Making the Business Case for Using Development Cost Charges for Climate Mitigation

Many communities across Canada are addressing global climate change by reducing local
greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions and are looking for innovative and cost-effective tools to
assist their climate mitigation efforts. Development cost charges (DCCs) are monies that local
governments collect from developers to recoup some of the infrastructure-related costs
resulting from new development. A DCC for climate mitigation has strong potential to be an
effective way for local governments to offset the costs of reducing emissions. This project
makes the business case for a climate mitigation development cost charge by demonstrating
its practical application using the West Clayton neighbourhood in Surrey, British Columbia as
a case study. The City of Surrey intends to use this project to generate support for expanded
authority from the province that will allow local governments to charge a climate mitigation
DCC

Faculty Supervisor:

Tim McDaniels

Student:

Partner:

City of Surrey

Discipline:

Sociology

Sector:

Public administration

University:

The University of British Columbia

Program: