Effective November 3, the Ontario Building Code (OBC) has been amended to support new policies under the province’s Protect Ontario by Building Faster and Smarter Act, 2025 (Bill 17).
These changes impact the timing and process for payment of development charges for non-rental residential developments, according to the Town of Ajax.
How Does This Affect You?
- For Homeowners and Builders: Development charges are required to be paid in full before the occupancy permit can be issued and before the building is first occupied.
- Occupancy Inspection: Following receipt of an occupancy inspection request and verification that all development charges have been paid, Building Inspectors will perform the inspection authorizing occupancy within 10 business days.
- Permit Issuance: Building permits will continue to be issued as usual. The changes only affect the timing of municipal development charge payment.
What has changed
Deferred Development Charges: Municipal Development Charges for any non-rental residential projects (including any non-rental residential portion of a mixed-use development), can now be deferred from the time of building permit issuance to either:
- Issuance of an occupancy permit under the Building Code Act, 1992
- First occupancy of the building
Occupancy Permit Requirement: Occupancy permits are now mandatory for all non-rental residential developments with deferred development charges. The municipality cannot issue the occupancy permit until confirmation of payment in full of applicable development charges.
Extended Inspection Timeline: Municipalities have up to 10 business days to complete occupancy inspections for these developments, allowing time to process payment of the deferred charges.
Payment of Education Development Charges is still required prior to Building Permit issuance
You May Also Wish To Read
Winter support available for those without shelter in Durham