Environmental Services updated the administrative rule governing System Development Charges during the summer of 2020. The new rule is now in effect.

ENB-4.05 - System Development Charges Administrative Rules

Why did Environmental Services update the rule?

The old rule had not been substantively updated in more than 15 years. Over the past 15 years, there had been significant changes in the types of development subject to sewer and stormwater SDCs. The new rule seeks to create clarity and consistency for City staff and the community by formalizing and updating the SDC methodology and eliminating obsolete information.

The rule revision:

• Made rules relating to the application of the development-related sewer SDC calculation methodology consistent with staff practice.
• Advanced Environmental Services goals to improve business systems and strengthen community relations by clarifying how sanitary sewer and stormwater SDCs are calculated to ensure consistent and equitable application to development.
• Ensured consistency between the written rules and implementation of the rules, promoting transparency and clarity, and potentially reducing requests for Administrative Review.

The most significant elements of the revision included specifying Equivalent Dwelling Units (EDUs) and Plumbing Fixture Units (PFUs) per EDU for several residential and nonresidential occupancy types. The goal of the revisions was to ensure consistent sewer and stormwater SDC calculations for certain development not previously addressed in rule.