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Who charges what in Vancouver
A new multiplex in Vancouver pays one-time charges to several bodies. The City of Vancouver collects its own development cost charge (DCC): Townhouse: $81.13 per m2; Apartment: $81.13 per m2. City-wide DCL Bylaw 9755 $49.88/m2 plus Utilities DCL Bylaw 12183 $31.25/m2, residential at or below 1.2 FSR. Above 1.2 FSR: $107.34 + $67.33/m2; above 1.5 FSR: $214.89 + $134.65/m2. Area-specific DCLs may also apply. Rates rise about 3% each Sept 30 from 2027. Effective 2026-09-30.
Because Vancouver is in Metro Vancouver, the city also collects Metro Vancouver's regional water, sewer (VSA sewerage area) and parkland DCCs and the TransLink DCC for the Regional Transportation Development Cost Charge. On a 4-plex those regional lines add $90,844.
For schools, SD 39 Vancouver collects a school site charge.
Amenity cost charge (ACC): Multiplex: $24.97 per m2; Townhouse: $24.97 per m2; Apartment: $24.97 per m2. ACC Bylaw 14816, residential at or below 1.2 FSR, $24.97/m2 ($2.32/sq ft). Above 1.2 FSR $53.82/m2. Applies to applications submitted after Sept 30, 2026; in-stream applications exempt.
Building permit: 2026 schedule; development permit fee also applies
Worked examples
4-plex, 4 units of 1,100 sq ft on a 6,000 sq ft lot at $400 a sq ft to build: $155,696 total, $38,924 a unit. The biggest line is Metro Vancouver regional water DCC (GVWD Bylaw 257, amended by Bylaw 270, 2026) at $39,356, 25% of the total. That ranks Vancouver number 4 of 19 for a 4-plex.
6-plex, 6 units of 1,000 sq ft on the same lot: $222,251 total, $37,042 a unit, number 4 of 19. A duplex of two 1,400 sq ft units comes to $90,691.
Full line items: duplex, 4-plex, 6-plex.
What is changing
- Metro Vancouver's draft 2028 to 2030 DCC program would charge multiplexes of 3 or more units the apartment rate per unit and duplexes the townhouse rate. Not adopted. How the regional DCC works.
What this leaves out
Area-specific add-ons, credits for existing homes on the lot, waivers, in-stream protection, servicing works, and utility connection fees. Check those with the city before you price land.
Cities near this cost for a 4-plex: West Vancouver ($36,850 a unit), North Vancouver (City) ($41,817 a unit). Compare all 19.
Background: what a DCC is, ACCs, school site charges, BC multiplex zoning rules.
Vancouver: rates on file
Vancouver is in Metro Vancouver, so regional water, sewer and parkland DCCs and the TransLink DCC also apply. Regional and TransLink lines are in the estimate above. Checked 2026-10-16.
| Charge | Rate | Status | Effective | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Municipal DCCCity-wide DCL Bylaw 9755 $49.88/m2 plus Utilities DCL Bylaw 12183 $31.25/m2, residential at or below 1.2 FSR. Above 1.2 FSR: $107.34 + $67.33/m2; above 1.5 FSR: $214.89 + $134.65/m2. Area-specific DCLs may also apply. Rates rise about 3% each Sept 30 from 2027. | Townhouse: $81.13 per m2; Apartment: $81.13 per m2 | Verified | 2026-09-30 | Source |
| Amenity cost chargeACC Bylaw 14816, residential at or below 1.2 FSR, $24.97/m2 ($2.32/sq ft). Above 1.2 FSR $53.82/m2. Applies to applications submitted after Sept 30, 2026; in-stream applications exempt. | Multiplex: $24.97 per m2; Townhouse: $24.97 per m2; Apartment: $24.97 per m2 | Verified | 2026-09-30 | Source |
| School site chargeSD 39 Vancouver | Not priced. May add up to about $1,000 a unit. | Not priced | 2026-10-16 | Source |
| Building permit fee | 2026 schedule; development permit fee also applies | Verified | 2026-01-01 | Source |
Questions
How much are development fees on a 4-plex in Vancouver?
About $155,696, or $38,924 a unit, for four 1,100 sq ft units on a 6,000 sq ft lot, counting priced lines only. Estimate only, confirm with the city.
Does the Metro Vancouver regional DCC apply in Vancouver?
Yes. Vancouver is in Metro Vancouver, so regional water, sewer and parkland DCCs and the TransLink DCC apply.
Does Vancouver charge an amenity cost charge?
Yes. Multiplex: $24.97 per m2; Townhouse: $24.97 per m2; Apartment: $24.97 per m2.