Development Charges update

March 4, 2025

Oxford County Council adopted the Addendum to the 2024 Development Charges Background Study and the Development Charge By-law Amendment (No. 6709-2025) on February 26, 2025.

• Fact sheet: Oxford County Development Charges with charge rate schedules (February 26, 2025)
  
  
• Oxford County Development Charge By-law No. 6709-2025 (February 26, 2025)
  
  
• Addendum to 2024 Development Charge Background Study - For Public Circulation and Comment (Jan 22, 2025)
  
  
• 2024 Development Charge Background Study - Office Consolidation (includes the complete study with the addendum)

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. Learn more about the 2024 Background Study process

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. Learn more

On February 12, 2025, Oxford County held a public meeting to share information and receive public input on the proposed changes as part of the regular meeting of County Council. Read the public notice