Development Charges update

January 15, 2025

Oxford County is updating its development charge policy, by-law and underlying background study. The County is proposing to:

remove the non-statutory exemption related to industrial buildings;
remove the long-term care charge; and,
update projects where new information has been received since completion of the Background Study in 2024.

Oxford County is hosting a public meeting to share information and receive public input on the proposed changes:

Wednesday, February 12, 2025 at 9:30 a.m.
Oxford County Administration Building - Council Chamber
21 Reeve Street, Woodstock
Read the public notice

This will be a hybrid meeting allowing both in person and virtual (online) participation. Public meetings and council meetings are also broadcast live at www.oxfordcounty.ca/livestream.

If you would like to participate in the public meeting, please contact the Office of the Clerk by February 10, 2025, for options and details.

Please check back soon for the Addendum to the 2024 Development Charge Background Study.

About the Background Study

Oxford County and seven local area municipalities worked together in 2024 to update their development charge background studies to prepare to pass new development charge by-laws. Development charges are the fees paid by land developers to help finance the municipal infrastructure and services that are needed to support new growth in residential, commercial and industrial areas. Through development charges, municipalities are able to provide reliable and financially sustainable roads, water, wastewater, fire and ambulance, parks and more.

Oxford County's 2024 Development Charges Background Study was posted for public review and comment on April 12, 2024.

On June 10, Oxford County issued an Addendum to the Background Study with the passing of the Cutting Red Tape to Build More Homes Act, 2024, on June 6, 2024. This legislation included a number of changes to the Development Charges Act.

The purpose of the Addendum to the Background Study is to include development charge eligible costs for growth-related studies and reflect other changes in the Development Charges Act, such as reducing the development charge “freeze” from 2-years to 18 months, removal of the statutory phase-in of the charge in new by-laws, and other amendments.

Public consultation

Oxford County undertook an extensive consultation process to gather input on the 2024 Development Charges Background Study, including special stakeholder meetings, a public meeting, online comment form and direct outreach to the project team.