Development charges in Burlington are collected by the City, Halton Region, and school boards at building permit. The City's DC ranges from approximately $8,700 for a one-bedroom apartment to $21,600 for a single/semi-detached home. Halton Region charges are additional and are typically the larger component of the total all-in DC.
Development charges in Burlington are collected at building permit by the City of Burlington, Halton Region, and school boards. Burlington's City-level DC is notably lower than most GTA municipalities, but Halton Region charges a separate and significant DC for regional roads, water, and wastewater that substantially increases the total. The June 1, 2026 DC schedule is the current governing rate schedule for the City's charges.
Burlington is a two-tier municipality where Halton Region co-approves Official Plan Amendments and is the dominant DC-collecting authority for regional infrastructure. Conservation Halton holds jurisdiction over regulated natural areas in Burlington, and Conservation Halton's permit conditions are incorporated into Site Plan Agreements as preconditions to Building Permit issuance. The date of Building Permit issuance determines which DC rate schedule applies.
| Unit type | 2026 base rate | 2026 incentive / reduction | Rate schedule |
|---|---|---|---|
| Single & semi-detached | ~$21,600 city + Halton Region | City freeze/reduction program | See city program |
| Apartment (1 bedroom) | ~$8,700 city + Halton Region | City freeze/reduction program | See city program |
| All types | Halton Region DC | Additional charge not in city rate | — |
Burlington's City DC ranges from approximately $8,700 (one-bedroom apartment) to $21,600 (single/semi-detached). Halton Region charges a significant additional DC on top of the City's rate. Education DC is also additional. Total all-in DCs (all authorities) for a residential unit in Burlington are substantially higher than the City's charge alone. A DC Development Charge Schedule effective June 1, 2026 is available from Navigate Burlington (navburl-burlington.opendata.arcgis.com).
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Generate my checklist →Burlington City DC Reduction Program. Burlington has maintained a city-level DC reduction program and referred consideration of a DC freeze. The June 1, 2026 DC schedule reflects the current city rates. Burlington's City DC is notably lower than comparable GTA municipalities, but Halton Region's charge makes the all-in total materially higher. Contact Service Burlington for current combined rate schedules.
For current program eligibility, rate schedules, and payment options, visit: Burlington Development Charges.
Development charges in Ontario are triggered by new development or redevelopment that increases the demand for municipal services. They are assessed at building permit issuance and must be paid before the permit is released.
Confirm which authorities collect DCs for your site: city/town, upper-tier Region, school boards, GO Transit. In a two-tier municipality, Regional DCs are a separate charge from city DCs and are often the larger component.
Confirm whether any active DC reduction programs or exemptions apply to your project type, unit mix, or unit size. Eligibility conditions vary by municipality and program. Many programs are time-limited and require permits by a specific date.
Obtain the current rate schedules from each collecting authority. Multiply by unit count and unit type. Account for indexing dates: most Ontario municipalities index DCs on February 1 and August 1. If your permit date crosses an indexing date, budget for the higher rate.
DC rates at building permit may be higher than rates at planning approval due to indexing. Include DCs at the current rate (conservative) in the pro forma at site analysis, not the rate at planning approval. Use the delta between current and projected rates as a sensitivity variable.
DCs are paid in full at building permit, or under an instalment arrangement where available. Some municipalities offer DC deferral programs for affordable or purpose-built rental housing. Confirm with each collecting authority whether deferral applies to your project type.
A medium-density infill developer in Burlington's Alton Village area submitted a building permit application in June 2026. The June 1, 2026 DC schedule had just come into effect. The developer confirmed the city-level DC for the two-bedroom apartment units at $8,700 per unit but had underestimated the Halton Region component, which was several times larger than the City's charge. The total all-in DC across the 60-unit project exceeded the initial budget by $1.2 million.
Development charge rates vary significantly across GTA municipalities depending on the number of collecting authorities, whether the municipality is single-tier or two-tier, and active 2026 reduction programs. The table below compares approximate all-in DC rates across the 8 GTA municipalities covered by PreBuildIQ. Burlington has one of the lowest city-level DCs in the GTA, but Halton Region's charge means the total all-in cost is not as low as the city rate alone suggests.
| Municipality | Apt. DC (all auth.) | Single/semi DC (all auth.) | 2026 program | Who collects |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Toronto | ~$32K–$48K (post-DCRP) | ~$52K (post-DCRP) | 40–60% off (2026–2029) | City only (single-tier) |
| Mississauga | ~$19K city + Peel Region | N/A city rate quoted | 50% city DC off; 100% rental | City + Peel Region + Edu |
| Brampton | $52K–$92K (all-in) | $134K (all-in) | Rental: 50–100% off (city portion) | All authorities combined |
| Vaughan | $0 city + York Region | $0 city + York Region | City = $0 thru Oct 2027 | City + York Region + Edu |
| Markham | ~$121K (all auth.) | ~$155K (all auth.) | York Region −2–9% | City + York Region + Edu |
| Richmond Hill | ~$105K–$115K (all auth.) | ~$145K+ (all auth.) | York Region −2–9% | City + York Region + Edu |
| Oakville | ~$65K–$75K (all auth.) | ~$85K–$95K (all auth.) | Bill 23: −20% (Town portion) | Town + Halton Region + Edu |
| Burlington | ~$8.7K city + Halton Region | ~$21.6K city + Halton Region | City freeze/reduction | City + Halton Region + Edu |
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Look up my address →Development charges in Burlington are one-time fees paid at the time of building permit issuance. They are authorized under Ontario's Development Charges Act, 1997 and are designed to ensure that new development pays for the infrastructure it requires, including roads, water supply, wastewater treatment, transit, parks, and community facilities. DCs are separate from planning application fees, permit fees, and cash-in-lieu of parkland obligations.
Development charges in Burlington are paid at building permit issuance. The rate that applies is the rate in effect on the date the building permit is issued. A project that obtained ZBA or Site Plan approval under an earlier, lower rate schedule will be assessed at the rate in effect at permit date if that date is later. This is a common source of budget variance when there is a gap between planning approval and permit application.
Development charges in Burlington are collected separately by each authority at building permit: City of Burlington, Halton Region, Education (school boards). Each authority's charge is based on its own DC by-law and rate schedule. The total DC paid at permit is the sum of all applicable charges. Not all authorities apply to all projects; for example, Education DCs vary by school board based on the project's location and unit mix.
Burlington has maintained a city-level DC reduction program and referred consideration of a DC freeze. The June 1, 2026 DC schedule reflects the current city rates. Burlington's City DC is notably lower than comparable GTA municipalities, but Halton Region's charge makes the all-in total materially higher. Contact Service Burlington for current combined rate schedules. For the most current information on eligibility conditions and application requirements, visit the Burlington development charges page or contact the applicable authority directly.
Development charges in Burlington affect a project's feasibility in two ways: as a direct cost at building permit, and as a timing risk if there is a gap between planning approval and permit issuance. DCs are not negotiable and are indexed twice yearly (February 1 and August 1) in most Ontario municipalities. A project delayed between ZBA approval and building permit application will be assessed at whatever rate is current at permit, regardless of what was budgeted at planning stage. Building the DC cost into the pro forma at the earliest stage of site analysis prevents budget surprises at permit.
Development charges are one component of your total pre-development cost. A single missing study at 1st submission resets the statutory review clock and adds months of carrying cost at $43,000 per month on a stalled GTA project. Enter your Burlington address and PreBuildIQ generates your complete required-study, agency, and approval list in 60 seconds.
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