Education Development Charges

Upper Grand District School Board and Wellington Catholic District School Board held joint public meetings on June 16, 2009 and August 17, 2009 to review education development charges and to solicit public input prior to the enactment of a successor EDC by-law.

Background Report (211 pages, 12.5 MB) PDF icon

This following information summarizes the Education Development Charges (EDC) imposed by the Upper Grand District School Board and the Wellington Catholic District School Board. This information is intended only as a guide. Interested parties should review the approved by-laws and consult with the municipality in which the development approval is sought, to determine the applicable charges that may apply to specific development proposals.

Legislative authority

Division E of Part IX of the Education Act enables a district school board to pass by-laws for the imposition of education development charges against residential and/or non-residential development if residential development in the area of jurisdiction of the board increases education land costs, and the development requires one or more of the actions set out below and described in section 257.54 of the Education Act:

the passing of a zoning by-law or an amendment to a zoning by-law
the approval of a minor variance
a conveyance of land to which a by-law passed under subsection 50(7) of the Planning Act applies
the approval of a plan of subdivision
a consent
the approval of a description under the Condominium Act, 1998
the issuing of a building permit under the Building Code Act, 1992, in relation to a building or structure.

Only one Education Development Charge is leviable for a development under the provisions of the by-law, and is payable at the time of building permit issuance, even if more than one planning approval is required.

Purpose of Education Development Charges

Education development charges are used to fund the acquisition of school sites, and related costs to accommodate growth-related pupil needs.

EDC by-law process

The Upper Grand District School Board held Public Meetings on June 16, 2009 and subsequently adopted by-law on August 17, 2009.

The effective implementation date for the Board’s by-law is August 24, 2009. The by-law has a term of five years.

EDC Rates - Dufferin County

EDC by-laws, 2009 impose a single uniform residential development charge rate against development of all lands with the County of Dufferin.

Upper Grand District School Board Residential /New Residential Dwelling Unit: $391.00

There is no non-residential charge on development for the Upper Grand District School Board.

In addition to the statutory exemptions required by the Education Act, publicly funded hospitals are the only discretionary exemption set out in the by-laws.

EDC Rates - Wellington County

EDC by-laws, 2009 impose a single uniform residential development charge rate against development of all lands with the County of Wellington.

Upper Grand District School Board: /New Residential Dwelling Unit: $842.00

Wellington Catholic District School Board: /New Residential Dwelling Unit: $455.00

There is no non-residential charge on development for the Upper Grand or Wellington Catholic District School Boards.

In addition to the statutory exemptions required by the Education Act, publicly funded hospitals are the only discretionary exemption set out in the by-laws.

In accordance with section 19 of the University of Guelph Act, 1964, S.O. 1964 c. 120, properly vested in the University of Guelph and any lands and premises leased to and occupied by the University are exempt from education development charges under these by-laws so long as the same are actually used and occuped for University or University related purposes, those purposes being set out in section 3 of the University of Guelph Act, 1964, as amended.

Timing of payment of Education Development Charges

Education development charges are payable to the municipality approving the development, upon the date that a building permit is issued.

By-law inspection

EDC by-laws, adopted by the Upper Grand District School Board and the Wellington Catholic District School Board, are linked from this page as PDF files, and are also available for inspection during regular business hours, at both the Board’s offices:

UGDSB -500 Victoria Road North, Guelph
WCDSB - 75 Woolwich Street, Guelph

and the Clerk’s Office of each area municipality:

Township of Amaranth
Township of Centre Wellington
County of Dufferin
Township of East Garafraxa
Town of Erin
Township of Guelph / Eramosa
City of Guelph
Townhip of Luther and Grand Valley
Township of Mapleton
Township of Melancthon
Town of Minto
Town of Mono
Township of Mulmur
Town of Orangeville
Township of Puslinch
Town of Shelburne
County of Wellington
Township of Wellington North