Development Cost Charges and Amenity Cost Charges

City DCC/ACC Bylaws & Rates

• Development Cost Charge Bylaw 2017 No.7252

  "Development Cost Charge Bylaw 2017 No. 7252" is the City’s current DCC bylaw. An information sheet about Bylaw No. 7252 is available at this link. 

• RDN Southern Community Sewer Service Area Development Cost Charges Bylaw 2009 No. 1547

  New development in the City of Nanaimo can also be subject to the "Southern Community Sewer Service Area Development Cost Charges Bylaw No. 1547, 2009".

  The Bylaw No. 1547 applies a DCC rate at the time of subdivision approval for new single family lots and mobile home park lots. Also, Bylaw No. 1547 applies a DCC rate at the time of building permit issuance for residential, commercial, industrial, campground and institutional development. 

  For more information about Bylaw No. 1547, please contact the Regional District of Nanaimo: rcu@rdn.bc.ca

• Development Cost Charge Bylaw 2026 No. 7438

  On 2026-APR-20, Council gave three readings to "City of Nanaimo Development Cost Charges Bylaw 2026, No. 7438", and Council will consider final reading of this bylaw in 2027-JAN. This means that after 2027-JAN the rates in DCC Bylaw No. 7438 may apply to your subdivision or building permit application.

  Why does the City need a new DCC Bylaw?

  City Plan (Official Community Plan) anticipates growth of 40,000 people over the next 25 years; growth which relies on infrastructure and City services. The City’s DCC bylaw was last updated seven years ago, and the revenue collected falls short of what is needed to build the necessary infrastructure to maintain service delivery in Nanaimo. More information about the project can be found at this link.

• South Nanaimo Area Development Cost Charge Bylaw 2026 No. 7439

  On 2026-APR-20 Council gave three readings to "South Nanaimo Area-specific Transportation Development Cost Charge Bylaw 2026, No. 7439", and Council will consider final reading of this bylaw in 2027-JAN. This means that after 2027-JAN the rates in DCC Bylaw No. 7439 may be an additional charge at the time of subdivision approval or building permit issuance.

• Development Cost Charge Reduction Bylaw 2026 No. 7449

  On 2026-APR-20 Council gave three readings to "City of Nanaimo Development Cost Charge Reduction Bylaw 2026, No. 7449", and Council will consider final reading of this bylaw in 2027-JAN. When adopted, the DCC Reduction Bylaw No. 7449 provides the opportunity to reduce the total DCC fee by 50% for each not-for-profit rental dwelling unit and supportive housing unit that meets the following eligibility criteria:

  • The not-for-profit rental dwelling unit or supportive housing unit must be owned or leased by a government agency or a registered non-profit society.
  • The not-for-profit rental dwelling unit or supportive housing unit must be rented for a monthly rate that is less than the current average market rent rate (for a comparable size unit) published by the Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation for the City of Nanaimo.

  • An operating agreement must be in place to manage the not-for-profit rental dwelling unit and supportive housing unit, and the agreement must be with a government agency or registered non-profit society.
  • The commitment to the not-for-profit rental dwelling unit and supportive housing unit must be for a minimum of sixty (60) years.
  • A covenant under section 219 of the Land Title Act, and a housing agreement under section 483 of the Local Government Act, must be registered on the title of the land, and must have conditions to secure the eligibility criteria listed above. For information about how to enter into a housing agreement with the City, go to this link.

• Amenity Cost Charge Bylaw 2026 No. 7440

  On 2026-MAY-04 Council adopted the "City of Nanaimo Amenity Cost Charges Bylaw 2026, No. 7440". Effective 2029-JAN-01 an ACC fee will be applied to at the time of subdivision approval or the issuance of a building permit.

  ACC Bylaw No. 7440 authorizes the City to use the ACC reserve funds collected for the following amenities:

  • Improvements and expansions as outlined in the Beban Park Master Plan;
  • Improvements and expansions in the Stadium District; and,
  • A community recreation facility in the South Gate Urban Centre.