The Municipality of Clarington yesterday announced it is increasing building permit fees by 8.99 per cent in 2024.
It recently conducted a building permit fees study that found that “present permit fees do not adequately cover the costs of administering and enforcing the Ontario Building Code”.
The municipality said the rise equates to an increase of $1.38 per square metre for a single-family dwelling. Starting in 2025, the fee will be indexed at 3 per cent annually.
Apart from new home builds, Clarington also allows additional dwelling units along with an existing residential unit on a plot of land (see below).
Additionally, the municipal portion of the 2024 property tax is being raised by 1.5 per cent.
Clarington Council said the revenue from the building permit fee increase will cover the anticipated direct and indirect costs to the municipality for administering and enforcing the Building Code currently and in the coming years.
It will also contribute to the reserve fund to help maintain services should an economic downturn occur. “This measure will provide certainty to the building industry to be able to budget for the applicable building permit fee,” said a statement.
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