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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*
- Growth Studies – Engineering*
*As per By-laws 24-040, 24-041, 24-042, 24-043, 24-044, 24-045, 24-046 and 24-047, effective June 1, 2024 Growth Studies are no longer eligible as a growth related capital cost.
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 By-laws |
| By-laws 24-040, 24-041, 24-042, 24-043, 24-044, 24-045, 24-046, 24-047 Effective June 1, 2024
By-law 22-025 – Effective April 20, 2022 – May 31, 2024 |
The City’s Development Charge By-law 19-094 was effective July 1, 2019, based on the Development Charges Background Study – March 21, 2019 and Addendum #1 and Addendum #2. It was subsequently amended effective January 19, 2022, based on the Development Charges Update Study – October 29, 2021. It was further amended effective April 20, 2022, based on the Development Charges Background Study Update – February 1, 2022.
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 16th, 2024 to solicit public input.
Council passed the following Development Charges By-laws during the April 30th, 2024 Council meeting - Effective June 1, 2024.
Development Charge Rates
| Development Charge Rates - Effective until May 31, 2024 |
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| Development Charge Rates - Effective June 1, 2024 – November 30, 2024 |
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Please note rates are indexed annually on December 1.
Coming soon - Development Charges Brochure to learn more about development charges and exemptions.
Interest Charges
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 A09 FIN 003 establishes the rules and procedures for the City’s charging of interest on Development Charges.
Regional 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.
- Development Charges Year End Report as of December 31, 2023
- Development Charges Year End Report as of December 31, 2022
- Development Charges Year End Report as of December 31, 2021
- Development Charges Year End Report as of December 31, 2020
- Development Charges Year End Report as of December 31, 2019
- Development Charges Year End Report as of December 31, 2018
- Development Charges Year End Report as of December 31, 2017
- Development Charges Year End Report as of December 31, 2016
- Development Charges Year End Report as of December 31, 2015
- Development Charges Year End Report as of December 31, 2014
For further information of development charges at the City of Cambridge, please contact cfo@cambridge.ca.