Purpose
The City of Guelph is updating its development charges bylaw under the authority of the Development Charges Act, 1997. Development charges help fund the capital costs to accommodate growth within the city. The current bylaw will expire on March 2, 2024, and a revised bylaw must be ready to take its place. First, a Development Charges Background Study must be completed before a new development charges bylaw can be adopted to allow development charges to be collected past this date.
The draft rates are part of the preliminary results of the Development Charges Background Study undertaken by City staff with the retained consultant, Watson and Associates Economists Ltd. A review group made up of residents, developers, commercial property owners and community groups provided input into the study on behalf of the Guelph community.
Process timeline
2022
July 2022 – Data collection begins.
Fall 2022 – Peer review group meetings begin.
November 28, 2022 – Bill 23: More Homes, Built Faster Act received royal assent.
2023
Spring 2023 – Peer review group meetings continue.
July 19, 2023 – The 2023 Development Charges Background Study Update is presented to Council, featuring the draft 2023 Development Charges Background Study.
July 2023 – Draft 2023 Development Charges Background Study available on HaveYourSay for public feedback.
October 2023 – Final 2023 Development Charges Background Study presented at public meeting required under section 12 of the Development Charges Act.
2024
January 2024 – Council considers new development charges bylaw, prepared based on learnings from the background study.