Development fees and charges account for up to 35% of new home construction costs in the GTA

In Toronto, a surprising chunk of every construction budget never touches bricks or steel. Between development charges, parkland fees, planning costs, and taxes, as much as 25–35% of a project’s total cost goes straight to government. It’s a major reason new housing feels so expensive — before a single unit is sold, city fees have already eaten a third of the pie.