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.
On this page
Examples of development contributions
Development contributions help deliver new or upgraded facilities that our growing city needs to be liveable for all residents, such as:
- Parks and libraries
- Childcare facilities, schools, and neighbourhood houses
- Cultural facilities
- Community centres, rinks, and pools
- Non-profit and social housing
- Secured market rental housing
- Bikeways and greenways
- Streets and transportation infrastructure
- Police stations and fire halls
Examples of development contributions
By City of Vancouver
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Family Place and Childcare Centre
By City of Vancouver
Family place co-located with a 37-space childcare centre in the Marpole community was completed in 2018. The developer provided the facilities as an in-kind community amenity contribution (CAC) offering for a mixed-use development at SW Marine Dr and Cambie St.
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Belcourt Residence Social Housing
By City of Vancouver
70 units of non-market housing was incorporated into a mixed-use redevelopment in the Downtown Eastside. The building was completed in 2018 and was provided by the developer as an in-kind CAC offering.
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Jericho Beach restoration
By City of Vancouver
The Vancouver Park Board restored the historic beach around the former Jericho Marginal Wharf with viewing binoculars, trails, seating, and interpretive signs. The restoration was completed in 2013 and funded in part by Development Cost Levies (DCL).
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Creekside Community and Childcare Centre
By City of Vancouver
The community centre and 37-space rooftop childcare centre in Southeast False Creek was built as part of the new Olympic Village neighborhood. The centre was built in 2010 as an in-kind CAC offering with DCL funding.
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Jim Deva Plaza
By City of Vancouver
The plaza at Davie and Bute streets in the heart of Davie Village celebrates the history of the local LGBTQ community. The plaza opened in 2016 and was built with CAC funding.
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Kensington Library Branch
By City of Vancouver
The library is part of a mixed-use development at Kingsway and E King Edward Ave. It opened in 2009 and was provided as an in-kind CAC.
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Arbutus Greenway Temporary Path
By City of Vancouver
A 9km walking and cycling path connecting False Creek to the Fraser River, including temporary washrooms, solar lighting, pollinator gardens, and five new traffic signals. The path was completed in 2017 and was built with cash CAC funding.
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BMO Theatre Centre
By City of Vancouver
150 seat theatre, rehearsal hall offices, and costume shop for Bard on the Beach and Arts Club Theatre. The centre was completed in 2015 and was built as an in-kind CAC offering with additional cash CAC funding.
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Get the broader context
By City of Vancouver
To understand what kinds of community benefits accompany new development in our neighbourhoods, read our guide "Community Benefits from Development" (PDF, 7 MB)
In the last 10 years with the help of development contributions, we funded 2,500 new or upgraded social housing units and 3,000 licensed childcare spaces.
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.
Density bonusing
Increased floor space under existing zoning in exchange for providing public amenities and affordable housing.
Development Cost Levies
Fees charged on all new developments to fund public amenities.
News and updates
CAC Target and Density Bonus review
In January 2023, staff have completed economic testing of CAC Targets and density bonus zoning contributions (cash in-lieu) and sent the testing results and assumptions to development stakeholders. Any changes to these rates will be brought to Council for consideration on April 11, 2023, and if approved would take effect September 30, 2023 with in-stream rate protection applicable. To review the test assumptions and findings, refer to the summary of consultant results.
2022 DCL update
On June 22, 2022, Council approved a DCL Update that included a phased increase to DCL rates as well as amendments to the for-profit affordable rental housing waiver that came into effect September 30, 2022. The DCL rate phase-in involved a 50% rate increase effective September 30, 2022 and the remaining 50% rate increase to become effective September 30, 2023. More information on the DCL Update can be found in the Council report below and in the DCL Bulletin.
Since 2010, we've exempted/waived $68M in DCL payments that helped build 4,414 social housing units, 3,150 affordable rental housing units, and preserve 4 heritage buildings.
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.
Background documents
Financing Growth (2004) PDF file (1.5 MB)
- Forms the basis of our development contribution system
- Establishes a citywide policy for CACs and DCLs
Community Benefits from Development PDF file (7 MB)
- Provides a broader context of our approach to development contributions
- Describes the kinds of community benefits that accompany new development in our neighbourhoods