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Education Development Charges (EDCs)

2024 EDC Review

The Board is in the process of reviewing its Education Development Charge. As part of that process the Board would like to engage with local stakeholders to provide information about the EDC process, some general timelines, and have an opportunity for interested parties to make any comments or ask any questions.  The information sessions will be organized by the Boards’ consultant and Board staff, with their EDC legal counsel also in attendance. 

Stakeholder Information Sessions:

Public Meetings: Full Details-Public Notice    *NEW*

Documents:

 

2019 EDC Information

This following information summarizes the EDCs imposed by the Upper Grand District School Board and the Wellington Catholic District School Board. This information is intended only as a guide. Interested parties should review the approved by-laws and consult with the municipality in which the development approval is sought, to determine the applicable charges that may apply to specific development proposals.

EDC Rates

The 2019 EDC by-law imposes a single uniform residential development charge rate against development of all lands with the County of Wellington (including Guelph) and the County of Dufferin.

Ontario Regulation 55/19 permits a rate increase of $300 or 5% of the previous year’s EDC rate in the second year of the by-law and in each subsequent year of the by-law.  EDC rates effective May 20, 2019 to May 19, 2024 are shown in the table below and show an annual increased charge of $300 in both Wellington and Dufferin Counties.

There is no non-residential charge on development for the Upper Grand District School Board.

Region Current 100% Residential Rate Calculated 100% Residential Rate

Year 1

May 20, 2019 to May 19, 2020

Year 2

May 20, 2020 to May 19, 2021

Year 3

May 20, 2021 to May 19, 2022

Year 4

May 20, 2022 to May 19, 2023

Year 5

May 20, 2023 to May 19, 2024
County of Dufferin $832 $2,734 $1,132 $1,432 $1,732 $2,032 $2,332
County of Wellington (incl. City of Guelph) $1,567 $2,222 $1,867 $2,167 $2,222 $2,222 $2,222

In addition to the statutory exemptions required by the Education Act, publicly funded hospitals are the only discretionary exemption set out in the by-laws. In accordance with section 19 of the University of Guelph Act, 1964, S.O. 1964 c. 120, properly vested in the University of Guelph and any lands and premises leased to and occupied by the University are exempt from education development charges under these by-laws so long as the same are actually used and occupied for University or University related purposes, those purposes being set out in section 3 of the University of Guelph Act, 1964, as amended.

EDC Charges and Accessory Units

Bill 23 and EDC’s

When Bill 23 (More Homes Built Faster Act, 2022) came into force it applied several amendments to the Development Charges Act, 1997, the Planning Act and other legislation. The Bill did not affect the legislation that governs Education Development Charges (EDC), nor are we aware of any changes currently being contemplated by the Provincial Government.

Municipalities should continue to collect EDCs upon the issuance of a building permit for residential development and remit such funds to the Board in accordance with the UGDSB’s current EDC By-law.

Accessory Unit Development Charges

For information about when EDC’s are/are not applicable regarding accessory dwelling units please see:  Applicable Fees for Accessory Units

Legislative Authority

Division E of Part IX of the Education Act enables a district school board to pass by-laws for the imposition of education development charges against residential and/or non-residential development if residential development in the area of jurisdiction of the board increases education land costs, and the development requires one or more of the actions set out below and described in section 257.54 of the Education Act:

Only one Education Development Charge is leviable for a development under the provisions of the by-law, and is payable at the time of building permit issuance, even if more than one planning approval is required.

Timing of Payment of Education Development Charges

Education development charges are payable to the municipality approving the development, upon the date that a building permit is issued.

By-law Inspection

EDC by-laws, adopted by the Upper Grand District School Board can be found through links at the top of this page.

2019 EDC Background Study Information

On October 12, 2018, a change was made to the legislation that governs education development charges (“EDCs”). The Minister of Education enacted Ontario Regulation 438/18 which amended Ontario Regulation 20/98. The amendment effectively froze EDCs at the rates that were in effect on August 31, 2018. This applied to all new EDC by-laws. As a result, the Upper Grand District School Board and the Wellington Catholic District School Board would not be able to impose EDCs under the by-laws they propose to enact on May 15, 2019, that are greater than the rates the Boards currently impose under their respective 2014 by-laws.

However, on March 29, 2019, the Government of Ontario further amended the EDC legislation. Ontario Regulation 55/19 amended Ontario Regulation 20/98 and one of the main purposes of the amendment was to lift the aforementioned rate freeze and provide a provisional phase-in of proposed EDC rates.  A school board’s existing EDC rates could now be increased by $300 or by 5% of the existing rate, whichever is greater.  In addition, in the second year of the by-law and each subsequent year of the by-law, the rate could increase by a further $300 or 5% of the previous year’s EDC rate.