OMDREB Shares Opposition To Proposed Town of Milton Development Charges By-law

MILTON, ON – FEBRUARY 10, 2026 – On Monday, February 9, representatives from OMDREB attended a scheduled Town of Milton statutory public meeting to voice opposition to proposed increased development charges in Milton. 

Many OMDREB members see first-hand how affordability pressures are shaping housing decisions in Milton. Buyers are increasingly discouraged, and many are being priced out of the communities where they work and contribute to the local economy.

Ry Weichel, OMDREB’s Milton Director, spoke to Town Council on behalf of our members, Government Relations Committee, and Board of Directors, and asked them to carefully consider opportunities to moderate, reduce, or phase development charges in a way that supports growth, affordability, and long-term community prosperity. This ultimately leads to more people entering the market, and more opportunities for OMDREB members to conduct business.

You can review Ry’s comments by watching the video or reading more information below.

Recent polling conducted by Abacus Data on behalf of the Ontario Real Estate Association shows that while 71 per cent of Ontarians still want to own a home, most describe today’s market as expensive, unaffordable, and overpriced. More than six in ten non-homeowners say they really want to own a home, yet 80 per cent believe it has become more difficult over the past year. 

Most concerning, nearly half of aspiring homeowners have either given up entirely on the idea of ever owning a home or are deeply pessimistic about their chances. One of the key drivers behind this growing pessimism is the rising cost of building new homes — including municipal development charges. Ontarians clearly do not support the idea that “growth pays for growth” when it comes to funding housing-related infrastructure.

Only 14 per cent believe new homebuyers should be responsible for paying for municipal infrastructure through development charges. Instead, 41 per cent believe the provincial government should bear that responsibility, and 25 per cent believe municipalities should. There is strong public support for action among constituents in Milton, and the many real estate professionals that call the wonderful community home. 

75 per cent of Ontarians support reducing development charges, and 72 per cent support the provincial government setting limits on them. The reality is that development charges are being added directly onto the cost of housing. In many Ontario communities, development charges can represent between five and twenty per cent of the total cost of a new home — in some cases adding up to as much as $135,000 per unit. 

From a buyer’s perspective, these are not abstract policy tools. These costs are built into the final purchase price and ultimately paid by families trying to enter the market. 

In Milton, where demand for housing remains strong and growth is essential to meeting provincial housing targets, significant development charges risk further limiting supply and pushing prices even higher. The polling also shows that 74 per cent of Ontarians believe development charges are contributing to housing being unaffordable in their own communities.

65 per cent believe municipalities should not use development charges to pay for services they would need to provide anyway.

When asked what would be fair, 82 per cent of Ontarians say development charges should be either zero or no more than 5 per cent of the cost of a home. Other municipalities are beginning to recognize this challenge.

In 2024, our neighbors in the City of Burlington unanimously voted to reduce development charges to support responsible growth and help deliver nearly 29,000 new homes over the next decade. 

The City of Vaughan also moved to significantly reduce development charges after recognizing the burden these fees place on homebuyers. At the same time, we have seen the opposite approach elsewhere.

We recognize that the draft by-law proposes an increase in development charges on a per-unit basis, and we respectfully encourage Council to consider the experience of other municipalities that have taken steps to reduce these fees. It’s vital we recognize the burden these costs place on homebuyers, and that alternative, more affordability-focused approaches are possible.

From the perspective of REALTORS® working directly with buyers and renters in Milton, the solution is clear: we need pro-housing, pro-homeownership policies that encourage homebuilding and reduce unnecessary costs that slow projects and inflate prices.

The Ontario Real Estate Association and the Oakville, Milton and District Real Estate Board have consistently recommended practical solutions that can support both municipal infrastructure needs and housing affordability, including:

• allowing water and wastewater services to be delivered through municipal service corporations and amortized across the broader customer base rather than funded through development charges alone;
• intensifying housing along transit corridors and supporting conversions that bring housing closer to jobs and services; and
• removing unnecessary regulatory barriers that slow housing approvals and increase carrying costs.

As council considers the updated Development Charges by-law, we respectfully ask you to consider the cumulative impact of these fees on future buyers, renters, and families who want to make Milton their home. Milton plays a critical role in meeting Ontario’s housing goals. 

Development charges that are set too high risk discouraging new supply, delaying projects, and ultimately making homes less attainable for the very people our community depends on.

The Oakville, Milton and District Real Estate Board encourages Council to explore alternative revenue and infrastructure funding approaches and to carefully consider opportunities to moderate, reduce, or phase development charges in a way that supports growth, affordability, and long-term community prosperity.