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 (not replacement) 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
June 17th – Rate phase-in of City and Regional rates in accordance with Bill 23 the More Homes Built Faster Act
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.
The development rates as of November 8, 2023 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 November 8, 2023
Unit Based Rates ($/unit)
Residential
|
Single/Semi
|
Multiple Dwelling Unit
|
Large Apt. (≥700 sq.ft.)
|
Small Apt. (<700 sq.ft.)
|
City Wide Hard
|
32,073 |
24,863 |
19,568 |
13,747 |
City Wide Soft
|
27,654 |
21,438 |
16,872 |
11,854 |
York Region Hard
|
53,258 |
44,312 |
34,388 |
22,366 |
York Region General
|
19,434 |
16,168 |
12,547 |
8,162 |
Go Transit
|
420 |
330 |
243 |
153 |
Public School
|
6,964 |
6,964 |
6,964
|
6,964
|
Separate School
|
1,463 |
1,463 |
1,463 |
1,463 |
Total Unit Costs
|
141,266 |
115,538 |
92,045 |
64,709 |
GFA Based ($/m2) Rates
Non-Residential
|
Industrial Office Institutional (IOI)
|
Retail
|
Hotel
|
Mixed Use Retail
|
Mixed Use IOI
|
City Wide Hard
|
178.15 |
222.04 |
222.04 |
108.18 |
108.18 |
City Wide Soft
|
19.20 |
23.96 |
23.96 |
11.50 |
11.50 |
York Region
|
251.13
|
622.92 |
112.06 |
622.92 |
251.13 |
Public School
|
12.38 |
12.38 |
12.38
|
12.38
|
12.38
|
Separate School
|
2.37 |
2.37 |
2.37 |
2.37 |
2.37 |
Total GFA Based Rate
|
463.23 |
883.67 |
372.81 |
757.35 |
385.56 |
** 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
|
1,505,019
|
2022-51 |
Armadale
|
5
|
9,085 |
2022-52 |
Armadale NE
|
7
|
15,888 |
2022-53
|
PD 1-7
|
9
|
755,631 |
2022-54
|
Rodick / Miller Road Planning District
|
17
|
679,883 |
2022-55
|
Mount Joy
|
23
|
177,784 |
2022-56
|
South Unionville - Helen Avenue
|
42A-1
|
181,120 |
2022-57
|
Markham Centre
|
42B
|
8,203 |
2022-58
|
Markham Centre - Clegg
|
42B-2
|
173,428 |
2022-59
|
Markham Centre - Hotel
|
42B-4
|
918,877 |
2022-60
|
Markham Centre - South Highway 7
|
42B-6
|
1,268,757 |
2022-61
|
Markham Centre - Sciberras
|
42B-8
|
1,528,424
|
2022-62
|
Markham Centre - East Precinct
|
42B-9
|
242,518 |
2022-63
|
Cathedral
|
46
|
9,768 |
2022-64
|
York Downs
|
47B
|
8,421 |
2022-65
|
404 North Employment Lands
|
49
|
18,634 |
2022-66
|
Future Urban Area
|
50A
|
12,122 |
2022-67
|
Future Urban Area - Employment Block
|
50A-1 |
118,816 |
2022-68 |
Future Urban Area - Robinson Glen
|
50A-2
|
17,798 |
2022-69
|
Future Urban Area - Berczy Glen Block
|
50A-3 |
209,329 |
2022-70 |
Future Urban Area - Angus Glen Block
|
50A-4 |
72,119 |
2022-71 |
Future Urban Area - Robinson Glen - South Block
|
50A-5 |
49,482 |
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
June 17th – Rate phase-in of City and Regional rates in accordance with Bill 23 the More Homes Built Faster Act
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, 2023 [PDF]
For more information, please see our Development Charges Info Package [PDF] (rates as at November 8, 2023). Includes sample calculation sheets, area maps, rates and information.
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 |
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.
Background Studies
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.
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.
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
905.475.4744
To talk about calculations or exemptions, please contact the municipality or school board:
City of Markham
- Shannon Neville: 905.475.4742
- Fabrizio Filippazzo: 905.830.4444 extension 71696
- Tom Pechkovsky: 416.221.5051 extension 2374*
- Tom Pechkovsky: 416.221.5051 extension 2374*
*Tom Pechkovsky handles development charges enquiries for both school boards.