The City of Burlington collects development charges to cover the costs of building infrastructure so that new developments receive municipal services, such as roads, transit, water and sewer infrastructure. If you require a building permit, you may need to pay development charges.
Development charges rates
View the list of development charges effective September 1, 2023 for different types of development projects applicable in Burlington.
We typically index our development charge rates on April 1 of each year.
Development Charges Bylaw
Learn more about how development charges are regulated in Burlington:
- Development Charges Bylaw (Bylaw 029-2019)
- Amendments to the Development Charges Bylaw (Bylaw 026-2022)
- Development Charges Background Study (2019)
- Development Charges Update Study and Bylaw (Jan. 21, 2022)
- Development Charges ByLaw Amendment Report (F-06-22)
Development Charges pamphlets are available at the Office of the City Clerk counter at City Hall. Please email Service Burlington at city@burlington.ca to request an electronic copy.
2024 Development Charges Background Study
Under the Development Charges Act. 1997, the City’s current DC bylaw will expire June 1, 2024 and a new bylaw will come into effect prior to this date.
The new Development Charges background study will be aligned with the Community Benefits Strategy process. Please see the report presented to Corporate Services, Strategy, Risk and Accountability Committee on May 31, 2023:
Timeline
View our draft schedule for the Development Charges Background Study and Community Benefits Strategy and Bylaws:
| Process Steps | Dates |
|---|---|
|
Draft Proposed DC ByLaw and Background Study, and CBC Strategy (Available to the public 60 days prior to the passing of the bylaw) |
January 2024 |
|
Notice of Public Meeting of Council (20 days prior to the public meeting) |
February 2024 |
| CSSRA (Statutory Public Meeting) | March 2024 |
| Council Approval DC Study and CBC Strategy | March 2024 |
| DC & CBC Bylaw in-force | April 1, 2024 |
| Notice of By-Law | April 2024 |
Subscribe to this page for updates to the bylaw.
Development charges studies
View our development charges studies from past years.
| 2021 Amendment |
|
We updated the Development Charges Bylaw to reflect the changes legislated by Ontario’s Bill 108: More Homes, More Choice Act. The updated study and amendment bylaw was presented at a public meeting on March 2, 2022 and approved by Council on March 22, 2022. |
| 2019 development charges study |
| We worked alongside Watson & Associates Economists Ltd. to complete a development charges study from 2018 to 2019. This allowed us to pass the Development Charges Bylaw (By-law 029-2019). |
| 2014 development charges study |
| Our Development Charges Bylaw from 2009 expired on July 1, 2014. We completed a development charges study which allowed us to pass the Development Charges Bylaw in 2014. |
Treasurer's statements
Every year, the Treasurer provides an annual development charges reserve fund statement.
View past years' Treasurer's statements. Contact us to request earlier statements than those listed here.
- 2022 Treasurer's Statement
- 2021 Treasurer's Statement
- 2020 Treasurer's Statement
- 2019 Treasurer's Statement
Historical schedules
Past years' development charges schedules are available on OpenData.
Contact us to request earlier schedules than those listed.