City Council Updating Development Charges Bylaw

Brockville – Last week a Public Meeting was held for input on the City’s Development Charges Bylaw. That current bylaw is expiring and this process is required under the Ontario Development Charges (DC) Act the city says.

Also, as part of the process, the City commissioned a required Development Charges Background Study. The study generates a calculation of what the maximum Development Charge on new residential or commercial construction can be.

The City says that the result from this study has produced a calculation significantly higher than the current Development Charges, which on a single or semi-detached house is $5,395 – among the lowest in the province.

“Development Charges provide the City an additional source of funding towards the component of major capital projects that is due to growth. Having Development Charges as a funding source avoids placing the full burden on the existing tax base,” said Mayor Matt Wren “It’s a study, not a recommendation. Council makes the final decision.”

The next steps will include a consultation with the development and construction sector, and then staff will provide Council with a recommendation on what our DCs should be under a new DC Bylaw which will cover the next ten years.

“It’s important to note that the final decision rests with City Council. We’ll be trying to strike the balance between unduly burdening new home purchasers and the impact on taxpayers,” said Mayor Wren. “I think it’s safe to say, Council members likely want to avoid negatively impacting the tremendous growth the City is currently experiencing, having just had the highest number of new housing starts in 2024 since 1985. More homes, more residents and more ratepayers is good for everyone.”

Here is a link to the report which includes the background study.