Surrey rolls back DCCs while introducing fire protection charges
Council also approves pilot program to accept Surety Bonds as security for DCC installments
Surrey, BC – During Monday’s Regular Council Meeting, Surrey City Council approved significant updates to the Development Cost Charges (DCCs) Bylaw including the Fire Services DCC and a roll back to 2023 rates for residential units, resulting in a “net freeze” in residential DCCs to support the housing crisis and affordability. On Monday, Council also endorsed a pilot program to begin the implementation of the use of Surety Bonds from accepted Surety companies as an alternate form of security to Letters of Credit for DCCs. The program is intended to encourage development amid the financial challenge developers are facing.
“The City’s DCC program is essential to delivering the services and infrastructure needed to support Surrey’s tremendous growth,” said Surrey Mayor Brenda Locke. “While our DCC program already funds growth in water, sewer, drainage, transportation, and parks, we are now adding fire protection to ensure high-quality fire services to our residents. I am proud that we can make these adjustments while minimizing the impact on our development community during these difficult economic times and amid a housing affordability crisis. Our acknowledgment of the financial challenges builders face has also led us to implement a pilot program for Surety Bonds. These initiatives underscore our commitment to supporting and promoting development in Surrey.”
Highlights from the 2025 DCC Bylaw include:
- Introduction of a fire protection DCC estimated to yield $5 to 6 million per year in collections, combined with an equivalent reduction offset in DCC collections across other assets to net “zero increase”;
- A “rollback” to the 2023 DCC rates for residential units, to comply with the Federal Government’s CHIF funding requirements;
- Freezing DCC rates for commercial, industrial and institutional uses to 2024 levels given current market conditions; and
- Introduction of charges to additional residential units from small scale multi unit housing to help support City programs in an equitable way.
“We are proud to be able to roll back residential DCC rates to 2023 rates and freeze non-residential DCC’s at 2024 rates, all while introducing a fire protection DCC with no net increase,” said City Manager Rob Costanzo. “This is achievable due to strong growth projections over the next decade and larger than average DCC collections in 2024 to support the funding of our servicing plan. Our overall DCC rates are comparable to other large municipalities like Burnaby, Coquitlam, and Richmond. “
Click here to read the corporate report for details on the 2025 DCC Bylaw.