Financing growth
Burnaby is on pace to continue to grow over the next 25 years. As more residents and employers call Burnaby home, the city will need new and improved infrastructure and services, such as roads and sidewalks, water, drainage and sewer services. We will also need new parks, recreation and community centres, senior and youth centres and child care facilities.
To support this growth and the associated development, the City uses a combination of financing tools as part of its Development Funding Program (DFP) to ensure that infrastructure and amenities are available for future generations. Developments of all sizes contribute to these community assets and help finance growth. The rates reflect the corresponding impact the development will have on infrastructure—the greater the impact, the larger the contribution. The DFP is built on 2 complementary principles of growth paying for growth, and shared value. Well-planned growth can benefit communities and their economies. The community, the development sector and the city all benefit from the increased value created through growth, which includes funding amenities to support a growing community.
The DFP includes, but is not limited to the following tools:
Development cost charges
Development cost charges (DCC) are one-time fees levied on new development when a building permit is issued, or a subdivision is approved for new development as applicable. They can be used to help offset the capital cost of new infrastructure related to new development, such as transportation, water, drainage, and sewer infrastructure projects, fire protection facilities, and parkland acquisition and improvements.
The City of Burnaby collects DCC for the purpose of providing funds for growth-related roads, infrastructure, parkland acquisitions and improvements, fire protection, police and solid waste and recycling facilities.
The updated DCC Bylaw was adopted on June 24, 2024 and came into effect on July 1, 2024.
Amenity cost charges
In November 2023, new provincial housing legislation introduced a new amenity cost charges (ACC) development financing tool to help pay for new amenities in our community.
The City of Burnaby collects ACCs to fund growth-related recreational facilities, community centers, libraries, childcare facilities and public spaces.
ACCs are one-time fees levied on all new developments when a building permit is issued, or a subdivision is approved for new development, as applicable. The ACC bylaw was adopted on June 24, 2024 and came into effect on July 1, 2024.
The amenity cost charge bylaw is subject to the following "in-stream" provisions as determined by Section 570 of the Local Government Act:
Local Government Act – Effect of bylaws adopted after application for rezoning, development permit or building permit submitted
570.91(2) An initial amenity cost charge bylaw that would otherwise be applicable to the construction, alteration or extension of a building or structure has no effect with respect to that construction, alteration or extension if a precursor application to the building permit authorizing that construction, alteration or extension is in-stream on the date the initial bylaw is adopted.
| DCC and ACC Rates (effective July 1, 2024) | |||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Transportation | Water | Drainage | Sanitary Sewer | Parks | Fire Facilities | Total Proposed DCC | Proposed ACC | Total Proposed DCC + ACC |
|
| Low Density Residential (per primary 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.
Annual reports
These yearly reports summarize our key activities for both DCCs and ACCs over the past year, in accordance with BC’s Local Government Act.
Charges collected on behalf of other authorities
The City also collects charges and levies on behalf of other authorities including Metro Vancouver, TransLink and School District 41.
The City collects these levies on behalf of Metro Vancouver, which are charged for the Greater Vancouver Sewerage and Drainage District (GVS & DD) and Greater Vancouver Water District (GVWD), to help finance the construction or expansion of regional water, sewer and drainage projects. Learn more on the Metro Vancouver website:
The City collects the Regional Transportation Development Cost Charges (RTDCCs) on behalf of TransLink. These DCCs are charged for new developments in the Transportation Service Region to help fund the construction or expansion of projects in TransLink’s Investment Plan. Learn more on the TransLink website:
The City collects school site acquisition charges on all new residential developments on behalf of Burnaby School District 41. The levy is used to assist in the recovery of the costs associated with the future acquisition of land for new school sites, and is levied at subdivision or building permit, as applicable. Learn more about SSAC on the provincial website:
DCC and ACC self-assessment tools
The City provides the following tools to assist the public in understanding and estimating the potential cost charges related to projects of interest:
DCC and ACC Waivers and Reductions
On September 9, 2024, the City of Burnaby adopted the DCC and ACC Waivers and Reductions Bylaw. This bylaw outlines the eligibility criteria for applicants seeking a waiver or reductions of the City of Burnaby DCCs and ACCs. If you believe your project may qualify, please contact [email protected] to request an application package. Submissions will be reviewed in accordance with the bylaw requirements.
Installment payments
Under current Provincial regulations, payment deferral for DCC and ACC charges may be available in certain circumstances. For charges imposed before January 1, 2026, the current regulation applies. For charges imposed on or after January 1, 2026, an amended regulation will be in effect. Applicants are encouraged to review the applicable regulation based on the timing of their project to determine eligibility.
Density bonusing
Density bonusing is a voluntary program whereby developers seek and obtain approval for additional density above the base density in a zone at the time of rezoning. The Community Benefit Bonus Policy is one financing tool available to the City to help finance and develop public amenities that maintain and increase our quality of life. It enables the provision of additional residential densities within our town centres where community amenities or a cash-in-lieu contributions are provided. In doing so, the policy plays a key role in serving our growing communities.
Have questions?
For information on the recent legislative changes, please refer to the provincial government website and for information on how the changes impact housing in Burnaby, please visit our Burnaby Impacts of Provincial Legislation Changes webpage.
If you have any questions, comments, or general feedback regarding development finance tools, please contact us: