Community benefits from development

Cover of the Community Benefits from Development

Review the Community Benefits from Development brochure  (7 MB)

To help deliver the facilities and infrastructure needed to serve a growing Vancouver, we look to ensure that new development contributes to neighbourhoods where change occurs.

Development contributions come in the form of Community Amenity Contributions (CACs), Development Cost Levies (DCLs), and density bonus zoning. 

What's happening2026 financing growth update

We are currently working on a comprehensive update to our development contribution tools.

Learn more about this update

DCL and CAC deferrals and 2025 inflationary adjustment

On June 18, 2025, Council approved a package of development viability initiatives to help unlock new housing supply. These changes take effect immediately and include:

  • Allowing projects with total DCLs over $500,000 to pay the DCLs over 3 equal instalments
  • Lowering the threshold for cash CAC deferrals
  • Increasing the use of surety bonds
  • Foregoing the 2025 inflationary adjustment of 3.2% to DCLs, CAC Targets, and density bonus contributions, as well as rolling back the 2024 inflationary adjustment of 5.7% to CAC Targets and density bonus contributions 

For details, review the Development Viability Initiatives Council report (312 KB) and the 2025 DCL bulletin (848 KB).

Metro Vancouver DCC update

Metro Vancouver Board approved increases to the Metro Vancouver Liquid Waste DCC and Water DCC, along with introducing a Parkland acquisition DCC. 

Learn more about the changes in Metro Vancouver

Map of development contributions shows citywide benefits

The map below shows how new developments contribute benefits across Vancouver and is updated every year. Many public benefits are already completed, while others will be completed in the near future.

Types of development contributions

The community benefits above are delivered with help from these types of development contributions.

Community Amenity Contributions

In-kind or cash contributions for public amenities from property developers when City Council allows development through a rezoning.

Development Cost Levies

Fees charged on all new developments to fund public amenities.

Density bonusing

Increased floor space under existing zoning in exchange for providing public amenities and affordable housing.

Guiding principles on development contributions

We manage the increased demands for facilities by following these principles:

  • Community liveability should be maintained as the city grows.
  • New developments should contribute to the cost of growth and their impact on the community.
  • The cost of City facilities and services should be shared between new and existing developments.
  • The economic impact of our development contributions should not affect development or housing affordability.
  • Our system should be consistent, transparent, simple, and flexible.

Contact us

Email: financegrowth@vancouver.ca