| Service | Charge per dwelling unit |
| Highways | $13,102 |
| Long-term care | $1,645 |
| Transit | $650 |
| Police | $394 |
| Ambulance | $352 |
| Public Works facilities and fleet | $380 |
| Waste diversion | $232 |
| Growth studies | $110 |
| Provincial offences | $0 |
| Public health | $0 |
| Housing | $0 |
| Sub-total | $16,865 |
| Wastewater (if available) | $9,925 |
| Water (if available) | $5,339 |
| Total | $32,129 |
Development charges
Development charges are one-time fees collected from developers when a building permit is issued for new construction or redevelopment. They help pay for the infrastructure — roads, water, wastewater, emergency services and more — that new growth requires.
The goal is to make sure growth pays for itself, rather than passing those costs on to existing taxpayers or utility ratepayers.
Your project may be subject to development charges if you're:
- Erecting a new building
- Adding to or altering an existing building that increases gross floor area or number of units
- Redeveloping a property that results in a change of use
When are they charged?
Development charges are due when your first building permit is issued.
A permit will not be issued until all charges have been paid, unless your project qualifies for annual instalments.
Who collects them?
Regional development charges are collected by your local municipality on the Region's behalf, alongside their own development charges. Each municipality sets its own rates and exemptions separately.
Services that development charges help fund
Infrastructure
- Roads and highways
- Water
- Wastewater
Emergency and community
- Police services
- Ambulance services
- Public health
- Long-term care
Growth and planning
- Transit services
- Waste diversion
- Growth studies
- Provincial offences
Current fees
Effective Jan. 1 to Dec. 31, 2026
2026 fees were adjusted by 4.21 per cent based on the Statistics Canada construction price index (Toronto series, Q3 2025). Under By-law 2022-71, any permit issued on or after Jan. 1, 2026 is subject to these indexed rates.
Water and wastewater charges apply only where those services are available.
Calculate your development charges
Estimate charges for residential units, commercial square footage and water / wastewater hook-ups.
Residential
Charges are per dwelling unit
Single / semi-detached: $32,129
Two or more bedroom apartments: $21,841
| Service | Charge per dwelling unit |
| Highways | $8,906 |
| Long-term care | $1,119 |
| Transit | $441 |
| Police | $268 |
| Ambulance | $240 |
| Public Works facilities and fleet | $257 |
| Waste diversion | $159 |
| Growth studies | $75 |
| Provincial offences | $0 |
| Public health | $0 |
| Housing | $0 |
| Sub-total | $11,465 |
| Wastewater (if available) | $6,747 |
| Water (if available) | $3,629 |
| Total | $21,841 |
One bedroom apartment: $13,315
| Service | Charge per dwelling unit |
| Highways | $5,429 |
| Long-term care | $682 |
| Transit | $269 |
| Police | $163 |
| Ambulance | $145 |
| Public Works facilities and fleet | $158 |
| Waste diversion | $97 |
| Growth studies | $46 |
| Provincial offences | $0 |
| Public health | $0 |
| Housing | $0 |
| Sub-total | $6,989 |
| Wastewater (if available) | $4,114 |
| Water (if available) | $2,212 |
| Total | $13,315 |
| Service | Charge per dwelling unit |
| Highways | $9,362 |
| Long-term care | $1,175 |
| Transit | $464 |
| Police | $281 |
| Ambulance | $252 |
| Public Works facilities and fleet | $271 |
| Waste diversion | $168 |
| Growth studies | $79 |
| Provincial offences | $0 |
| Public health | $0 |
| Housing | $0 |
| Sub-total | $12,052 |
| Wastewater (if available) | $7,090 |
| Water (if available) | $3,816 |
| Total | $22,958 |
Special care dwellings: $12,068
| Service | Charge per dwelling unit |
| Highways | $4,921 |
| Long-term care | $618 |
| Transit | $464 |
| Police | $147 |
| Ambulance | $133 |
| Public Works facilities and fleet | $142 |
| Waste diversion | $88 |
| Growth studies | $42 |
| Provincial offences | $0 |
| Public health | $0 |
| Housing | $0 |
| Sub-total | $6,335 |
| Wastewater (if available) | $3,728 |
| Water (if available) | $2,005 |
| Total | $12,068 |
Non-residential
Charges are per square foot or unit (wind turbines)
| Service | Charge per square foot |
| Highways | $8.99 |
| Long-term care | $0.79 |
| Transit | $0.66 |
| Police | $0.36 |
| Ambulance | $0.19 |
| Public Works facilities and fleet | $0.34 |
| Waste diversion | $0.05 |
| Growth studies | $0.07 |
| Provincial offences | $0 |
| Public health | $0 |
| Housing | $0 |
| Sub-total | $11.45 |
| Wastewater (if available) | $6.95 |
| Water (if available) | $3.91 |
| Total | $22.31 |
| Service | Charge per square foot |
| Highways | $2.96 |
| Long-term care | $0.27 |
| Transit | $0.21 |
| Police | $0.11 |
| Ambulance | $0.05 |
| Public Works facilities and fleet | $0.11 |
| Waste diversion | $0.01 |
| Growth studies | $0.02 |
| Provincial offences | $0 |
| Public health | $0 |
| Housing | $0 |
| Sub-total | $3.74 |
| Wastewater (if available) | $2.93 |
| Water (if available) | $1.64 |
| Total | $8.31 |
| Service | Charge per square foot |
| Highways | $6.73 |
| Long-term care | $0.51 |
| Transit | $0.40 |
| Police | $0.28 |
| Ambulance | $0.10 |
| Public Works facilities and fleet | $0.28 |
| Waste diversion | $0.03 |
| Growth studies | $0.05 |
| Provincial offences | $0 |
| Public health | $0 |
| Housing | $0 |
| Sub-total | $8.38 |
| Wastewater (if available) | $5.13 |
| Water (if available) | $2.88 |
| Total | $16.39 |
| Service | Charge per unit |
| Highways | $13,102 |
| Long-term care | $0 |
| Transit | $0 |
| Police | $394 |
| Ambulance | $352 |
| Public Works facilities and fleet | $380 |
| Waste diversion | $0 |
| Growth studies | $110 |
| Provincial offences | $0 |
| Public health | $0 |
| Housing | $0 |
| Sub-total | $14,338 |
| Wastewater (if available) | $0 |
| Water (if available) | $0 |
| Total | $14,388 |
Rate information and history
Regional development charge rates are calculated based on several factors under the Development Charges Act:
- The types, locations and amount of projected growth over a 10-year period
- The infrastructure and services required to service that growth
- The estimated cost of those services
- The portion of costs assigned to new growth versus existing residents
- The relative impact of each type of growth (residential, commercial, industrial)
Residential development is charged per dwelling unit based on unit type. Non-residential development is charged per square foot of gross floor area. Mixed-use developments are charged by floor area component.
Rates are adjusted annually on Jan. 1 using Statistics Canada's quarterly construction price index for non-residential buildings (Toronto series).
By-law and supporting documents
The Development Charges By-law is the official governing document for all fee calculations, charges and exemptions.
- Development Charges By-law 2022-71
Primary Regional by-law for development charges - Development Charges By-law 2022-94 - Transit Services
Transit-specific development charges
Supporting documents
These documents explain how the current fees were determined under the 2022 by-law, including the projected growth, infrastructure needs and policy decisions that justify the fee amounts.
- 2022 Development Charges Background Study
Technical report projecting growth and calculating infrastructure needs - 2022 Development Charges Policy Report
Policy decisions on services, exemptions and fee structure
Development charges pamphlets
Quick-reference summaries of fees by year, useful for permit applications made in those periods.
- Development charges pamphlet - January to Aug. 31, 2022
- Development charges pamphlet - Sept. 1 to Dec. 31, 2022
Treasurer's Statements
Annual reports accounting for how development charge funds were collected and spent, as required by the Development Charges Act.
How to pay
Regional development charges must be paid before a building permit is issued, unless your project qualifies for annual instalments.
Step 1
Consult your local building official
Contact your city or town to apply for a building permit. Regional development charges are one component of your total building permit fee.
Step 2
Complete and submit required forms
Your local building official will provide all necessary forms and information needed before you can proceed.
Step 3
Review costs and pay fees
Your local official will provide a cost breakdown including local development charges, Regional development charges and permit fees.
Annual instalment option
Under section 26.1 of the Development Charges Act, certain developments can pay in annual instalments rather than as a lump sum.
Before a building permit is issued, the person responsible for paying must get confirmation that an instalment acknowledgement letter has been received. The city or town forwards a copy to Niagara Region. For an acknowledgement letter template, contact Development Charges.
Once occupancy occurs or an occupancy permit is issued, you must notify your city or town and Niagara Region in writing within five business days. Niagara Region will then provide an instalment schedule. Acknowledgement of the schedule and first payment are due within 15 days.
Default fee: Any instalment payment default is subject to a Regional administration fee of $550.
Early payment option
If the payment is to be made before prescribed instalment due dates, you must notify Niagara Region and complete an early payment agreement form.
You may pay the full development charges, plus any accrued interest, at any time before your scheduled instalment dates.
Eligible rental housing must contain four or more dwelling units, all intended for use as rented residential premises (not non-profit housing).
Payment schedule:
- Six equal instalments
- First instalment due at occupancy or issuance of occupancy permit (whichever comes first)
- Following five instalments due on annual anniversaries of the first payment
- Five per cent interest rate applies (annual, non-compounding)
Eligible institutional developments include long-term care homes, retirement homes, post-secondary institutions receiving provincial operating funding, Royal Canadian Legion branches, and hospices providing end-of-life care.
Payment schedule:
- Six equal instalments
- First instalment due at occupancy or issuance of occupancy permit (whichever comes first)
- Following five instalments due on annual anniversaries of the first payment
- Five per cent interest rate applies (annual, non-compounding)
Grants and incentives
Some developments may qualify to have Regional development charges reduced, waived or deferred. Learn about our grants and incentives, and what programs may apply to your project.