Changes are on the way
In November 2023, the provincial government passed several pieces of legislation to help build more homes faster across all municipalities in the province. For more information about this legislation, visit the provincial website: local government housing initiatives.
In response to this new legislation, the City is currently reviewing our development funding approach including significant changes to development cost charges and introducing amenity cost charges. Updates will be provided on this page as it becomes available.
Ensuring infrastructure and amenities are available for future generations as the City continues to grow
Development cost charges
The City's development cost charges (DCCs) help offset the cost of providing new infrastructure related to development. For example, they help build sewers, water mains, drainage, pedestrian bridges and roads. Plus they enable the City to acquire land to develop parks and to improve parks.
DCCs are a one-time charge and levied during:
- the subdivision stage
- the building permit stage
The City will also collect DCCs on new developments in Metro Vancouver on behalf of Translink to help fund the construction or expansion of regional transportation projects by TransLink. For more information, visit the TransLink website. This is in addition to the funding for constructing or expanding regional water, sewer, and drainage projects by Metro Vancouver.
Amenity cost charges
The new provincial housing legislation introduced a new amenity cost charges (ACC) financial tool to help pay for new amenities in our community. ACCs will help build amenities related to growth such as recreational and community centres, senior and youth centres, and childcare facilities.
ACCs are a one-time charge and levied during:
- the subdivision stage
- the building permit stage
More information will be provided on ACCs as it becomes available.
Upcoming changes
As a result of the provincial legislative changes, City intends to implement the following in mid-2024:
- Rezoning bylaw amendments to meet zoning requirements for small scale multi-unit housing and transit-oriented areas as directed by the Housing Statutes (Residential Development) Amendment Act and Housing Statutes (Transit-Oriented Areas) Amendment Act
- Changes to the City’s existing development funding strategy through:
- Major amendment to the City’s DCC program through City bylaw and approval by the Inspector of Municipalities
- Implementation of a new ACC program through City bylaw
For more information: February 26 Council report
Rates
The proposed rates below were presented to City Council on February 26, 2024. An information session regarding these proposed rates will be held with targeted interested parties. Once the rates receive final adoption from Council later this year, the final rates will be posted here.
Rates to be updated to reflect changes per Council direction at the February 26 Council meeting.
| Proposed DCC and ACC Rates (updated March 12, 2024) | |||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Transportation | Water | Drainage | Sanitary Sewer | Parks | Fire Facilities | Total Proposed DCC | Proposed ACC | Total Proposed DCC + ACC |
|
| Low Density Residential (per dwelling unit / lot) |
$16,858.00 | $2,740.00 | $5,734.00 | $3,491.00 | $20,632.00 | $5,415.00 | $54,870.00 | $26,963.00 | $81,833.00 |
| Medium Density Residential (per dwelling unit) |
$10,438.00 | $1,918.00 | $4,391.00 | $2,443.00 | $14,442.00 | $3,791.00 | $37,423.00 | $18,874.00 | $56,297.00 |
| High Density Residential (per dwelling unit) |
$6,994.00 | $1,370.00 | $2,227.00 | $1,745.00 | $10,316.00 | $2,708.00 | $25,360.00 | $13,481.00 | $38,841.00 |
| Commercial (per m2 gross floor area) |
$159.71 | $6.17 | $26.73 | $7.85 | $46.42 | $12.18 | $259.06 | $60.67 | $319.73 |
| Industrial (per m2 gross floor area) |
$59.50 | $4.11 | $35.00 | $5.24 | $0.00 | $8.12 | $111.97 | $40.44 | $152.41 |
| Institutional (per m2 gross floor area) |
$104.38 | $6.17 | $52.82 | $7.85 | $0.00 | $12.18 | $183.40 | $60.67 | $244.07 |
Definitions:
Low Density Residential: residential development consisting of one building that contains no more than 2 primary dwelling units and any secondary suite(s), including a single-family dwelling and any secondary suite, or a duplex dwelling and any secondary suite(s).
Medium Density Residential: ground-oriented residential development, including laneway homes, townhouse dwellings, rowhouse dwellings and multiplex dwellings.
High Density Residential: development of a residential building which contains multiple dwelling units accessible via a common hallway or corridor and shared entrance facilities and includes apartments.
Projects currently underway
The City’s upcoming DCC and ACC rates are anticipated to come into effect mid-2024. The provincial legislation provides protection to in-stream projects that have completed the following prior to the adoption of the DCC and ACC bylaws:
- Building permit applications
- Precursor applications (re-zoning and development permit applications)
- Subdivision applications
This in-stream protection will be applicable for 12 months following the adoption of the DCC and ACC bylaws. Note: A project needs to receive final approval/permit issuance within these 12 months, otherwise they shall be subject to paying DCCs and ACCs.
Questions and answers
The City of Burnaby is updating its development cost charges (DCC) Bylaw and developing an amenity cost charges (ACC) Bylaw. The following guide provides background information on DCCs and ACCs and answers several frequently asked questions.
DCCs are fees collected by local governments to help fund the cost of growth-related infrastructure expenditures. DCCs are regulated by the Local Government Act. The rates charged reflect the impact growth has on infrastructure, parks, and eligible protective services; the greater the impact, the larger the charge. This helps ensure development contributes its fair share towards the necessary growth-related infrastructure improvements that development benefits from.
ACCs are fees collected by local governments to help fund the cost of growth-related amenities. ACCs are regulated by the Local Government Act. Similar to DCCs, the rates charged reflect the impact growth has on amenities; the greater the impact, the larger the charge. This helps ensure development contributes its fair share towards the necessary growth-related amenity improvements.
DCCs and ACCs are paid by applicants at time of approval for subdivision or building permit.
DCCs pay for capital cost upgrades needed to support growth by assisting in the funding of:
- Transportation Infrastructure
- Sanitary Sewer Infrastructure
- Water Infrastructure
- Drainage Infrastructure
- Parkland Acquisition and Development
- Protective Service Infrastructure (i.e., fire halls and police stations)
A full list of eligible DCC’s categories are outlined in the BC DCC Best Practices Guide.
DCCs cannot be used to pay for:
- Replacing infrastructure solely to service existing residents
- Operations and Maintenance
- Community amenities or facilities such as recreation, affordable housing, libraries, etc.
ACCs pay for capital cost upgrades needed to support growth by assisting in the funding of facilities or features that provide social, cultural, heritage, recreational or environmental benefits to a community including:
- Community, youth or seniors’ centres
- Recreational or athletic facilities
- Libraries
- Childcare facilities
- Public squares
ACCs cannot be used to pay for:
- Replacing amenities solely to service existing residents
- Operations and Maintenance
- Affordable housing
- Projects that can be funded through a DCC program
The new DCC and ACC rates will come into effect immediately after the new bylaws are adopted by Council, anticipated in Summer 2024. However, the Local Government Act provides special protection from rate increases for complete applications (as determined by the City) that are submitted prior to the bylaw adoption dates.
*specific date to be provided once the bylaws are adopted.
The previous DCC rates will apply to any developments with in-stream applications which receive final subdivision or building permit approval within 12 months of the adoption of the bylaw.
In summary, if an application meets the required criteria of being submitted prior to the adoption of the new bylaws, it is provided protection from DCC and ACC rate increases for one year (12 months) if final subdivision approval is granted or building permit issued within that timeframe.
As per provincial legislation, the following are exempt from paying DCCs and ACCs:
- Development in which a DCC or ACC has previously been paid;
- Development that does not impose a new capital cost burden;
- Places of Worship;
- Self-contained residential dwelling units no larger than 29 m2 (312 ft2); and
- Building Permits for work that does not exceed $50,000 in value.
An information session was held in early March to review the proposed DCC and ACC bylaw updates.
Additional information
For more information on fees collected by the City of Burnaby on behalf of 3rd parties, please refer to the links below:
For information on the City’s existing Development Cost Charges, please refer to the link below:
For information on the recent legislative changes, please refer to the provincial government website.
Feedback
If you have any questions, comments, or general feedback regarding the implementation of the above changes, please contact the City: