022 bylaw for clarification.

Rates for permits issued before December 1, 2022

Full services residential

  • single detached or semi-detached: $24,733 per dwelling unit
  • townhouse or row dwelling: $17,370 per dwelling unit
  • multiple or duplex dwelling: $12,505 per dwelling unit
  • lodging house: $7,027 per lodging unit

Partial services residential (no sanitary sewer services)

  • single detached or semi-detached: $20,403 per dwelling unit
  • townhouse or row dwelling: $14,329 per dwelling unit
  • multiple or duplex dwelling: $10,316 per dwelling unit
  • lodging house: $5,797 per lodging unit

Partial services residential (no sanitary sewer or water services)

  • single detached or semi-detached: $19,977 per dwelling unit
  • townhouse or row dwelling: $14,030 per dwelling unit
  • multiple or duplex dwelling: $10,100 per dwelling unit
  • lodging house: $5,676 per lodging unit

Non-residential development

All non-residential costs are based on the gross floor area of the building.

  • full services: $75.75 per square metre or $7.04 per square foot
  • partial services with no sanitary sewer services: $48.55 per square metre or $4.51 per square foot
  • partial services with no sanitary sewer or water services: $45.87 per square metre or $4.26 per square foot
Rates for permits issued after November 30, 2022

Full services residential

  • single detached/semi-detached/duplex dwelling: $21,468 per dwelling unit
  • townhouse or row dwelling: $15,077 per dwelling unit
  • multiple dwelling (condo): $10,854 per dwelling unit
  • lodging house: $6,099 per lodging unit

Residential rental units - multiple dwelling

  • one bedroom/bachelor: $9,226 per dwelling unit
  • two bedroom: $8,684 per dwelling unit
  • three bedroom: $8,141 per dwelling unit

Partial services residential (no sanitary sewer services)

  • single detached/semi-detached/duplex dwelling: $17,710 per dwelling unit
  • townhouse or row dwelling: $12,438 per dwelling unit
  • multiple dwelling (condo): $8,954 per dwelling unit
  • lodging house: $5,032 per lodging unit

Partial services residential (no sanitary sewer services) rental units - multiple dwelling

  • one bedroom/bachelor: $7,611 per dwelling unit
  • two bedroom: $7,164 per dwelling unit
  • three bedroom: $6,716 per dwelling unit

Partial services residential (no sanitary sewer or water services)

  • single detached/semi-detached/duplex dwelling: $17,340 per dwelling unit
  • townhouse or row dwelling: $12,178 per dwelling unit
  • multiple or duplex dwelling: $8,767 per dwelling unit
  • lodging house: $4,926 per lodging unit

Partial services residential (no sanitary sewer or water services) rental units - multiple dwelling

  • one bedroom/bachelor: $7,452 per dwelling unit
  • two bedroom: $7,014 per dwelling unit
  • three bedroom: $6,575 per dwelling unit

Non-residential development

All non-residential costs are based on the gross floor area of the building.

  • full services: $65.75 per square metre or $6.11 per square foot
  • partial services with no sanitary sewer services: $42.14 per square metre or $3.91 per square foot
  • partial services with no sanitary sewer or water services: $39.82 per square metre or $3.70 per square foot

Other charges

Other local organizations also charge development fees:

How to pay your fees

We collect payment of all development charges, including fees charged by the Region of Waterloo and the school boards, when we issue your building permit.

The rates charged are the rates in effect the day the building permit is issued, unless noted otherwise in the Development Charges Act.

Development charge annual statements

In accordance with the Development Charges Act section 2.1(a), these development charge statements are available for download: