TAKE NOTICE that on April 19, 2023, the Halton District School Board held a public meeting pursuant to Section 257.60 of the Education Act. The purpose of the meeting was to review the current education development charge policies of the Board and to solicit public input. Information concerning the policy review for the Board’s current education development charge by-law will that was made available prior to April 14, 2023, at the Board’s administrative offices during regular office hours and on the Board’s website at www.hdsb.ca.
Education Development Charges
Education Development Charges (EDCs) are used by school boards to fund site acquisition and other site related costs to accommodate for students from new residential development. Residential and non-residential development in the Region of Halton are subject to both Education Development Charges by Halton District School Board and Halton Catholic District School Board. The local municipality collects Education Development Charges on behalf of both school boards at the time of building permit issuance.
2023 EDC By-law
On May 17, 2023, the Board approved the enactment of a new Education Development Charges by-law, which will come in effect on June 1, 2023. The Notice of Passing was circulated via email and will be posted in the June 1st local papers. The updated charges are listed below:
|
Type of Development |
Current 2023 EDC Rate until May 31, 2023 |
Year 1 |
Year 2 |
Year 3 |
Year 4 |
Year 5 |
2023 Maximum Rate |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
Residential (per unit) |
$ 5,792 per residential unit |
$6,092 per residential unit |
$6,396.60 per residential unit |
$6,716.43 per residential unit |
$7,052.25 per residential unit |
$7,404.86 per residential unit |
$8,715 per residential unit |
|
Non-residential (per square foot of Gross Floor Area) |
$ 1.41 per square foot/$15.18 per square metre |
$1.51 per square foot/$16.25 per square metre |
$1.61 per square foot/$17.33 per square metre |
$1.71 per square foot/$18.41 per square metre |
$1.81 per square foot/$19.48 per square metre |
$1.91 per square foot/$20.56 per square metre |
$2.64 per square foot/$28.42 per square metre |
Over the last months, the Board has hosted three (3) public meetings prior to the passing of the new by-law, as required by legislation. The meetings were convened during regularly scheduled Board of Trustees Meetings, dates of which are provided below.
Public Notice and Public Meetings for the 2023 EDC By-Law
Over the last months, the Board has hosted a total of three (3) public meetings prior to the passing of the new by-law, as required by legislations. The meetings were convened during regularly scheduled Board of Trustees Meetings, held at the J.W. Singleton Education Centre (2050 Guelph Line, Burlington), dates of which are provided below.Note that in accordance with the governing legislation, on Thursday March 23, 2023 the Board gave notice of the above public meeting dates in the local newspapers, and also made the 2023 Education Development Charges Background Study available to the public on the Board website prior to the public meetings (see resources section below for documents).
On May 16, 2023, the Ministry of Education provided their approvals in accordance with Ontario Regulation 20/98, s.10, Paragraph 1, enabling the Board to pass the 2023 EDC By-law as presented on May 17, 2023.
Take Notice Meetings
First Meeting - Wednesday, April 19, 2023, at 7:00 p.m. - Policy Review Public Meeting
Second Meeting - Wednesday, April 19, 2023, at 7:30 p.m. - Successor By-law Public Meeting
TAKE NOTICE that on April 19, 2023, the Halton District School Board held a second public meeting pursuant to Section 257.63 of the Education Act. The purpose of the second public meeting was to consider the continued imposition of education development charges and a successor by-law and to inform the public generally about the Board’s education development charge proposal. The education development charge background study required under Section 257.61 of the Education Act (including the proposed EDC by-law) setting out the Board’s education development charge proposal will be available on or before April 4, 2023, at the Board’s administrative offices during regular office hours.
Third Meeting - Wednesday, May 17, 2023, at 7:00 p.m. - In Consideration of By-law Adoption
TAKE NOTICE that on May 17, 2023, the Halton District School Board held a third public meeting. The purpose of this meeting was to consider the enactment of a successor education development charges by-law that will apply in the Region of Halton. All interested parties were invited to attend the public meetings. Details on how to observe the meetings virtually were made available on the Board’s website at www.hdsb.ca. Any person who attended the meeting(s) may make a representation to the Board in respect of these matters. The Board will also consider any written submissions. All submissions received in writing and those expressed at the public meetings was considered prior to the enactment of an education development charge by-law. Submissions and requests to address the Board as a delegation should be submitted to: Jeanne Carrillo, Manager, Office of the Director of Education Halton District School Board, 2050 Guelph Line, Burlington, ON, L7R 3Z2 Telephone: (905) 335-3663, Ext. 3296 • Email: carrilloj@hdsb.ca
Subsequent to the By-law passage meeting on May 17, 2023, the Board provided follow-up notifications to the community via email and via newspaper outlets, the latter in accordance with the legislation, advising of the by-law passage.
Additional Resources
- HDSB EDC Region of Halton Notice of Public Meetings for EDC By-law
- Board Report 23049: 2023 Education Development Charge Renewal: Policy Presentation (non statutory) - Report
- Board Report 23049: 2023 Education Development Charge Renewal: Policy Presentation (non statutory) - Presentation
- Board Report 23063: 2023 Education Development Charge Renewal: Public Meeting & 2023 Background Study Presentation - Report
- Board Report 23084: 2023 Education Development Charge Renewal: By-law Passage Meeting - Report
- Notice of Passing: 2023 Education Development Charge Ad
- Notice of Passing: 2023 Education Development Charge Notice
- 2023 Education Development Charge Passage Meeting Presentation
- Background Study
- 2023 EDC By-law
- Policy Presentation #1 and #2
- EDC Accessory Unit Chart
2021 EDC By-law Amendment
The Education Development Charges (EDC) 2019 By-law amendment were approved on May 15, 2019 (HDSB approved amendments) to the 2018 EDC By-Law. The Board amended their Year 1 rates, which took effect on May 20th, 2019, and subsequently amended their Year 2 rates, which took effect on July 4, 2019.
At the scheduled June 2, 2021 Board meeting, the Halton District School Board (the “Board”) pass a by-law that amends the Halton District School Board Education Development Charges By-law, 2018 (the “2018 By-law”), which came into effect on July 4, 2018.
In consideration to the above, the amendments are to reflect the following new rates for the Board for the remaining term of the By-law:
| HDSB | Balance of Year 3 Rates June 7, 2021, New Charge |
Year 4 Rates
July 4, 2021, New Charge
|
Year 5 Rates
July 4, 2022, New Charge
|
New Maximum Rate July 4, 2023, New Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Charge on residential development | $5,192.00 per residential unit |
$5,492.00 per residential unit |
$5,792.00 per residential unit |
$6,539.00 per residential unit |
| Charge on non-residential development | $1.21 per square foot; or ($ 13.02 per square metre) of gross floor area |
$1.31 per square foot; or ($ 14.10 per square metre) of gross floor area |
$1.41 per square foot; or ($ 15.18 per square metre) of gross floor area |
$1.52 per square foot; or ($ 16.36 per square metre) of gross floor area |
Additional Resources
2018 EDC By-law Amendment
The Education Development Charges (EDC) By-law 2013 for the Halton District School Board (HDSB) expired on June 24. As a result of the provincial elections in June 2018, the Board was unable to adopt the new EDC by-law until June 29, 2018, which did not come into force until July 4, 2018. Both boards were unable to collect any EDC levies during this time period. More importantly, the Ministry of Education imposed a temporary cap on EDC rates for all school boards in Ontario. As a result both the HDSB EDC By-law reflected the rates that were in place in the 2013 By-law (as amended).
On March 29, 2019 the Ministry of Education made amendments to O. Reg. 20/98. The amendments to O. Reg. 20/98 will lift the current cap on EDC rates and replace it with restricted rate increases of:
- A maximum yearly increase of the greater of 5% or $300 per residential unit; and
- A maximum yearly increase of 5% for non-residential rates.
Therefore on May 15, 2019 the HDSB approved amendments to the 2018 EDC By-Law.
As per the permission of O. Reg. 20/98 and the recent amendments, the Board will now amend their Year 1 rates, which will take effect on May 20th, 2019, and to subsequently amend their Year 2 rates, which will take effect on July 4, 2019.
In consideration to the above, the amendments are to reflect the following new rates for the Board:
| HDSB | Frozen Rates July 4, 2018: EDC By-Law |
Year 1 Rates May 20, 2019, Approved New Charge |
Year 2 Rates July 4, 2019 Approved New Charge |
|---|---|---|---|
| Charge on residential development | $4364.00 per residential unit | $4,664.00 per residential unit | $4,892.00 per residential unit |
| Charge on non-residential development | $1.11per square foot; or ($ 11.95 per square metre) of gross floor area |
$1.11 per square foot; or ($ 11.95 per square metre) of gross floor area |
$1.11per square foot; or ($ 11.95 per square metre) of gross floor area |
Additional Resources
- Notice of Passing By-law Amendment
- Notice of Intention to Pass (revised May 22, 2019 to 11.95 per square metre)
- Amending By-law
- Board Report 19069 (revised)
- EDC 2019 Amendment Presentation
2018 EDC By-law
After significant discussion with the Ministry, the EDC Background Study dated March 12, 2018 was approved on June 28, 2018. However, the Ministry’s approval was conditional upon the Board agreeing that a new education development charge by-law based on this background study would be for a maximum term of up to one year and impose education development charges of
- $4,364.00 per dwelling unit and;
- $1.11 per square foot of gross floor area for residential and non-residential developments.
The Board approved the new 2018 EDC By-law, which include these charges on June 29,2018 and they come into effect on July 4, 2018.
These EDCs are the same as the rates that were imposed under the Board’s 2013 EDC by-law, as amended, when it expired last weekend on June 24, 2018.
Two public meetings were held on April 18, 2018 at J.W. Singleton Centre to consider the proposed By-law and inform the public generally about the Board's EDC proposal. The PowerPoint presentation from these meeting is now available to be viewed. The third public meeting was held on May 16, 2018 at 7:00pm at J.W. Singleton Centre. The PowerPoint presentation is available to be viewed or downloaded.
- 2018 Education Development Charge By-Law (June 29, 2018)
- Education Development Charge Policy Review Report (2018)
- Education Development Charge - Background Review Report (2018)
For a full list of documents regarding the EDC By-law and past amendments, please see the Resources menus below.
The website of the Halton Catholic District School Board (HCDSB) contains information regarding their present EDC rates.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
What are Education Development Charges (EDCs)?
The Ministry of Education does provide funds for school site acquisition. The Education Act provides the opportunity for school boards to pass By-laws to impose education development charges against land in a board's area of jurisdiction undergoing residential or non-residential development if there is residential development that would increase education land costs and the development requires one or more of the actions identified in Section 257.54(2) of the Education Act.
A charge is levied on each new residential unit that requires a building permit. Our current EDC rate for residential development can be found above.
For non-residential development, a charge is levied on a per square foot or per square metre based on gross floor area of development. Our rate for non-residential development can be found above.
EDCs are payable in full to the local municipality where the development takes place on the date a building permit is issued. All EDCs collected are remitted to the school board on a monthly basis.
Are there exemptions to the EDC By-law?
In addition to the statutory exemptions required under the Education Act and set out in the By-law, a number of non-statutory exemptions were approved by the Board. The exemptions are as follows:
- A public hospital receiving aid under the Public Hospitals Act
- A publically-funded university, community college or a college of applied arts and technology established under the Ontario Colleges of Applied Arts and Technology Act, 2002
- A seminary of learning maintained for education purposes that is exempt from taxation under the Assessment Act, the whole profits from which are devoted or applied to such purposes, i.e. a non-profit private school
- A place of worship owned by a religious organization exempt from taxations under the Assessment Act that is used primarily as a place of public worship
- A cemetery or burying ground exempt from taxation under the Assessment Act
- A non-residential agricultural building or structure owned by and used for the purposes of a bona fide farming operation
- Metrolinx
How long can the EDC By-law be in effect?
An EDC By-law adopted by the Board is in effect for a maximum of 5 years, at which time the school board must review and adopt a new By-law.
Yes. The EDC By-law can be amended only once per year.
Are EDCs collected by school boards applied to new school construction?
No. Money collected can only fund the acquisition of school sites and related costs. The construction of new schools in generally funded through capital grants from the Ministry of Education.
Will the recently approved EDC By-law amendment affect my taxes?
Documents provided under Resources may not be available in accessible format. For assistance, or if you require further information on Education Development Charges, please contact the Planning department and we will direct your inquiry to the appropriate staff member.
Documents provided under Resources may not be available in accessible format. For assistance, or if you require further information on Education Development Charges, please contact the Planning department and we will direct your inquiry to the appropriate staff member.
