The County of Essex will be introducing development charges in 2028.
Development charges will be applied to new builds in Essex County to cover costs for expansion, like county roads, EMS, and libraries.
"We have a lot of capital infrastructure, roads, someone has to pay for those, EMS, the libraries, if we don't charge development charges, it falls on the backs, it's the burden of those who have already paid," said Deputy Warden Joe Bachetti.
The charges will be phased in by 25 per cent increments over four years starting in 2028.
The charge will vary depending on the type and size of the development, but a new single-family home would pay around $8,500 once the charges are fully implemented in 2032.
A report to Essex County council recommended introducing the charges in 2027, but many members felt the move would discourage development in the current economic climate.
"A lot of the concerns are (that) right now is not the right time. The economy is not going well, but it's something that I feel strongly should have been done 15 years ago cause growth needs to pay for growth," said Bachetti.
Administration estimates that by delaying the charges, each Essex County taxpayer will be paying an additional $200 a year to pay for road reconstruction and other services.
