Overview
Metro Vancouver is a growing region. As communities expand and new housing, employment and services are developed, we need to build and upgrade infrastructure – including drinking water, sanitary sewers, drainage, and regional parkland* – to meet growth-related demand.
To help fund the cost of growth-related infrastructure, Metro Vancouver uses development cost charges (DCCs).
DCCs are one-time fees collected by local governments and are applied to new developments at the time of building permit issuance (or subdivision approval). DCCs are a tool provided by the Province, regulated by the Local Government Act. DCCs help ensure that development contributes its fair share towards the necessary growth-related infrastructure improvements that development benefits from. Non-growth-related infrastructure is paid for by existing ratepayers.
The Metro Vancouver Board adopted its current DCC rates in March 2024, and considers DCCs to be a critical funding source for growth-related capital infrastructure in the region. Growth-related infrastructure represents a significant portion of Metro Vancouver’s capital plan, and DCC revenues help reduce the burden on ratepayers and ensure that growth is helping to pay for growth in the region.
*A small portion of the regional DCC program is allocated to expanding regional parks (land acquisition only) to support population growth.
Development Cost Charge program update
Metro Vancouver is in the regular process of updating its DCC program, while also considering current social, political, and economic circumstances. This work is being integrated with the regular review and update of Metro Vancouver’s Capital Plan, which will inform the proposed DCC rates to be presented at the May 2026 Board Meeting. The current revision began in 2025 and will continue through 2027, with new rates taking effect in 2028.
Waiver applications