Development Charges
Development charges are fees collected by the City for all new development. This money helps the City pay for roads, water, fire services, community centres, and other services needed to service new developments. These fees are charged for residential and non-residential development.
This page is only a guide. For specific rules and laws, please see the Development Charges Act, 1997, and the City’s Development Charge By-laws, as shown below. You should also speak with Development Finance Staff at the City of Markham – see our ‘Contact Information’ towards the bottom of this page.
- About Development Charges
Three types of development charges within the City are imposed under a number of by-laws. They are:
- City-Wide Soft development charge (CWS) by-law 2022-50;
- City-Wide Hard development charge (CWH) by-law 2022-49; and
- Area-Specific development charge (ASDC) by-laws 2022-51 to 2022-72, inclusive.
Do I have to pay?
You may be required to pay development charges for any residential or non-residential development if you are:
- erecting a new building(s)
- making an addition or alteration to an existing building(s) which increases the gross floor area or number of units
- redeveloping a property or properties which result in a change of use
Who collects these charges?
The City of Markham also collects regional development charges and education development charges. The City sends the non-City charges to the Region of York, the York District School Board and the York Catholic District School Board. Each region or board sets its own development charges and makes its own exemptions.
When are the charges collected?
Subdivisions pay some of the charges when they execute the subdivision agreement. The rest is paid at the building permit stage. You must pay all development charges before you can get a building permit
What is an area specific development charge?
The City wants to make sure that development charges are applied fairly. Some areas benefit from specific services and infrastructure and pay a special charge.
Landowners who build services for the City can enter into a credit agreement with the municipality and receive a reduction on the area charge.
How much can I expect to pay?
Your charges depends on:
- The development type - Is it residential or non residential? -Is it a single detached home or apartment?
- The development size- For residential developments, a combination of the site area (in net hectares) and the number and type of dwelling units. For non-residential development, a combination of the gross floor area and site area (in net hectares).
- The development location - Some areas may need to pay an area-specific development charge. This charge is based on the site area (in net hectares).
- Indexing of charge rates - Each city or board indexes its charges from time to time.
- Exemptions - In some cases, the City will approve an exemption. For example, if your development replaces some of the floor area eliminated via a demolition, you may receive an exemption. However, you will need to show beforehand that your proposed development is entitled to an exemption. Please check with each jurisdiction to see if you qualify.
City of Markham Development Charges are updated on January 1st and July 1st of each year. They change according to the Statistics Canada Non-Residential Construction Price Index.
The following provides a summary as to when development charge rates typically change each year, in accordance with the current by-laws. Note these dates are for reference purposes only, and may be subject to change.
January 1st– Semi-annual indexing of City of Markham rates
July 1st – Indexing of City and Region rates; Some Education development charge rates are phased-in, in accordance with the education development charge by-laws
November 8th – Indexing of GO Transit rates
You can see Markham's current development rates in the next section of this page.
- Current Development Charge Rates
The development rates as of July 1, 2024 for all jurisdictions are detailed below. The rates are subject to change/indexing in accordance with various by-laws. Exemptions etc. are the responsibility of the individual jurisdiction.
Rates as of July 1, 2024
Unit Based Rates ($/unit)
Residential
Single/Semi
Multiple Dwelling Unit
Large Apt. (≥700 sq.ft.)
Small Apt. (<700 sq.ft.)
City Wide Hard
39,451 30,582 24,068 16,908 City Wide Soft
34,014 26,369 20,753 14,581 York Region Hard
65,527 54,517 42,309 27,516 York Region General
23,908 19,892 15,436 10,039 Go Transit
420 330 243 153 Public School
7,312 7,312 7,312 7,312 Separate School
872 872 872 872 Total Unit Costs
171,504 139,874 110,993 77,381 GFA Based ($/m2) Rates
Non-Residential
Industrial Office Institutional (IOI)
Retail
Hotel
Mixed Use Retail
Mixed Use IOI
City Wide Hard 219.13 273.10 273.10 133.06 133.06 City Wide Soft 23.61 29.47 29.47 14.14 14.14 York Region 308.40 766.38 137.78 766.38 308.40 Public School 13.46 13.46 13.46 13.46 13.46 Separate School 2.91 2.91 2.91 2.91 2.91 Total GFA Based Rate 567.51 1,085.32 456.72 929.95 471.97 ** Note: The Region's non-residential charge has been split between Industrial/Office/Institutional (I.O.I.) development and Retail and Hotel development.
In addition to the above city-wide charges, the following area specific charges apply to all residential and non-residential development occurring in those areas. The charge is calculated on a per net hectare basis.
Land Based ($/hectare) Rates
Area Specific
Area No.
Rate
By-Law No.
Yonge Steeles Corridor 1B 1,851,184 2022-51 Armadale 5 11,175 2022-52 Armadale NE 7 19,543 2022-53 PD 1-7 9 929,431 2022-54 Rodick / Miller Road Planning District 17 836,261 2022-55 Mount Joy 23 218,675 2022-56 South Unionville - Helen Avenue 42A-1 222,780 2022-57 Markham Centre 42B 10,089 2022-58 Markham Centre - Clegg 42B-2 213,317 2022-59 Markham Centre - Hotel 42B-4 1,130,225 2022-60 Markham Centre - South Highway 7 42B-6 1,560,580 2022-61 Markham Centre - Sciberras 42B-8 1,879,972 2022-62 Markham Centre - East Precinct 42B-9 298,299 2022-63 Cathedral 46 12,015 2022-64 York Downs 47B 10,358 2022-65 404 North Employment Lands 49 22,920 2022-66 Future Urban Area 50A 14,910 2022-67 Future Urban Area - Employment Block 50A-1 146,145 2022-68 Future Urban Area - Robinson Glen 50A-2 21,892 2022-69 Future Urban Area - Berczy Glen Block 50A-3 257,476 2022-70 Future Urban Area - Angus Glen Block 50A-4 88,707 2022-71 Future Urban Area - Robinson Glen - South Block 50A-5 60,863 2022-72 The following provides a summary as to when development charge rates typically change each year, in accordance with the current by-laws. Note these dates are for reference purposes only, and may be subject to change.
January 1st– Semi-annual indexing of City of Markham rates
July 1st – Indexing of City and Region rates; Some Education development charge rates are phased-in, in accordance with the education development charge by-laws
November 8th – Indexing of GO Transit rates
Development Charge Rates — Previous Years
- January 1, 2010 [PDF]
- July 1, 2010 [PDF]
- January 1, 2011 [PDF]
- July 1, 2011 [PDF]
- January 1, 2012 [PDF]
- July 1, 2012 [PDF]
- January 1, 2013 [PDF]
- May 29, 2013 [PDF]
- July 1, 2013 [PDF]
- January 1, 2014 [PDF]
- July 1, 2014 [PDF]
- January 1, 2015 [PDF]
- July 1, 2015 [PDF]
- January 1, 2016 [PDF]
- January 21, 2016 [PDF]
- July 1, 2016 [PDF]
- November 8, 2016 [PDF]
- January 1, 2017 [PDF]
- March 1, 2017 [PDF]
- June 17, 2017 [PDF]
- July 1, 2017 [PDF]
- November 8, 2017 [PDF]
- December 13, 2017 [PDF]
- July 1, 2018 [PDF]
- November 8, 2018 [PDF]
- January 1, 2019 [PDF]
- July 1, 2019 [PDF]
- November 8, 2019 [PDF]
- January 1, 2020 [PDF]
- July 1, 2020 [PDF]
- November 9, 2020 [PDF]
- January 1, 2021 [PDF]
- July 1, 2021 [PDF]
- November 8, 2021 [PDF]
- January 1, 2022 [PDF]
- June 17, 2022 [PDF]
- July 1, 2022 [PDF]
- November 8, 2022 [PDF]
- November 28, 2022 [PDF]
- January 1, 2023 [PDF]
- June 17, 2023 [PDF]
- July 1, 2022 [PDF]
- November 8, 2022 [PDF]
- November 28, 2022 [PDF]
- January 1, 2023 [PDF]
- June 17, 2023 [PDF]
- July 1, 2023 [PDF]
- November 8, 2023 [PDF]
- January 1, 2024 [PDF]
- June 6, 2024 [PDF]
For more information, please see our Development Charges Info Package [PDF] (rates as at July 1, 2024). Includes sample calculation sheets, area maps, rates and information.
- Development Charge By-Laws
Area Number Area Name By-law City Wide Hard Services 2022-49 City Wide Soft Services 2022-50 1B Yonge Steeles Corridor 2022-51 5 Armadale 2022-52 7 Armadale NE 2022-53 9 PD 1-7 2022-54 17 Rodick/Miller Road Planning District 2022-55 23 Mount Joy 2022-56 42A-1 Markham Centre — South Unionville — Helen Avenue 2022-57 42B Markham Centre 2022-58 42B-2 Markham Centre — Clegg 2022-59 42B-4 Markham Centre — Hotel 2022-60 42B-6 Markham Centre — South Highway 7 2022-61 42B-8 Markham Centre — Sciberras 2022-62 42B-9 Markham Centre — East Precinct 2022-63 46 Cathedral 2022-64 47B York Downs 2022-65 49 404 North 2022-66 50A Future Urban Area 2022-67 50A-1 Future Urban Area — Employment Block 2022-68 50A-2 Future Urban Area — Robinson Glen 2022-69 50A-3 Future Urban Area — Berczy Glen Block 2022-70 50A-4 Future Urban Area — Angus Glen Block 2022-71 50A-5 Future Urban Area — Robinson Glen — South Block 2022-72
- Background Studies
Every five years, the City has to conduct a Development Charges Background Study.
2022 Background Study Update
In May 2022, Council approved the Development Charges Background Study update, and the new by-laws enacted effective June 17th, 2022. Development Charges Background Studies are required in accordance with the Development Charges Act, 1997, as amended, in order to enact new by-laws.
- Notice of Passing of Development Charge By-laws [PDF]
- General Committee Report – May 24, 2022 [PDF]
- Development Charges Public Meeting [PDF]
- General Committee Presentation – May 24 2022 [PDF]
- General Committee Presentation – February 28 2022 [PDF]
- General Committee Presentation – October 18 2021 [PDF]
- General Committee Presentation – April 6 2021 [PDF]
Background Studies
- Additional Information
Community Benefits Charges
In tandem with the Development Charges Background Study, Council also approved the Community Benefits Charges by-law which came into force on May 31st 2022.
- Community Benefits Charges By-law [PDF]
- Community Benefits Charges Strategy [PDF]
- Notice of Passing of Community Benefits Charges By-law [PDF]
Development Charge Interest Policy
This policy applies to the charging of interest, as permitted under sections 26.1, 26.2 and 26.3 of the Development Charges Act, 1997, as amended.
- Contact Information
Hard copies of Markham's development charge by-laws are available from Monday to Friday, between 8 AM and 5 PM at:
Clerk's Department
Markham Civic Centre (Great Hall Entrance)
101 Town Centre Boulevard, Markham, Ontario, L3R 9W3
905.475.4744To talk about calculations or exemptions, please contact the municipality or school board:
City of Markham
- Shannon Neville: 905.475.4742
Regional Municipality of York
- Fabrizio Filippazzo: 905.830.4444 extension 71696
York Region District School Board
- Gilbert Luk: 905-727-0022 extension 2439*
York Catholic District School Board
- Gilbert Luk: 905-727-0022 extension 2439*
*Gilbert Luk handles development charges enquiries for both school boards.