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 April 1, 2025 for different types of development projects applicable in Burlington.
We 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 Amendment (By-law 68-2024)
- Development Charges Bylaw (By-law 41-2024)
- Development Charges Background Study (2024)
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 Update Study
Staff has updated the Development Charges Bylaw to reflect the changes legislated by Ontario’s Bill 185: Cutting Red Tape to Build More Homes Act, 2024. The updated study and amending bylaw was presented at a public meeting on Nov. 4, 2024 and approved by Council on Nov. 19, 2024.
Please email Service Burlington at city@burlington.ca if you have any comments or questions about the update study.
2024 Development Charges Background Study
Staff presented the Development Charges (DC) Background Study to Council for approval on May 21, 2024. In addition to the approved Background Study and By-law 041-2024, additional staff reports are now available below:
- Development Charges and Community Benefits Strategy Process Report (F-21-23)
- Development Charges and Community Benefits Strategy draft Growth Assumptions (F-25-23)
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. |
| 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.
- 2023 Treasurer's Statement
- 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.