Memorandum - 2024 Development Charges Amendments as per Bill 185 - August 7, 2024
Development Charges
Development charges are fees collected from developers at the time of a building permit to help pay for the cost of infrastructure required to provide municipal services to new development and ease the financial burden on taxpayers to fund new services resulting from growth.
The following services are funded from development charges:
- Fire Protection Services
- Library Services
- Parks and Recreation Services
- Public Works (Facilities & Fleet)
- Services Related to a Highway
- Stormwater Drainage and Control Services
- Wastewater Services
- Water Services
- Growth Studies – Other
Development charges apply to all lands in the City of Cambridge, except lands owned by and used for the purposes of the municipality, school board, hospital or farm related structures.
Development Charges Background Study & By-laws
As per the Development Charges Act, Council has the authority to pass a By-law to impose Development Charges. The Act requires that a Development Charges Background Study be completed.
Development Charges Background Studies, Addendums & Updates
To request a copy of these by-laws please contact developmentfinance@cambridge.ca.
By-law 24-040 Fire Protection Services
By-law 24-099 to amend By-law 24-040 Fire Protection Services
By-law 24-041 Library Services
By-law 24-100 to amend By-law 24-041 Library Services
By-law 24-042 Parks and Recreation Services
By-law 24-101 to amend By-law 24-042 Parks and Recreation Services
By-law 24-043 Public Works (Facilities and Fleet)
By-law 24-102 to amend By-law 24-043 Public Works (Facilities and Fleet)
By-law 24-044 Services Related to a Highway
By-law 24-103 to amend By-law 24-044 Services Related to a Highway
By-law 24-045 Stormwater Drainage and Control Services
By-law 24-104 to amend By-law 24-045 Stormwater Drainage and Control Services
By-law 24-046 Wastewater Services
By-law 24-105 to amend By-law 24-046 Wastewater Services
By-law 24-047 Water Services
By-law 24-106 to amend By-law 24-047 Water Services
In early 2022, the City retained Watson & Associates Economists Ltd. (Watson) to undertake the process of working with staff to complete the latest study. The results of that Development Charges Background Study – December 22, 2023 and the Development Charges By-laws were presented to Council during a public meeting on April 16, 2024 to solicit public input.
Council passed the Development Charges By-laws during the April 30, 2024 Council meeting - Effective June 1, 2024.
As a result of the passing of Bill 185, Watson & Associates Economists Ltd. (Watson) provided the City with a Memorandum on August 7, 2024, amending the Development Charges By-laws. Council passed the amendments during the October 22, 2024 Council meeting - Effective October 23, 2024.
Since the release of the background study on December 22, 2023, the City has undertaken a Parks and Recreation Master Plan which was approved by Council in early 2025. As a result, the City retained Watson & Associates Economists Ltd. (Watson) to undertake a Development Charges Background Study and By-law Update – November 11, 2025 to incorporate the updated service level targets and capital costs into the DC background study as well as amend the DC By-law to align with recent legislative changes, as provided through Bill 17. The Public Meeting for the Parks & Recreation Development Charge By-law Update was held on November 11, 2025 and will be going to Council for approval on March 24, 2026 at 6:30pm. The City will be accepting public comments up to February 16, 2026.
Development Charge Rates
Rates Effective December 1, 2025
| Single / Semi Dwelling ($/unit) | Other Multiples ($/unit) | Apartment 2 or more bedrooms ($/unit) | Apartment bachelor & 1 bedroom ($/unit) | Special care / Special Dwelling ($/unit) | Non-Residential | |
| City of Cambridge | $ 42,450 | $ 28,386 | $ 24,141 | $ 13,111 | $ 12,222 | 9.44 per sq.ft. 101.72 per sq. m. |
| Region of Waterloo | 43,285 | 32,350 | 23,570 | 23,570 | 15,020* | 24.83 Commercial / Institutional per sq. ft. 9.93 Industrial per sq. ft. |
| Waterloo Region District School Board | 3,448 | 3,448 | 3,448 | 3,448 | TBD** | 1.91 per sq. ft. |
| Waterloo Catholic District School Board | 1,739 | 1,739 | 1,739 | 1,739 | TBD** | 0.72 per sq. ft. |
Notes:
Region of Waterloo rate for a 'Lodging Unit
** Waterloo Region School Boards do not have a rate for Special Dwelling Units. These types of developments would be charged in accordance with their respective by-laws.
| Service / Class of Service | Single & Semi-Detached Dwelling - Residential | Other Multiples - Residential | Apartments - 2 or more bedrooms - Residential | Apartments - 1 bedroom or bachelor - Residential | Special Care / Special Dwelling Units - Residential | Non-Residential - per sq. ft. of Gross Floor Area | Non-Residential - per sq. ft. of Gross Floor Area |
| Services Related to a Highway | 16,014 | 10,708 | 9,107 | 4,946 | 4,610 | 5.47 | 58.83 |
| Public Works | 2,675 | 1,789 | 1,521 | 826 | 770 | 0.91 | 9.84 |
| Fire Protection Services | 1,486 | 994 | 845 | 460 | 428 | 0.51 | 5.51 |
| Parks and Recreation Services | 15,571 | 10,412 | 8,855 | 4,808 | 4,483 | 0.62 | 6.68 |
| Library Services | 1,747 | 1,168 | 993 | 539 | 503 | 0.06 | 0.71 |
| Growth Studies - Other | 124 | 83 | 71 | 38 | 36 | 0.04 | 0.47 |
| Total | 37,617 | 25,154 | 21,392 | 11,617 | 10,830 | 7.61 | 82.04 |
Urban Services
| Service / Class of Service | Single & Semi-Detached Dwelling - Residential | Other Multiples - Residential | Apartments - 2 or more bedrooms - Residential | Apartments - 1 bedroom or bachelor - Residential | Special Care / Special Dwelling Units - Residential | Non-Residential - per sq. ft. of Gross Floor Area | Non-Residential - per sq. ft. of Gross Floor Area |
| Stormwater | 281 | 188 | 160 | 87 | 81 | 0.22 | 2.34 |
| Wastewater | 3,471 | 2,321 | 1,974 | 1,073 | 1,000 | 1.23 | 13.24 |
| Water | 1,081 | 723 | 615 | 334 | 311 | 0.38 | 4.10 |
| Total Urban Services | 4,833 | 3,232 | 2,749 | 1,494 | 1,392 | 1.83 | 19.68 |
| Grand Total City Wide Services | 37,617 | 25,154 | 21,392 | 11,617 | 10,830 | 7.61 | 82.04 |
| Grand Total Urban Area Services | 42,450 | 28,386 | 24,141 | 13,111 | 12,222 | 9.44 | 101.72 |
Under sections 26.1 and 26.2 of the Development Charges Act, the City may charge interest on certain types of developments. The City’s Development Charge Interest Policy establishes the rules and procedures for the City’s charging of interest on Development Charges.
The Region of Waterloo issues regional development charges for development in the City of Cambridge. For information about Regional development charges, call 519-575-4421.
School Board Development Charges
For information about school board development charges, contact the following Boards in the Region of Waterloo:
Annual Statement of the Treasurer
The annual statement of the treasurer provides details on the development charge reserve fund activity which includes services covered, development charge collections, interest earned, funding transfers, debt financing and future funding obligations.
To request a copy of the Development Charges Year End Report as of December 31, 2024 please contact developmentfinance@cambridge.ca.
Contact Information:
For further information on development charges at the City of Cambridge, please contact developmentfinance@cambridge.ca.
