Development Cost Charges

DCCs are paid by applicants for:

• Subdivision approval to create single family lots; and
• Building permits to construct multi-family, commercial, industrial, and institutional development

Note: developments are exempt from DCCs when the value of work authorized at building permit does not exceed $50,000 as per the DCC Bylaw. The Local Government Act specifies additional provisions for DCC exemptions. See the Planning and Development front counter staff for details.

DCCs are used to fund growth-related infrastructure:

• Transportation: new roads and bridges, road widening, capacity improvements, bridge replacement, pedestrian/bike overpasses, sidewalk and street improvements, turning bays and signalization;
• Water: new and upgraded water mains, new water pump stations and new reservoirs;
• Sewer: new trunk sewer mains, new sanitary pump stations and sewer upgrades;
• Drainage: water quality ponds, culvert upgrades, new storm pump stations, stream erosion control works and storm sewer upgrades; and,
• Parks: acquiring parkland for neighbourhood parks, community parks, city parks, linear parks, trails and greenways throughout the City and completing park improvements

DCCs do not fund infrastructure that services existing residents and businesses, nor do they fund operation and maintenance costs for roads, water, sanitary and storm infrastructure, and parks. DCCs cannot be used to fund ice sheets or arenas, pools or recreation centres, civic facilities or parking lots. Some types of park improvements, such as tennis courts, basketball courts and synthetic fields are not eligible.

The revised DCC rates will apply at the stages of subdivision approval or when a Building Permit is issued. These fees are crucial for the City to ensure that new developments contribute to the infrastructure required for future growth. 

Under provincial legislation, in-stream protection applies to development applications that were submitted to the City prior to the effective date of the new DCC bylaw (September 24, 2024). To qualify for protection under the previous (2017) DCC rates, the following conditions must be met:  

• Building Permit applications: The Building Permit must be granted within one year of the effective date (by September 23, 2025)
• Rezoning and Development Permit applications: These applications must result in a Building Permit being issued within one year of the effective date (by September 23, 2025)
• Subdivision applications: The subdivision must be granted within one year of the effective date (by September 23, 2025)

Applications submitted after September 24, 2024, or that do not meet the conditions outlined within the 12-month grace period will be subject to the new DCC rates.  

• Subdivisions: DCCs must be paid upon subdivision approval
• Building Permits: DCCs must be paid when the Building Permit is issued

The City recommends that developers and applicants review their current applications to ensure they are aware of what DCC rates apply.  For any questions or further assistance, applicants are advised to contact their file manager or reach out to the City's Planning Department at Planning@MapleRidge.ca.

The City is working on additional DCC Bylaw amendments, which will consider updated development and infrastructure requirements due to Provincial housing legislation and other capital projects.

In addition to the City's updated DCC rates, the City is required to collect DCC’s on behalf of TransLink and Metro Vancouver.  Please refer to:

• Metro Vancouver: Greater Vancouver Sewerage and Drainage District Development Cost Charge Bylaw / GVS and DD Bylaw
• Metro Vancouver: Greater Vancouver Water District Development Cost Charge Bylaw / GVWD Bylaw
• Metro Vancouver: Regional Parkland Aquisition Development Cost Charge Bylaw
• South Coast British Columbia Transportation Authority Development Cost Charges Bylaw/Translink DCC Bylaw
• School Site Acquisition Charge / SSAC

Using the following tools:

• Growth statistics and projections based on the Metro Vancouver Regional Growth Strategy and the City of Ridge's Official Community Plan;
• Capital projects from existing infrastructure Master Plans such as the Strategic Transportation Plan and the Parks, Recreation & Culture Master Plan;
• Capital costs from existing studies and costs from recent capital project tenders; and
• The portion of the capital cost related to servicing growth is used in the DCC calculation

Starting January 1, 2026, the new Development Cost Charges (DCCs) instalment fee structure will apply to all applicants. If your first payment instalment occurs on or after January 1, 2026, the new fee structure will automatically apply.

• If you received a fee summary in 2025 and have not made your first payment instalment until January 1, 2026 or after, then the new fee structure will apply.
• If you made the first payment instalment in 2025, then the old fee structure will apply.

The fee structure will move from three equal payment instalments with full payment within two years to a new fee structure, where 25% of the fee summary is due upfront and the remaining 75% is deferrable until the earlier of two possible scenarios is reached:

1. Four years after the date of either the subdivision received approval or the building permit is granted issuance, or
2. 15 business days after all required occupancy permits have been issued and the City gives written notice to the developer that the conditions, if any, have been satisfied and payment of the balance of the charge is due

The following steps outline the basic DCC calculation:

• Land use and growth projections are established by the City planning documents; growth statistics and various growth rates are reviewed;
• Capital infrastructure plans are costed;
• The cost of works that benefit growth (DCC Recoverable Costs) are then divided by the projected growth