Departments

Development Cost Charges (DCCs)

Local governments in BC use Development Cost Charges (DCCs) levied on new projects to help fund the cost of hard infrastructure: water, sewer, drainage, road and parkland needed to accommodate growth.

DCCs are intended to reflect the capital costs that are imposed by new development. This capital burden can vary widely within a community based on factors such as the condition and capacity of existing infrastructure, the location of new development, the type of land use, and the characteristics of development projects.

The Village of Pemberton first proposed a Development Cost Charge Bylaw in 1995. At that time the bylaw only received three readings but was updated and the Village of Pemberton Council, after receiving approval from the Inspector of Municipalities, adopted Bylaw No. 521 on May 10, 2004 which imposed Development Cost Charges on subdivision of land and, in certain cases, building permits.

The Village Core included costs for the wastewater and water system upgrade, park land acquisition and roadwork construction and the Industrial Park for water and wastewater improvements.

The bylaw was updated in 2013 to provide a clearer understanding of the capital projects and required Development Cost Charges (DCC) for each of the residential, commercial, institutional and industrial uses to enable future development in the municipality.

The DCCs in the updated bylaw were reduced from the previous bylaw for all uses except industrial. The increase in the Industrial DCCs is a result of including new DCCs for roads and drainage.

When is a DCC Payable?

Every person who obtains one of the following:

  • approval of a subdivision of a parcel of land: or
  • a Building Permit authorizing the construction or alteration of a building or other structure

must pay to the Village the applicable development cost charges calculated in accordance with Schedule A of Development Cost Charges Bylaw No. 723, 2013.

Exemptions

Development cost chargers do not apply to a development authorized by a building permit if:

  1. the work authorized under the permit will be exempt from taxation under a statute;
  2. after construction, alteration or extension, the building:
    • will contain fewer than 4 self-contained dwelling unit, each to be used solely for residential purposes; and
    • be put to no other use than the residential use in those dwelling units;
  3. the value of the work authorized by the permit does not exceed $50,000, or an amount established by regulation by the minister; or
  4. in relation to the construction, alteration or extension of self-contained dwelling units in a building authorized under the permit, each unit is no larger in area than 20 square metres, and each unit is to be put to no other use than residential.

Charges are due and payable at the time of approval of the subdivision or issuance of the building permit.

Other Development Related Charges

In addition to DCCs, other related fees and charges may also apply, including:

  • Road frontage charges;
  • Utility connection charges;
  • Application fees