Development Charges

Purpose of Development Charges 

To offset the cost of growth, the Town sets and collects development charges on residential and non-residential development. The current Development Charges By-law. No’s 2024-28 through 2024-35, were approved by Council on April 15, 2024 and came into effect on April 30, 2024 and developed in conformance with the Development Charges Act. 

The Town recognizes that growth continues to result in enhancements and upgrades of varying forms of infrastructure which, in turn, require strategic funding considerations to avoid impacts to existing taxpayers. 

Development charges (DCs) are fees collected from builders and developers at the building permit stage to help offset the cost of growth related infrastructure required to service to new development including roads, fire protection, parks and recreation services, library services, water services, wastewater services, stormwater drainage and control services, and growth related studies. 

The Development Charges Act provides an opportunity for municipalities to impose development charges so that costs associated with growth are addressed by said growth. The imposition of development charges are required to meet specific criteria in that all associated costs included in the calculation of development charges must be directly resulting from growth. As such, the culmination of the associated study that is required to confirm development charges is Council approval of one or more by-lasw that specifially identify the development charges. Specific to Lincoln, the Town retained the firm Watson and Associates to undertake the Development Charge Background Study and recommend a proposed Development Charge By-law. A stakeholder meeting occurred on February 14, 2024 and a public meeting on February 20, 2024, to obtain input from relevant stakeholders. The Development Charge By-law No’s . 2024-28 through 2024-35 were subsequently adopted by Council on April 15, 2024. By-law No’s 2024-28, 2024-29, 2024-30, 2024-31, 2024-32, 2024-33, 2024-34 and 2024-35 sets the development charge rates for residential and non-residential development, the apportionment of the charges for the various services, the method of collection and the conditions under which a development is subject to the charge and exemptions from the payment of development charges.  

In accordance with the requirements of the Development Charges Act and the Development Charges By-law, a development charge can be applied as a condition of any of the following, where the development of the land will increase the need for services: 

  • Building Permit 
  • Consent 
  • Minor Variance 
  • Plan of Condominium 
  • Plan of Subdivision 
  • Zoning By-law Amendment 

For more information on the update please visit: 

Development Charges By-law History 

Current Development Charges