Development cost charges (DCCs) in Langford, Colwood, Saanich and Victoria are one-time fees a municipality collects for each new lot or dwelling unit to pay for growth-related roads, sewers, drainage, water and parks. They are separate from building permit fees and they are rarely in a first budget. On a fourplex they run from roughly $39,000 to $69,000 depending on the municipality, and a new CRD regional water charge adds more from April 2, 2027. Here are the current rates, with the bylaw and date behind each one.
What are development cost charges and when are they paid?
DCCs are set by municipal bylaw under the Local Government Act. They are usually collected when the building permit is issued, although Langford's summary sheet shows its single-family road and storm charges collected at subdivision. On top of the municipal charges you may see three others:
- CRD water charges: the Juan de Fuca Water DCC on the West Shore today, and the new Regional Water Supply DCC everywhere from April 2, 2027.
- School Site Acquisition Charge: a provincial per-unit charge collected for the school district. In Langford and Colwood (SD62) it runs from $600 to $1,000 per unit by density.
- Amenity cost charges (ACCs): a newer charge for community amenities. The City of Victoria adopted one in 2025.
Development cost charges by municipality (per unit, 2026)
Totals below add the listed municipal and CRD components. Langford figures use the "south of Sooke Road" storm rate. School site charges are shown separately because they depend on density.
| Municipality | Single family (per lot) | Duplex / tri / fourplex (per unit) | Townhouse (per unit) | Apartment (per unit) | Source and date |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Langford | $14,179 + SSAC $1,000 | $9,767 + sewer $742.50 per duplex lot + SSAC | $9,788.25 + SSAC | $7,070.04 + SSAC | DCC Summary Sheet, updated May 14, 2025 (Bylaws 2021 to 2024, 1600; CRD 2758) |
| Colwood | $19,722.10 + SSAC $1,000 | $15,196.05 + SSAC | $14,803.05 + SSAC | $10,910.30 + SSAC | Colwood DCC sheet, updated June 2025 (Bylaws 2037, 1900, 1836, 1500; CRD 2758) |
| Saanich | $14,933 | $11,836 | $10,475 | $8,436 | Bylaw 9553, Table 6.0, amendment 9987 adopted April 29, 2024 (district-wide only) |
| City of Victoria | DCC: $25,149.91 low density (per lot or unit), $14,865.29 medium density, $10,442.96 high density. Plus ACC: $3,366.47 low, $2,290.80 medium (incl. garden suites and ground-oriented 3+ units), $1,394.40 high. | Fee guide, August 2026; ACC Bylaw 25-048, adopted Oct 2, 2025 | |||
What is inside each number
- Langford single family: roads $5,876, storm $1,655 (or $1,593 in North Langford), park improvement $3,146, park acquisition $211, sewer $495 (lots of 400 m2 or more) and CRD Juan de Fuca water $2,796.
- Langford duplex unit: roads $3,865, storm $1,028, park improvement $1,948, park acquisition $130 and CRD water $2,796 (the low-density rate applies per unit for a two-unit dwelling).
- Colwood medium density (townhouse, duplex, triplex, fourplex, detached secondary suite): park acquisition $2,537.97, park improvement $2,455.67, roads $5,268.41, sewer $2,488 ($2,095 for townhouses) and CRD water $2,446.
- Saanich duplex to quadplex unit: transportation $4,243, drainage $781, sewer $1,551, water $1,040 and parks $4,221. Area-specific Cordova Bay charges can apply on top.
The new CRD water charge from April 2, 2027
The CRD Board adopted the Regional Water Supply DCC Bylaw 4658 on September 9, 2026. It comes into effect on April 2, 2027 in all 13 member municipalities, including Victoria, Saanich, Langford, Colwood, Oak Bay, Esquimalt, View Royal, Central Saanich and Sooke.
| Density class | Examples | Charge |
|---|---|---|
| Low | Single family, two-unit | $9,044 per lot |
| Medium | Triplex, fourplex, townhouse, manufactured home | $7,914 per unit |
| High | Apartment | $5,087 per unit |
Worked example: DCCs on a new fourplex
Four units of medium density, permit issued before April 2, 2027, school site charges excluded:
- Saanich: 4 x $11,836 = $47,344.
- Colwood: 4 x $15,196.05 = $60,784.20, plus $800 to $900 per unit in school site charges.
- City of Victoria: if the city classes it as medium density, 4 x ($14,865.29 + $2,290.80) = $68,624.36.
- Langford: Langford's sheet does not list a fourplex category. At the townhouse rate it would be 4 x $9,788.25 = $39,153. Confirm the category with the city.
After April 2, 2027, add 4 x $7,914 = $31,656 in each case for the CRD regional water charge, unless in-stream protection applies.
Are secondary suites and garden suites charged DCCs?
It depends on the municipality. Saanich's bylaw says a secondary suite or garden suite is "deemed not to be a separate dwelling unit" for single-family DCC purposes. Colwood's medium-density rate explicitly includes a detached secondary suite, and its park DCC bylaw exempts units of 29 m2 or less and work valued at $50,000 or less. Victoria's ACC charges a garden suite at the medium-density rate. Langford's sheet does not address suites, so ask the city. These rules change the economics of a duplex versus a garden suite or a house with a suite.
Does the Victoria fee holiday waive DCCs?
The City of Victoria's permit fee holiday runs from January 29, 2026 to January 29, 2027 for City permits and rezoning. The announcement does not say DCCs or amenity cost charges are waived, and the city's August 2026 fee guide still lists them. Budget for them and confirm with the city before you count on any saving.
How to budget for development cost charges
- Get the current rate sheet from the municipality at design stage, not at permit stage. Rates are amended by bylaw, often with inflation adjustments.
- Count units the way the bylaw does. A suite may or may not be a unit.
- Check for area-specific charges, such as Cordova Bay in Saanich or storm areas in Langford.
- Add the CRD regional water charge if your permit will issue on or after April 2, 2027.
- Carry DCCs as their own line beside the building permit fee and timeline.
For how many units your lot can hold in the first place, start with our SSMUH units-per-lot guide, then the local detail for Langford or Saanich. ACAP LTD includes DCCs in every budget it prepares as general contractor. Ask us for a project budget that shows them line by line.