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Development charges are one time fees collected by municipalities on new residential and non-residential properties to help pay for a share of growth-related capital infrastructure needs including;
Residential Development Charge forms:
Non-Residential Development Charge forms:
All City, Region and School Board Development Charges are collected by the City’s Building Services branch.
Non-Residential Development Charges are payable upon issuance of a building permit.
Residential Development Charges may be deferred to occupancy. You will be able to discuss this with your plans examiner at time of permit application review.
Rental housing will be paid in installments and are due and payable in six equal annual payments commencing at occupancy, and on the anniversary of occupancy for the following five years. Rental units may also qualify for a credit of 15%, 20% or 25% based on number of bedrooms
Institutional developments will be paid in installments and are due and payable in six equal annual payments commencing at occupancy, and on the anniversary of occupancy for the following five years.
Note: the Region of Durham and School Board development charge collection times may vary.
Affordable Residential units that meet the Provincial definition in the Development Charges Act, 1997, may be exempt from the City Development Charges provided the owner enters into an agreement with the City and Region to keep the unit as an affordable residential unit for a period of 25 years or more. Please contact your Plans Examiner for more information.
School Board Development charges are not included with this exemption and are required to be paid at the issuance of a building permit.
Exemptions to City Development Charges
All developments in Oshawa are subject to the City Development Charge, unless the Development Charges Act or City’s Development Charges By-law provide an exemption, in order that the services necessitated by development can be provided.
Discretionary exemptions provided in the City’s Development Charge By-law 91-2024 include:
Note: the Region of Durham and School Board development charge collection times may vary.
Development charges are broken down by type of residential and non-residential development. The City's development charge rates are subject to annual indexing on January 1st and July 1st in accordance with Statistics Canada Quarterly, Non-Residential Building Construction Index, as may be amended from time to time, for the most recent year-over-year period. The City collects development charges on behalf of the City, the Region of Durham and Durham area school boards.
| Residential Development |
Single Detached (per unit) |
Semi Detached (per unit) |
Duplex (for two units) see Note 6 |
Lodging House (per unit) see Note 4 |
Townhouse Dwelling (per unit) see Note 6 |
Apartment 2 or more bedrooms (per unit) see Note 6 & 8 |
Apartment Bachelor & 1 bedroom (per unit) see Note 6 & 8 |
| City of Oshawa | $40,720 | $40,720 | $60,806 | $13,146 | $30,404 | $25,599 | $16,072 |
| C.B.C.s (Community Benefits Charges) (see Note 7) |
N/A | N/A | N/A | N/A | N/A | $161 | $99 |
| Region of Durham | $76,227 | $76,227 | $*Varies | $* Varies | $60,684 | $44,320 | $27,224 |
| Public School | $4,349 | $4,349 | $8,698 | $ T.B.D. (see Note 4) |
$4,349 | $4,349 | $4,349 |
| Separate School | $3,186 | $3,186 | $6,372 | $T.B.D. (see Note 4) |
$3,186 | $3,186 | $3,186 |
| Cash-in-Lieu of Parkland Dedication (C.I.L.) (see Note 3) |
$6,200 | $4,650 | $7,440 | $620 | $4,030 | $1,550 | $1,550 |
| TOTAL for each unit | $130,682 | $129,132 | $ To be determined | $ To be determined | $102,653 | $79,165 | $52,480 |
City of Oshawa and Region of Durham rates for permits that have a Site Plan Agreement or Zoning By-law Amendment applied for after January 1, 2020 may have the rates frozen and interest may be added. Please contact your plans examiner to determine the appropriate development charge rates.
| Non-residential Development | Commercial | Industrial | Institutional (Unless exempt from the by-law) |
| City of Oshawa | $201.98/m2 (see Note 1) | N/A (see Note 2) | $201.98/m2 (see Note 1) |
| Region of Durham | $41.65/ft2 | $19.80/ft2 | $22.90/ft2 |
| Public School (see Note 8) |
$0.30/ft2 | $0.30/ft2 | $0.30/ft2 |
| Separate School (see Note 8) |
$0.30/ft2 | $0.30/ft2 | $0.30/ft2 |
| Cash-in-Lieu of Parkland Dedication (C.I.L.) (see Note 3) |
(see Note 5) | (see Note 5) | (see Note 5) |
NOTE: City of Oshawa and Region of Durham rates for permits that have a Site Plan Agreement or Zoning By-law Amendment applied for after January 1, 2020 will have the rates frozen and interest may be added. Please contact your plans examiner to determine the appropriate development charge rates.
Note 1: City of Oshawa Development Charge By-law No. 91-2024, (Schedule B.3), provides for a downtown exemption area for Residential and Non-Residential development charges and specifies a number of specific use exemptions for Non-Residential development charges; and exemptions for industrial, temporary and agricultural buildings. Reference should be made to the By-law for further details.
Note 2: Industrial development is exempt pursuant to ss. 3.6 (i) of the D.C. By-law. The calculated D.C. rate of $83.71/m2 for Industrial development applies with respect to 5.1 of By-law No. 91-2024.
Note 3: There is a downtown exemption area for C.I.L. that is similar to the downtown exemption area for City’s development charges. For mixed use and other exemptions, refer to By-law 63-2022, as amended. C.I.L. applies to areas outside of subdivisions only. C.I.L. rates for Retirement Homes are the same as Apartment C.I.L. rates.
Note 4: When converting a single detached dwelling to a lodging house, please contact the School Board Jody Dale at 905-576-6150 ext. 22211 for applicable Educational development charges. Credits may apply to City’s development charges and cash-in-lieu of Parkland Dedication.
Note 5: To be determined (T.B.D.) based on a rate of 2% of the property value for commercial or industrial and 5% for other non-residential. C.I.L. applies to areas outside of subdivisions only.
Note 6: City of Oshawa By-law No. 91-2024, provides for an exemption for Apartment Dwelling Units in the areas as shown in Schedules E and F to the By-law. Per City of Oshawa By-law No. 91-2024, Townhouse Dwellings and Duplex Dwellings are considered Other Multiple Dwellings, Back-to-Back Townhouses are considered Townhouse Dwellings, Stacked Townhouses are considered Apartment Units.
Note 7: City of Oshawa Community Benefits Charge By-law No. 50-2023 provides for Residential buildings with fewer than 5 storeys or fewer than 10 units to be exempt. Refer to By-law 50-2023 for further clarification.
Note 8: The gross floor area of the non-residential portion of a mixed-use building is deemed to include one-half of any area common to the residential and non-residential portions of such mixed-use building or structure.
Note 9: City of Oshawa and Durham Region residential development charge payments are due prior to occupancy, or for rental buildings, payable over 6 annual installments beginning at first occupancy and continuing on the five anniversaries.
The Region of Durham and School Board may offer similar exemptions, which are not outlined here. Please contact them for any questions regarding exemptions.
Region of Durham rates are valid until June 30, 2026 as per By-laws 42-2023, as amended, 39-2022 (Transit), as amended, and 43-2023 (GO), as amended, - *contact Rob Goddard, 905-668-7711 extension 3457 regarding the Region of Durham rates for Duplex and Lodging units. Development charges will be indexed annually on July 1. GO Transit service charges were removed as of January 1, 2026.
Public School rates are valid until April 30, 2027 as per Durham District School Board Education Development Charges By-law (2024).
Separate School rates are valid until April 30, 2027 as per Durham Catholic District School Board Education Development Charges By-law (2024).
Cash-in-Lieu of Parkland Dedication (C.I.L.) rates are as per City of Oshawa By-law 63-2022 - see Note 3. Validation dates and rates provided are intended only as a guide. Refer to the appropriate by-law for accuracy.
Community Benefits Charges shall be adjusted annually at the rate of 3% on the anniversary date of this By-law, without amendment to this By-law. For exemptions refer to By-law 50-2023.
Development Charge information
Development charges are fees collected for the City for new development and redevelopment of land. Collecting development charges is the City’s primary revenue tool for funding growth-related capital costs. This reduces the overall burden on the taxpayer.
By-law 91-2024 imposes residential and non-residential development charges on all lands within the boundaries of the City of Oshawa.
The City’s Development Charge By-law provides for Fire Protection Services, Parks and Recreation Services, Library Services, Provincial Offences Act including By-law Enforcement, Waste Diversion, Growth-Related Studies, Services Related to a Highway, and Stormwater Services.
The annual Treasurer’s Statement, identifying opening and closing reserve fund balances, and transactions during the year, is presented to City Council. It is available on the City’s website at www.oshawa.ca and at the City of Oshawa, upon request.
For further information, please contact Finance Services at 905-436-3311 or email financeservices@oshawa.ca.
This publication summarizes the City of Oshawa Development Charges effective July 1, 2024.
This information is intended only as a guide. Applicants should review By-law 91-2024 and consult with Building Services at 905-436-3311 or by email buildings@oshawa.ca to determine the applicable charges that may apply to specific development proposals.
Development Charge by-law and background study
The maximum term of a Development Charge By-law is 10 years. Completion of a background study can occur every ten years, or be amended as needed, to determine how development charges are spent. Approval of growth-related spending occurs annually as part of the City's budget process.
The City collects development charges for Fire Protection Services, Parks and Recreation Services, Library Services, Provincial Offences Act including By-law Enforcement, Waste Diversion, Services Related to a Highway, Stormwater Services, and Growth-Related Studies.
Current studies:
Past studies:
Contact us
Building Services
Oshawa City Hall
50 Centre St. S.
Oshawa, ON L1H 3Z7
Phone: 905-436-3311
Toll Free: 1-800-667-4292
Email: Building Services
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