Development Charges Background Study and Community Benefits Charges Strategy

The Town of Milton has started work on a development charges study and community benefits charges strategy, related to revenue sources that help cover the municipal costs of new development.

Both the study and strategy will be presented Town Council in 2026 for approval.

What are development charges?

Development Charges (DCs), paid by developers, are a way for a municipality to recover the costs to expand its services to new developments. DCs help support investment in new or expanded arterial roads, recreation facilities, parks, libraries, and services such as fire and transit.

These charges apply to all lands in the Town of Milton and may be required for:

1. Construction of a new building or structure
2. Addition or alteration to an existing building that increases the number of residential units or increases the non-residential total floor area
3. Redevelopment of a property or making interior alterations that result in a change of use of all or part of a building or structure, including interior completions for tenants.

What are community benefits charges?

Community Benefit Charges (CBCs) are a way for municipalities to recover the capital costs of expanding services to higher density developments.

CBCs can only be imposed on higher density developments of at least five storeys and 10 residential units. The maximum allowable charge is four per cent of the market value of the land, valued the day before the building permit is issued.

Planning Act changes in 2020 provided the authority to implement CBCs; these charges can be imposed by completing a strategy and passing a by-law.

Public Engagement

Residents and businesses are encouraged to provide feedback in the following ways:

• Attend an engagement session or the statutory public meeting.
• Add a comment to the Feedback Forum.
• Subscribe to project updates about opportunities to engage.