FAQs

DCCs are fees collected from developers on a user pay basis to help fund the cost of growth-related solid waste and recycling infrastructure. DCCs are regulated through the Local Government Act. The rates charged reflect the impact development has on solid waste; the greater the impact, the larger the charge. This helps ensure developers pay their fair share of the costs required to develop new infrastructure.

DCCs are paid by applicants at the time of subdivision approval or at the time of building permit issuance. 

The solid waste service is integrated and provides landfill and recycling facilities as a region-wide service. All capital planning is developed in consideration of the entire region. Therefore, a region-wide DCC is the most appropriate means of applying the DCC.  

DCCs pay for capital upgrades needed to support growth by assisting in the funding of:

• solid waste master planning;
• landfills;
• transfer stations;
• recycling depots and processing facilities; and,
• compost facilities

DCCs do not pay for:

• curbside collections costs including garbage trucks
• vehicles that are on-site at a landfill or other facility
• asset management; and,
• environmental monitoring

The costs associated with solid waste and recycling are substantial. Without DCCs the full cost of infrastructure is borne by the existing users, in large part by taxation. Development creates increased demand for solid waste infrastructure and services and local governments are not able to directly absorb all development-related costs. Development itself should assist in funding service needs and DCCs are a tool to meet this need.

Recent legislative changes to the Local Government Act provide local governments with new categories to which Development Cost Charges could be applied, including Solid Waste and Recycling Facilities.

DCCs are calculated by:

1. Estimating growth
2. Identifying projects and capital costs
3. Determining benefit allocation between existing users and new development
4. Determining an assist factor
5. Calculating DCC rates
6. RDN Board considers DCC Bylaw incorporating the above

Yes, the RDN already has a DCC Program that includes all of the following:

• Northern Community Sewer Service Area Development Cost Charge Bylaw No. 1442, 2005
• Fairwinds (Nanoose) Wastewater Treatment Development Cost Charge Bylaw No. 1443, 2005
• Duke Point Sewer Service Area Development Cost Charge Bylaw No. 1498, 2007
• Southern Community Sewer Service Area Development Cost Charge Bylaw No. 1547, 2009
• Nanoose Bay Peninsula Water Service Area Development Cost Charge Bylaw No. 1715, 2014
• Electoral Area A Community Parks Development Cost Charge Bylaw No. 1839, 2021
• Electoral Area B Community Parks Development Cost Charge Bylaw No. 1840, 2021
• Electoral Area G Community Parks Development Cost Charge Bylaw No. 1841, 2021
• Electoral Area H Community Parks Development Cost Charge Bylaw No. 1842, 2021