Development Related Fees

Planning is guided by the Planning Act, the Provincial Policy Statement, the County Official Plan and the Town's Official Plan and Zoning By-law. Part of the Planning Department's role is to review/approve development proposals. Planning application fees may vary based on the type of proposal.

For planning fees, please refer to the planning section of the User Fees Schedule:

View Planning Fees

To learn more, please visit the planning webpage.

A building permit is a licence granting you legal permission to start construction on a project. The building permit process helps enforce the requirements of the Ontario Building Code, the Town’s zoning by-law, as well as other applicable laws and standards. It ensures compliance during construction as well as the structural safety of the completed building.

Most permits require building plans and a site plan, but some may also require a copy of your property deed, proof of entrance approval, conservation authority approval, septic or water and sewer approval, and/or payment of development fees.

Permit fees vary based on the type of project and location within the municipality. All fees are payable upon issuance of the permit. View the Town of Essex Construction and Demolition Permit Fees.

To learn more, please visit the Building Permits webpage.

Development charges are fees paid by new development to fund municipal infrastructure and services related to this growth. These improvements may include items such as sewer pipes and road improvements. Every five years, the municipality conducts a development charges background study to forecast the community’s future residential and non-residential growth to determine future municipal needs and costs.

The following video was created by the Municipal Finance Officers' Association (MFOA) of Ontario to help easily explain what development charges are and how they work.

(source: Municipal Finance Officers' Association (MFOA) of Ontario)

Are development charges included with property taxes or water and wastewater rates?

No. Development charges are different than property taxes and water and wastewater rates. Development charges represent a source of funding for the design and construction of new municipal infrastructure required to support new developments. Only new construction or additions to existing buildings are required to pay development charge fees.

Property taxes, water rates and wastewater rates are collected and used to pay for the everyday costs of running and maintaining the community. All of Essex's property owners are responsible for these ongoing costs.

Development Charges Background Study

At least every five years, the municipality conducts a development charges background study to forecast the community's future residential and non-residential growth to determine infrastructure needs and costs. This information is used to calculate the amount of money that new development needs to pay in order to cover new infrastructure and services. A background study was performed in 2024 and new charges were adopted with a Development Charges By-law in October 2024.

View the Background Study

Resources

• 2024 Development Charges Public Meeting Presentation
  Presentation Date: August 12, 2024

• 2024 Development Charge Study - Public questions
  August 12, 2024

Development Charges By-Laws

View the Current Development Charge Fees

View By-Law 2384 - Imposition of Development Charges

View the current Water and Wastewater Charges

View By-Law 2385 - Imposition of Water and Wastewater Charges

Parkland dedication allows municipalities to grow their park systems in tandem with their community, providing essential parkland for their residents. Parkland Dedication By-law 2404 and payment in-lieu rates are outlined below and came into force on January 1, 2025.

As part of any development or redevelopment within the Town of Essex, the Parkland Dedication By-law requires developers to contribute land — or its value — for park purposes. This ensures our parks grow alongside our community.

Key Parkland Dedication Requirements:

• Residential Development:
  Developers must convey 5% of the land being developed.

  Note: For projects that include affordable or attainable residential units (as defined under the Development Charges Act), this 5% may be proportionally reduced.

• Commercial, Industrial, or Institutional Development:
  Developers must convey 2% of the land being developed.

• Mixed-Use Development:
  Parkland dedication is based on the portion of land used for each type:

  • 5% for the residential portion

  • 2% for the commercial/industrial/institutional portion

  • 5% for all other uses

• Instead of dedicating physical land, the Town may require payment in-lieu, equal to the value of the land that would otherwise be conveyed.

Per-Unit Rate

For all residential developments, the Town requires payment of a per-unit rate identified in Schedule 1 of the by-law, as outlined in the table below.

Parkland Dedication By-Law

For further details of the Parkland Dedication By-Law, please see the links below.

Parkland Dedication By-law 2404

• Parkland Dedication Amending By-Law 2425

To ensure due and proper performance of infrastructure works in subdivisions and commercial or industrial developments, developers are required to provide a performance security in an amount equal to 50% of the value of the development. The value of the securities is based on the full amount of construction costs and, upon acceptance of the works, is reduced accordingly.

The Town of Essex accepts cash, letter of credit, and surety bonds as acceptable forms of security.

Should a developer wish to submit securities in the form of surety bonds, please refer to the Surety Bond Acceptance Policy and Form below for further information.

Surety Bond Acceptance policy
Surety Bond Acceptance Form