WhyDufferin · Costs

Cost to set up in Dufferin

One-time development charges, water and sewer rates, and commercial lease rates for Dufferin's eight municipalities, compared with nearby municipalities. Every number links to its official or published source. Where we could not confirm a value it says "not found"; we never estimate. Property tax rates are on Property tax rates.

On this page: Development charges · Cost to set up · Water and sewer · Lease rates and vacancy

Development charges

Orangeville: the Town's development charge areas (water, wastewater, stormwater and roads) are published as open data and appear on the WhyDufferin map under Extra layers. The Town also has a Development Charges Lookup and Calculator. Contains information licenced under the Open Government Licence – Orangeville.

Development charges (DCs) are one-time fees on new buildings and additions that help pay for growth-related roads, water, sewer, parks and other services. In Dufferin, each new building pays the local municipality's DC, plus the County of Dufferin's DC ($3,693 per single home, $12.27/m² non-residential [source]), plus the Upper Grand DSB education charge of $3,232 per home (no non-residential EDC) [source]. Checked 2026-10-21.

  • Development charges are one-time fees paid at building permit (residential may be deferred to occupancy under Bill 17, 2025). They are indexed each year; confirm before budgeting.
  • Ontario's Development Charges Act exempts enlargement of an existing industrial building by up to 50% of its existing gross floor area.
  • Bill 23 (2022) phase-in discounts were removed for by-laws passed after June 6, 2024 (Bill 185); rental, affordable, attainable and additional dwelling unit exemptions and discounts may apply.
  • Non-residential farm buildings are generally exempt. Area-specific charges (by hectare or service area) may be extra.
  • Totals add local + upper tier (County/Region) + education charges for the area shown.
Single-detached home: total DCs per unit

Dufferin municipality   Neighbour   ┆ Dufferin median $44,079

Single-detached home: total DCs per unitBrampton (Peel)Brampton (Peel): $155,650$155,650Caledon (Peel)Caledon (Peel): $148,007$148,007New Tecumseth (Simcoe)New Tecumseth (Simcoe): $112,102$112,102Halton Hills (Halton)Halton Hills (Halton): $107,433$107,433Erin (Wellington)Erin (Wellington): $104,540$104,540Grand ValleyGrand Valley: $88,376$88,376ShelburneShelburne: $65,587$65,587OrangevilleOrangeville: $57,787$57,787MonoMono: $44,079$44,079Wellington North (Wellington)Wellington North (Wellington): $41,997$41,997East GarafraxaEast Garafraxa: $39,520$39,520MelancthonMelancthon: $26,017$26,017AmaranthAmaranth: $23,004$23,004Dufferin median $44,079
Commercial: total DCs for a 5,000 sq ft building

Dufferin municipality   Neighbour   ┆ Dufferin median $74,300

Commercial: total DCs for a 5,000 sq ft buildingBrampton (Peel)Brampton (Peel): $259,311$259,311New Tecumseth (Simcoe)New Tecumseth (Simcoe): $244,712$244,712Caledon (Peel)Caledon (Peel): $210,723$210,723Erin (Wellington)Erin (Wellington): $165,600$165,600Halton Hills (Halton)Halton Hills (Halton): $152,485$152,485MonoMono: $101,649$101,649OrangevilleOrangeville: $90,362$90,362ShelburneShelburne: $83,567$83,567Grand ValleyGrand Valley: $74,300$74,300East GarafraxaEast Garafraxa: $60,450$60,450Wellington North (Wellington)Wellington North (Wellington): $39,900$39,900MelancthonMelancthon: $29,050$29,050AmaranthAmaranth: $23,150$23,150Dufferin median $74,300
Industrial: total DCs for a 10,000 sq ft building

Dufferin municipality   Neighbour   ┆ Dufferin median $148,599

Industrial: total DCs for a 10,000 sq ft buildingNew Tecumseth (Simcoe)New Tecumseth (Simcoe): $422,895$422,895Brampton (Peel)Brampton (Peel): $357,491$357,491Caledon (Peel)Caledon (Peel): $352,149$352,149Erin (Wellington)Erin (Wellington): $331,200$331,200Halton Hills (Halton)Halton Hills (Halton): $230,970$230,970MonoMono: $203,299$203,299OrangevilleOrangeville: $180,724$180,724ShelburneShelburne: $167,133$167,133Grand ValleyGrand Valley: $148,599$148,599Wellington North (Wellington)Wellington North (Wellington): $126,100$126,100East GarafraxaEast Garafraxa: $120,899$120,899MelancthonMelancthon: $58,099$58,099AmaranthAmaranth: $46,299$46,299Dufferin median $148,599

Worked examples and rates

Development charges by municipality
MunicipalityArea shownEffectiveSingle homeCommercial $/sq ftIndustrial $/sq ft5,000 sq ft commercial10,000 sq ft industrialSource
OrangevilleTown-wide (urban; area-specific per-hectare water, wastewater, stormwater and roads charges extra)current per Town page, checked 2026-10-21$57,787$18.07$18.07$90,362$180,724[source] Non-residential is one uniform rate ($182.26/m²) for commercial and industrial. Area-specific charges per hectare apply in some service areas.
ShelburneFully serviced, with wastewater-plant financing charge2026$65,587$16.71$16.71$83,567$167,133[source] Without the wastewater financing charge: $51,480 per single and $139.83/m². Area-specific charges (School Road, East, West areas) extra. Industrial expansion exempt up to 50% of existing GFA.
Grand ValleyUrban (municipal water and sewer)2026-08-07$88,376$14.86$14.86$74,300$148,599[source] Rural (private well and septic): $23,133 per single and $7.32/sq ft.
MonoMunicipal-wide2026-07-16$44,079$20.33$20.33$101,649$203,299[source] Single shown is detached 4+ bedrooms; 3 bedrooms $28,499, 2 or fewer $18,341.
Mulmurnot foundnot foundnot foundnot foundnot foundnot found[source] 2026 indexed rates not found on the Township site (2024 by-law base: $4.20/sq ft non-residential, indexed each January 1).
MelancthonMunicipal-wide2026-01-01$26,017$5.81$5.81$29,050$58,099[source]
AmaranthMunicipal-wide2026-01-01$23,004$4.63$4.63$23,150$46,299[source]
East GarafraxaMunicipal-wide2026-01-01$39,520$12.09$12.09$60,450$120,899[source]
Caledon (Peel)Standard (Town + Region of Peel + education)2026-08-01$148,007$42.14$35.21$210,723$352,149[source] Commercial = 'Non-Residential - Other'. Region of Peel charges reflect Peel's current DC by-law.
Brampton (Peel)City + Region of Peel + education2026-08-01$155,650$51.86$35.75$259,311$357,491[source] Totals as published by the City (permits Aug 1, 2026 to Jan 31, 2027); commercial = non-industrial/non-major-office. Portions not broken out here; the PDF timed out on re-check, values from the City document as indexed. Large city, shown for scale.
Halton Hills (Halton)Urban built boundary2026-04-01$107,433$30.50$23.10$152,485$230,970[source] Commercial = non-industrial (retail is much higher: $79.25/sq ft). Rural: $94,106 single, $18.67/sq ft industrial; greenfield: $132,618 single, $30.59/sq ft industrial.
Erin (Wellington)With municipal water and wastewater2026-04-23$104,540$33.12$33.12$165,600$331,200[source] Without municipal water: $50,856 single and $14.88/sq ft.
Centre Wellington (Wellington)not foundnot foundnot foundnot foundnot foundnot found[source] 2026 Township rates not confirmed from an official schedule in this check.
Wellington North (Wellington)Urban2026-01-01$41,997$7.98$12.61$39,900$126,100[source] Total = Township urban + County of Wellington ($11,916; $3.29/sq ft) + Wellington education EDC ($4,321 as listed in Erin's 2026 combined schedule). Rural township: $6,154.06 single, $1.65/sq ft industrial. Commercial/institutional township rate $4.69, warehouse $2.31.
New Tecumseth (Simcoe)Town + education + County of Simcoe, with water and wastewater2026-07-01$112,102$48.94$42.29$244,712$422,895[source] Excluding water and wastewater: $72,031 single, $268.72/m² commercial, $184.68/m² industrial.
Adjala-Tosorontio (Simcoe)Township + County of Simcoe (education not included)2026not foundnot foundnot foundnot foundnot found[source] Township + County = $38,862 single and $12.88/sq ft non-residential, but the education charge was not confirmed, so no total is shown.
Clearview (Simcoe)not foundnot foundnot foundnot foundnot foundnot found[source] Only a draft 2026 DC study was found; adopted 2026 rates not confirmed.
Grey Highlands (Grey)not foundnot foundnot foundnot foundnot foundnot found[source] 2026 rates not confirmed from an official schedule.
Southgate (Grey)not foundnot foundnot foundnot foundnot foundnot found[source] 2026 rates not found (latest pamphlet located was 2024).
Breakdown: local, upper tier and education
Development charge components
MunicipalityLocal singleUpper tier singleEducation singleLocal com/ind $/sq ftUpper tier com/ind $/sq ftEducation non-res $/sq ft
Orangeville$50,862$3,693$3,232$16.93 / $16.93$1.14 / $1.14$0.00
Shelburne$58,662$3,693$3,232$15.57 / $15.57$1.14 / $1.14$0.00
Grand Valley$81,451$3,693$3,232$13.72 / $13.72$1.14 / $1.14$0.00
Mono$37,154$3,693$3,232$19.19 / $19.19$1.14 / $1.14$0.00
Mulmurnot found$3,693$3,232not found / not found$1.14 / $1.14$0.00
Melancthon$19,092$3,693$3,232$4.67 / $4.67$1.14 / $1.14$0.00
Amaranth$16,079$3,693$3,232$3.49 / $3.49$1.14 / $1.14$0.00
East Garafraxa$32,595$3,693$3,232$10.95 / $10.95$1.14 / $1.14$0.00
Caledon (Peel)$63,348$78,983$5,676$11.23 / $11.23$29.42 / $22.49$1.50
Brampton (Peel)not foundnot foundnot foundnot found / not foundnot found / not foundnot found
Halton Hills (Halton)not foundnot found$11,385not found / not foundnot found / not found$2.95
Erin (Wellington)$88,303$11,916$4,321$29.83 / $29.83$3.29 / $3.29$0.00
Centre Wellington (Wellington)not found$11,916not foundnot found / not found$3.29 / $3.29not found
Wellington North (Wellington)$25,760$11,916$4,321$4.69 / $9.32$3.29 / $3.29$0.00
New Tecumseth (Simcoe)$91,044not found$6,083$41.89 / $35.24not found / not found$1.20
Adjala-Tosorontio (Simcoe)$23,887$14,975not found$7.02 / $7.02$5.85 / $5.85not found
Clearview (Simcoe)not found$14,975not foundnot found / not found$5.85 / $5.85not found
Grey Highlands (Grey)not foundnot foundnot foundnot found / not foundnot found / not foundnot found
Southgate (Grey)not foundnot foundnot foundnot found / not foundnot found / not foundnot found

Brampton, Halton Hills and New Tecumseth publish combined totals; some components are not broken out here.

Cost to set up: DCs plus first-year property tax

A simple combined view: development charges on a new building plus the first year of property tax on a property assessed at $1,000,000 (2026 total rate). Computed only from the published figures above and on Property tax rates. Land, construction, permits, servicing agreements and assessment differences are not included.

10,000 sq ft industrial building: DCs + first-year tax on $1M (industrial)

Dufferin municipality   Neighbour   ┆ Dufferin median $186,341

10,000 sq ft industrial building: DCs + first-year tax on $1M (industrial)New Tecumseth (Simcoe)New Tecumseth (Simcoe): $443,107$443,107Brampton (Peel)Brampton (Peel): $382,467$382,467Caledon (Peel)Caledon (Peel): $374,142$374,142Erin (Wellington)Erin (Wellington): $365,958$365,958Halton Hills (Halton)Halton Hills (Halton): $257,561$257,561MonoMono: $232,506$232,506OrangevilleOrangeville: $220,418$220,418ShelburneShelburne: $205,534$205,534Grand ValleyGrand Valley: $186,341$186,341Wellington North (Wellington)Wellington North (Wellington): $166,813$166,813East GarafraxaEast Garafraxa: $154,554$154,554MelancthonMelancthon: $89,019$89,019AmaranthAmaranth: $79,448$79,448Dufferin median $186,341
5,000 sq ft commercial building: DCs + first-year tax on $1M (commercial)

Dufferin municipality   Neighbour   ┆ Dufferin median $99,161

5,000 sq ft commercial building: DCs + first-year tax on $1M (commercial)Brampton (Peel)Brampton (Peel): $282,384$282,384New Tecumseth (Simcoe)New Tecumseth (Simcoe): $265,209$265,209Caledon (Peel)Caledon (Peel): $230,697$230,697Erin (Wellington)Erin (Wellington): $190,526$190,526Halton Hills (Halton)Halton Hills (Halton): $172,585$172,585MonoMono: $121,774$121,774OrangevilleOrangeville: $116,307$116,307ShelburneShelburne: $108,794$108,794Grand ValleyGrand Valley: $99,161$99,161East GarafraxaEast Garafraxa: $83,043$83,043Wellington North (Wellington)Wellington North (Wellington): $68,526$68,526MelancthonMelancthon: $50,125$50,125AmaranthAmaranth: $45,462$45,462Dufferin median $99,161
Cost to set up, worked example
MunicipalityIndustrial DCs (10,000 sq ft)+ tax on $1M industrial= Industrial set-upCommercial DCs (5,000 sq ft)+ tax on $1M commercial= Commercial set-up
Amaranth$46,299$33,149$79,448$23,150$22,313$45,462
Melancthon$58,099$30,920$89,019$29,050$21,076$50,125
East Garafraxa$120,899$33,655$154,554$60,450$22,593$83,043
Wellington North (Wellington)$126,100$40,713$166,813$39,900$28,626$68,526
Grand Valley$148,599$37,742$186,341$74,300$24,862$99,161
Shelburne$167,133$38,401$205,534$83,567$25,227$108,794
Orangeville$180,724$39,694$220,418$90,362$25,945$116,307
Mono$203,299$29,207$232,506$101,649$20,125$121,774
Halton Hills (Halton)$230,970$26,591$257,561$152,485$20,100$172,585
Erin (Wellington)$331,200$34,758$365,958$165,600$24,926$190,526
Caledon (Peel)$352,149$21,993$374,142$210,723$19,974$230,697
Brampton (Peel)$357,491$24,976$382,467$259,311$23,073$282,384
New Tecumseth (Simcoe)$422,895$20,212$443,107$244,712$20,497$265,209
Mulmurnot found$31,546not foundnot found$21,423not found
Centre Wellington (Wellington)not found$34,300not foundnot found$24,642not found
Adjala-Tosorontio (Simcoe)not found$17,540not foundnot found$17,759not found
Clearview (Simcoe)not found$22,674not foundnot found$23,020not found
Grey Highlands (Grey)not found$33,407not foundnot found$26,229not found
Southgate (Grey)not found$36,546not foundnot found$28,453not found

Water and sewer

Which settlements have municipal water and sewer, and 2026 rates. The typical bill is a residential customer using 180 m³ a year (15 m³ a month) on a standard 5/8"–3/4" meter, computed only from the published rates; flat-rate systems show the published annual charge. Everyone outside these settlements is on private wells and septic. Neighbouring municipalities are not yet included. Checked 2026-10-21.

Typical 2026 residential water (+ sewer where provided) bill, 180 m³/year

Dufferin municipality   Neighbour   ┆ Dufferin median $1,276

Typical 2026 residential water (+ sewer where provided) bill, 180 m³/yearMulmur (water only)Mulmur (water only): $1,528$1,528East Garafraxa (water only)East Garafraxa (water only): $1,527$1,527ShelburneShelburne: $1,332$1,332OrangevilleOrangeville: $1,221$1,221Grand ValleyGrand Valley: $1,149$1,149Amaranth (water only)Amaranth (water only): $1,107$1,107Dufferin median $1,276
Municipal servicing and 2026 water/sewer rates
MunicipalityMunicipal waterMunicipal sewerFixed chargeVolumetricTypical annual billSource
OrangevilleYes, town-wideYes, town-wideWater $16.94 + wastewater $16.54 per month (5/8"–3/4" meter)Residential $4.55/m³ combined (water $2.46 + wastewater $2.09) up to 20 m³/month, then $6.15/m³; non-residential $4.77 then $6.44/m³$1,221
12 × $33.48 + 180 m³ × $4.55		Town of Orangeville, Water and Wastewater Base Monthly Charges and Metered Rates – 2026
ShelburneYes, townYes, townWater $29.75 + sewer $39.52 per month (base rate)Water $1.17/m³ + sewer $1.61/m³ (Block 1, under 30 m³ bi-monthly); 2026 Block 2/3 rates not found$1,332
12 × $69.27 + 180 m³ × $2.78		Town of Shelburne 2026 Adopted Budget, 2026 Water and Wastewater Operating
Block structure from By-law 69-2023 and shelburne.ca rates page (2025 rates).
Grand ValleyYes, urban areaYes, urban areaWater $20.00 per month; sewage $751 per year per base unit (flat)Water $0.88/m³ up to 15 m³/month, $1.12/m³ above (from July 1, 2026)$1,149
12 × $20 + 180 m³ × $0.88 + $751		Town of Grand Valley By-law 2026-20, Schedules K (water) and L (wastewater)
Commercial sewage billed in multiples of the base unit by business type.
MonoSome subdivisions: Cardinal Woods, Island LakeFieldstone subdivision onlyWater $25.00 per month base charge (from July 2025)2026 per-m³ rates not found (2025 tiers $2.44–$3.70/m³ annual blocks)not foundTown of Mono, Water Management page; Council Highlights June 10, 2025 (2025 Water Rate Bylaw Amendment)
Fieldstone wastewater 2026 flat rate not found in an official source (reported by Orangeville Citizen, Jan 15 2026).
MulmurMansfield hamlet only (154 customers)None found$116.15 per quarter (3/4" meter)$5.91/m³$1,528
Rate study figure for 180 m³/yr (water only)		Township of Mulmur Water Study and Financial Plan (O.Reg. 453/07), 2025, projected rates table
Rate study forecast for 2026; adopted 2026 by-law text not found. Water only. 2025 capital connection fee $44,293.28 (mulmur.ca).
AmaranthWaldemar onlyNone foundFlat $85.40/month Jan–Mar 2026, $94.51/month from April 2026None (flat rate)$1,107
Annual flat rate 2026 per rate study (water only, excludes maturing capital charges)		Township of Amaranth Water Rate Study (Watson & Associates, Feb 13 2026), approved by Council March 18, 2026
Capital charges for prior works mature in 2026; study shows ~$1,742 total 2026 bill including them.
East GarafraxaMarsville subdivision only (33 homes, no commercial)None foundFlat $127/month ($1,527/yr) in 2026None (flat rate)$1,527
Annual flat rate (water only)		Marsville Subdivision Drinking Water System Financial Plan 2025–2030 (approved March 11, 2025), Table 5
MelancthonNone (private wells)None (private septic)n/an/anot foundTownship of Melancthon 2022 Asset Management Plan (Core Assets)
No municipal water or sewer customers found.

Industrial and commercial users in Orangeville pay the non-residential rates above; large users should check meter-size base charges in the source schedule.

Lease rates and vacancy

Market figures from published reports, labelled with report and date. Dufferin figures come from the Town of Orangeville's 2026 Official Plan Review land-use memos (Parcel Economics, based on CoStar); neighbours from a broker's GTA industrial quarterly report. Vacancy and availability are measured differently across sources, so compare with care. Checked 2026-10-21.

Industrial average asking net rent, $/sq ft/yr (2026)

Dufferin municipality   Neighbour

Industrial average asking net rent, $/sq ft/yr (2026)Caledon (Q2 2026)Caledon (Q2 2026): $15.80$15.80Brampton (Q2 2026)Brampton (Q2 2026): $15.76$15.76GTA overall (Q2 2026)GTA overall (Q2 2026): $15.14$15.14OrangevilleOrangeville: $13.76$13.76Dufferin CountyDufferin County: $12.01$12.01
Commercial and industrial market, published reports
AreaTypePeriodVacancyAvailabilityAvg net rent $/sq ft/yrSource
OrangevilleIndustrial20260.3%not found$13.76Orangeville Official Plan Review – Employment Land Use Strategy technical memo (Parcel Economics, Aug 13 2026), Figures 2.2–2.3, based on CoStar
Dufferin CountyIndustrial20260.6%not found$12.01Orangeville Official Plan Review – Employment Land Use Strategy technical memo (Parcel Economics, Aug 13 2026), Figures 2.2–2.3, based on CoStar
OrangevilleRetail / commercial2026 (vacancy: May 2026 inventory)1%not found$20.96Orangeville Official Plan Review – Commercial Land Use Strategy technical memo (Parcel Economics, Aug 13 2026), Figures 2.1–2.3, based on CoStar and May 2026 inventory
Dufferin CountyRetail / commercial2026not foundnot found$23.35Orangeville Official Plan Review – Commercial Land Use Strategy technical memo (Parcel Economics, Aug 13 2026), Figures 2.1–2.3, based on CoStar and May 2026 inventory
CaledonIndustrialQ2 20261.58%3.03%$15.80Spear Realty, GTA Industrial Quarterly Report Q2 2026
BramptonIndustrialQ2 20265.18%9.72%$15.76Spear Realty, GTA Industrial Quarterly Report Q2 2026
Halton HillsIndustrialQ2 20262.76%8.71%not foundSpear Realty, GTA Industrial Quarterly Report Q2 2026
GTA overallIndustrialQ2 20264.23%6.61%$15.14Spear Realty, GTA Industrial Quarterly Report Q2 2026

Asking rents in our listings

Derived live from the 13 lease and sublease listings published on Commercial space (listings checked 2026-10-20). Small sample; listings quote rents in different ways, so only rents stated per sq ft are counted as net, and monthly "as shown" rents are converted to $/sq ft/yr where size is given (these usually include extra costs).

Asking rents from WhyDufferin listings
MeasureListingsLowMedianHigh
Net rent quoted per sq ft/yr (+ TMI)4$14.00$21.00$33.00
Monthly rent as shown, converted to $/sq ft/yr5$11.35$20.36$30.46

Downloads: development charges CSV · JSON · water and sewer CSV · JSON · lease market CSV · JSON (listing rows: CSV). Found an official schedule we're missing? [email protected]