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Development Cost Charges

The Regional Transportation Development Cost Charges (DCCs) are applied to new developments in the Transportation Service Region to help fund the construction or expansion of projects in TransLink’s Investment Plans.

The DCCs are imposed by bylaw pursuant to the South Coast British Columbia Transportation Authority Act. The information on this webpage is provided for your convenience and guidance and is not a replacement for the bylaw or legislation. Any conflict or inconsistency between applicable legislation or bylaw and this webpage will be resolved by referring to the applicable legislation and/or bylaw.


Calculating and Paying DCCs

The DCCs are charged and collected on TransLink’s behalf by municipalities (or other designated collection entities for Electoral Area A) as part of their development application approval process. In most municipalities, the DCCs will be charged and collected at the same time that the municipality will charge and collect its own similar charges, within either the subdivision approval or building permit stage.

Type of Development

Rates* Effective

 

January 1, 2022

January 1, 2024

Single Family Dwelling

$2,993/unit

$3,194/unit

Duplex

$2,485/unit

$2,652/unit

Townhouse Dwelling Unit

$2,485/unit

$2,652/unit

Apartment Dwelling Unit

$1,554/unit

$1,658/unit

Retail/Service

$1.26/ft2

$1.34/ft2

Office

$1.01/ft2

$1.08/ft2

Institutional

$0.50/ft2

$0.53/ft2

Industrial

$0.30/ft2

$0.32/ft2
* Rates are presented per Dwelling Unit or per sq.ft. of Floor Area, as defined in the Regional Transportation DCC Bylaw.

On December 6, 2023, TransLink’s Board of Directors approved of the new DCC Bylaw #151-2023 effective as of January 1, 2024.

Any subdivision application properly submitted to a municipality/collection entity by December 6, 2023, is subject to the DCC in accordance with the rate schedule in Bylaw #143-2021, if the related subdivision is approved by December 5, 2024. If the related subdivision is approved on or after December 6, 2024, then the DCC rate in effect on the approval date would apply.

Any pre-cursor application relating to a building permit that is “in-stream” with a municipality/collection entity on December 6, 2023, is subject to the DCC in accordance with the rate schedule in Bylaw #143-2021, if the related building permit is issued by December 5, 2024. If the related building permit, on which municipalities impose their similar charges, is issued on or after December 6, 2024, then the DCC rate in effect on the issuance date would apply.

For subdivision or permit applications submitted after December 6, 2023, the DCC rate imposed on the development will be the rate in effect, according to the rate schedule, at the time the subdivision approval is received or the building permit is issued, as applicable.

Please see illustrative table below:

Application Submitted by

 Applicable Rate if Permit Issued by

Dec. 6, 2023

Dec. 7, 2023

Jan. 1, 2024

Dec. 31, 2023

Jan. 1, 2024

Dec. 5, 2024

Dec. 6, 2024

✔

Note 1

Note 1

Note 1

Note 2

✔

Note 1

Note 2

Note 2

Note 2

✔

N/A

Note 2

Note 2

Note 2

Note 1: In-stream protection applies, subject to rates in DCC Bylaw #143-2021.

Note 2: No in-stream protection, subject to rates in DCC Bylaw #151-2023.

More Information

Exemptions are set out in section 3.(4) of the Regional Transportation DCC Bylaw and are summarized below:

  1. a development authorized by a building permit for the construction, alteration or extension of a building or part of a building that is, or will be, after such work, exempt from taxation under any of the following:

    1. section 220(1)(h) of the Community Charter;

    2. section 224(2)(f) of the Community Charter;

    3. section 15(1)(d) of the Taxation (Rural Area) Act, RSBC 1996, c.448;

    4. section 396(1)(c)(iv) of the Vancouver Charter; or

    5. a law of a treaty first nation that provides for an exemption similar to an exemption under paragraphs (i) to (iv) above

  2. a development that has already paid the Regional Transportation DCC where any further development is not imposing an additional capital cost burden to TransLink – essentially where the development is not resulting in net-new units/space within the same use

  3. the construction, alteration or extension of self-contained units in a building authorized by building permit if each unit is no larger than 29 m2 or 312.153 ft2 and each unit is only for residential use

  4. a development authorized by building permit where the value of work authorized does not exceed $50,000.

Not-for-Profit Affordable Rental Housing eligible for a waiver of the DCCs is a Residential Use Development, Combination Development, or Supportive Living Housing Development comprising housing that is:

  1. owned, leased or otherwise held by a Not-for-Profit Society, BC Housing, CMHC, a Non-Profit Municipal Housing Corporation or a Registered Charity at the time of any application for, or issuance of, a waiver of Development Cost Charges;

  2. operated as rental housing for, and made available to, people who meet Eligibility Criteria, in exchange for Rent; and

  3. governed by the terms of an agreement and/or covenant with the Province of British Columbia, BC Housing, CMHC or a municipality regarding the operation of the housing and stipulating how the Dwelling Units will be occupied and managed;

but not including:

  1. a community care facility under the Community Care and Assisted Living Act, SBC 2002, c. 75;

  2. a continuing care facility under the Continuing Care Act, RSBC 1996, c. 70;

  3. public or private hospital under the Hospital Act, RSBC 1996, c. 200;

  4. a Provincial mental health facility, an observation unit or a psychiatric unit designated under the Mental Health Act, RSBC 1996, c. 288; or

  5. a housing-based health facility that provides hospitality support services and personal health care;

Not-for-Profit Student Rental Housing eligible for a 50% reduction of the DCCs is a Residential Use Development or Combination Development that is:

  1. owned and operated by a Post-Secondary Institution or by a Government Business Enterprise on behalf of such Post-Secondary Institution at the time of any application for, or issuance of, a reduction of Development Cost Charges;

  2. purpose built to provide rental housing for students attending that Post-Secondary Institution;

  3. operated on a cost recovery basis; and

  4. governed by the terms of an agreement:

    1. made with Greater Vancouver Sewerage and Drainage District pursuant to the Greater Vancouver Sewerage and Drainage District Development Cost Charge Waiver or Reduction for Not-for-Profit Rental Housing Bylaw No. 314, 2018 and confirming that the use of the Development is restricted for a period of 60 years for the purpose of providing rental housing for students attending that Post-Secondary Institution, that the housing will be operated by the Post-Secondary Institution or its designated agent, and will be operated on a cost recovery basis – a copy of which agreement is submitted as part of any application pursuant to this Bylaw; or

    2. made with the Authority and confirming that the use of the Development is restricted for a period of 60 years for the purpose of providing rental housing for students attending that Post-Secondary Institution, that the housing will be operated by the Post-Secondary Institution or a Government Business Enterprise of that Post- Secondary Institution, and will be operated on a cost recovery basis;

To apply for a waiver for eligible Not-for-Profit Affordable Rental Housing or reduction for eligible Not-for-Profit Student Rental Housing, please see our Information Guide and Application Form.