What is a development cost charge (DCC) in BC?

A development cost charge (DCC) is a one-time fee a city or regional district puts on new development to pay for the pipes, roads, drainage and parks that growth needs. It is set by bylaw under the Local Government Act, and the Inspector of Municipalities has to approve the bylaw. Vancouver uses its own charter and calls its version a development cost levy (DCL).

DCCs are calculated per category (water, sewer, drainage, roads, parks, and since 2023 fire, police and solid waste) and the money goes into a reserve fund for each one. Cities charge per unit, per square foot or per square metre of floor area, and most have separate rates for townhouses, apartments and multiplexes.

You usually pay at building permit for multi-unit projects, or at subdivision for new lots. Some cities let you pay in instalments.

On a 4-plex of 1,100 sq ft units, totals on file range from $126,992 in Chilliwack to $377,458 in Coquitlam, counting every priced charge. The city DCC is usually the largest line. Compare all 19 cities.

In Metro Vancouver you also pay regional DCCs and the TransLink DCC. See Metro Vancouver regional DCCs.

Sources: Province of BC, development cost charges; DCC Best Practices Guide. Checked 2026-10-16.

General information, not advice. Confirm with the city.