Updated September 28, 2026 @ 4:12pm
Barrie will receive $129,184,724 through a provincial program after the City cut residential development charges by 50 per cent.
The funding details were announced on Monday.
City council approved the reduction on September 16, making Barrie eligible for the Development Charge Reduction Program.
The program requires participating municipalities to maintain their reduced development charges for at least three years. Ontario says the program is designed to help municipalities reduce development charges while funding infrastructure needed to support new housing.
Barrie's allocation will go toward major wastewater infrastructure improvements.
The City says the work will increase wastewater treatment capacity, support future housing development and help ensure its wastewater infrastructure can keep up with the growth.
The reduction in development charges over the three years is estimated to reduce the cost of building new homes in Barrie by up to $62,223 per home, according to a news release from the Ministry of Municipal Affairs and Housing.
"When combined with savings enabled through the expanded HST relief on eligible new homes, these initiatives could save families in Barrie up to $192,223."
Barrie Mayor Alex Nuttall said this is a game-changer and will allow more Barrie residents the opportunity to own a home.
The Development Charge Reduction Program is part of the $8.8 billion Canada-Ontario Partnership to Build, with federal funding delivered through the Build Communities Strong Fund's Provincial and Territorial stream.
Development charges are fees municipalities can levy on new development to help pay for growth-related infrastructure and services.
The City says the funding will support its efforts to encourage housing development while investing in the infrastructure needed to serve a growing community.
