Burlington Development Charges & Infrastructure Bylaw

Land Use and Zoning Ontario 3 Minutes Read · published May 24, 2026 Flag of Ontario · By Daniel Roy

Burlington, Ontario requires development proponents to pay development charges and meet infrastructure obligations as part of land development approvals. This article explains the city processes, responsible departments, common compliance issues and practical steps to calculate, pay or appeal charges under Burlington bylaws and policies. For official definitions, rates, and forms consult the City of Burlington development charges page and related planning guidance.[1]

Overview

Development charges fund growth-related infrastructure such as roads, parks, water and wastewater systems. Charges are typically calculated at site plan approval, subdivision draft approval or building permit stage and may be subject to credits, phasing or agreements. The Planning and Building department administers development approvals while Finance and Development Review coordinate charge assessments.

Confirm applicable rates with the city early in project planning.

Penalties & Enforcement

Enforcement of unpaid development charges and failures to meet infrastructure obligations is handled through municipal bylaws and enforcement procedures. The City of Burlington enforcer for bylaw compliance is the By-law Enforcement office and related planning/building staff; complaints and inspections are managed through official City channels.[2]

  • Fines - specific monetary amounts for unpaid development charges or bylaw contraventions: not specified on the cited page.[2]
  • Escalation - details for first, repeat or continuing offences: not specified on the cited page.
  • Non-monetary sanctions - orders to comply, stop-work orders, registration of liens, requisition of securities, or court action may be used.
  • Inspection and complaint pathways - inspections initiated by complaints or routine compliance checks; use the City reporting pages to request enforcement.[2]
  • Appeals - statutory appeal routes may include the Ontario Land Tribunal or council review depending on the instrument; time limits for appeals are not specified on the cited pages.
If a specific fine or time limit is needed, request the current bylaw schedule from the City contact listed below.

Applications & Forms

The City provides development charge schedules, calculation worksheets and submission instructions on its official development charges page. Specific form names and fees are listed there when published; if a form or fee is not shown, it is not specified on the cited page.[1]

Common Violations

  • Failure to pay charges at building permit issuance - typically triggers stop-work or registration actions.
  • Unapproved changes to serviced lots affecting infrastructure obligations.
  • Failure to secure required agreements or securities under subdivision/site-plan conditions.
Document all communications with planning and finance to reduce dispute risk.

Action Steps

  • Request the current development charges schedule and calculation worksheet from Planning and Building early.
  • Submit required forms and securities with applications for subdivision, site plan or building permits.
  • Pay assessed charges at the time and place specified by the City to avoid enforcement actions.
  • If you dispute an assessment, seek the listed appeal route and note any statutory time limits; if not published, time limits are not specified on the cited page.

FAQ

What are development charges in Burlington?
Development charges are municipal fees collected to pay for growth-related infrastructure required because of new development. See the City's development charges overview for details.[1]
How are charges calculated?
Charges are calculated using the City schedule and a project-specific calculation often at building permit or site-plan approval; contact Planning and Finance for the worksheet and interpretation.[1]
Can charges be deferred or exempted?
Deferrals, credits or exemptions depend on bylaw provisions and approved agreements; specific eligibility rules are set out in City documents or bylaw schedules and may require an executed agreement.

How-To

  1. Confirm applicable development charges and schedules with the City of Burlington Planning and Building office before submitting your application.
  2. Complete the official calculation worksheet or provide required supporting materials with your site-plan or building permit application.
  3. Pay assessed charges or arrange approved security/deferral as specified by the City prior to permit issuance.
  4. If you disagree with the assessment, follow the appeal/objection steps listed by the City and note any deadlines indicated in the governing instrument.

Key Takeaways

  • Confirm charges and documentation needs early to avoid delays at permit stage.
  • Use official City contacts for calculations, payments and enforcement inquiries.

Help and Support / Resources

  1. [1] City of Burlington - Development Charges
  2. [2] City of Burlington - By-law Enforcement

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Daniel Roy

Daniel Roy

Municipal Bylaw Analyst

Daniel analyses municipal bylaws across Canadian provinces and territories. He checks every guide against official municipal and provincial sources.