Fees and funding programs

The parkland contribution is land that must be conveyed or value in cash that must be paid to the City as a condition of development or redevelopment of a property. The Planning Act provides that the City may require this conveyance or payment in order to ensure that adequate land or funds have been set aside for park and recreation purposes as the City grows.

City staff will determine if a parkland contribution applies to your proposed development when you apply for a development application. The amount of land that will be required for different categories of land use is established in the City’s Parkland By-law (2022-280).

Staff will determine the parkland contribution, based on the requirements of the Parkland Dedication By-law and information provided in your initial application. The City may determine at its own discretion, whether to request land or cash based on a number of factors. These factors include the type, density and location of the development, the amount of land required, the proximity of existing or planned open space in the community and the suitability of the land being developed for park purposes.

Once determined, the property owner must then either convey or agree to convey the land, if land is requested, or pay the money representing the value of the land that would otherwise be required. The City will undertake an appraisal of the land value where the City requires the money. The City will not be able to finalize any development application, or issue a building permit until the land is conveyed or the money in-lieu of the land is paid.

The Planning Act also provides mechanisms for landowners to initiate a review or appeal the amount of the parkland to be conveyed or the calculation of value of the land, where money in-lieu of land is to be paid to the City.

In 2014, the City of Ottawa passed a new Development Charges By-law (2014-229) which exempted lands outside the Greenbelt and in the Rural Area from the payment of development charges for the development of local parks (parkettes, neighbourhood and community parks). The construction costs associated with local parks were identified as part of the provision for local servicing, which means the emplacement of the infrastructure is the financial responsibility of the developer/landowner and no longer eligible for development charge funding.

The fee guidelines for the provision of local services were carried forward into the 2019 interim update. These guidelines are adjusted annually in accordance with the prescribed Statistics Canada Price Index for the City of Ottawa and effective at the start of the following year.

For the provision of parks located outside the greenbelt, the applicable rate increases for local park servicing requirements are as outlined below.

• The 2019 established rate increases, effective January 1, 2020, were as follows:
  • Passive rate of $194,000 per hectare
  • Active rate of $618,000 per hectare

• The 2020 established rate increases, effective January 1, 2021 are as follows:
  • Passive rate of $209,714 per hectare
  • Active rate of $668,058 per hectare

• The 2021 established rate increases, which shall come into effect January 1, 2022 will be as follows:
  • Passive rate of $217,473 per hectare
  • Active rate of $692,796 per hectare

• The 2022 established rate increases, which shall come into effect January 1, 2023 will be as follows:
  • Passive rate of $254,879 per hectare
  • Active rate of $811,934 per hectare

• The 2023 established rate increases, which shall come into effect January 1, 2024 will be as follows:
  • Passive rate of $280,112 per hectare
  • Active rate of $892,315 per hectare

For the provision of parks located in rural areas, effective January 1, 2024 a fee of $3,303.00 per lot is payable where an agreement as part of a plan of subdivision approval provides for the payment of a rural park contribution.

For the provision of parks located inside the greenbelt, the rate increase for urban park servicing requirements is as outlined below.

• The 2019 established rate increase, effective January 1, 2020, was as follows:
  • Urban park rate of $1,529,300 per hectare

• The 2020 established rate increase, effective January 1, 2021 was as follows:
  • Urban park rate of $1,653,173 per hectare

• The 2021 established rate increase, which shall come into effect January 1, 2022 will be as follows:
  • Urban park rate of $1,714,341 per hectare

• The 2022 established rate increase, which shall come into effect January 1, 2023 will be as follows:
  • Urban park rate of $2,009,207 per hectare

• The 2023 established rate increase, which shall come into effect January 1, 2024 will be as follows:
  • Urban park rate of $2,208,207 per hectare