Community Amenity Contributions (CACs)

Capital Project CACs

Applies to: Any application for additional residential bonus density (city-wide) and apply to the portion of new units that comply with Plan/or OCP density designation.

Effective Date: The Capital Project Contributions came into effect on January 1, 2020, and apply to any development (including subdivision) that results in increased density beyond the base density in the zone.

Grandfathering Clause: New Capital Projects Contributions will not apply to a rezoning that receive Third Reading approval from Council before January 1, 2020 and Final adoption before December 31, 2020.

Contributions: A fixed (per residential unit) rate is collected for each additional residential dwelling unit in excess of base density up to Plan or OCP density.  Rates are phased in over 2 years as identified in the table below:

Exclusions: Secondary suites, purpose‐built rental (with a Housing Agreement), social or non‐market affordable housing dwelling units or dwelling units used as a caretaker’s residence, and non‐residential uses are excluded from the Capital Project Contribution requirements.

Due Date: Paid before subdivision approval for Single Family & Duplex, and before Building Permit Issuance for Multifamily.

Community Specific Areas

Community-Specific Capital Project CACs

Applies to: Any city-wide rezoning proposing bonus density and Plan Amendment, where:

1. the proposed increase in density is greater than the maximum density allowed in an approved Secondary Plan or Official Community Plan (whichever is less);
2. the lot is currently designated Urban, Multiple Residential, Commercial, Town Centre, or Central Business District in the Official Community Plan; and
3. the lot falls within the Community Specific areas identified in Surrey Zoning Bylaw Schedule G Section C.9 through C.17.

Effective Date: Tier 2 Capital Project Contributions came into effect on January 1, 2020.  The areas and rates were adjusted on February 22, 2021 to include fixed rate CACs outside City Centre and Town Centres. Community Specific Capital Projects Contributions apply to any new or instream rezoning that did not receive Third Reading approval from Council before January 1, 2020.

Contributions: Community specific fixed rates are charged on a per square foot basis for apartments, and on a per dwelling unit basis for single family and townhouses, vary in each Community Area, and are phased in accordance with Surrey Zoning Bylaw Schedule G Section C, as summarized below for convenience:

Due Date: Paid before Zoning Bylaw Adoption.

Negotiated (Major OCP Amendment) CACs

Applies to: Rezonings requiring a Major OCP Amendment where:

1. the lot is currently designated Conservation and Recreation, Agricultural, Rural, Suburban, or Suburban Urban Reserve, Mixed Employment, or Industrial in the OCP; and
2. the proposed density increase is greater than the maximum density allowed in the Official Community Plan.  

Contribution Type: Negotiated CAC will be based on a cash contribution of 75% of land-lift value for the portion of residential density above the current OCP designation. Negotiated CACs may (in some instances) include in-kind contributions as prescribed in density bonus policy 0-54.

Determining 75% of Land Lift: Estimated lift in value will be determined from a Financial Analysis and Market Report that considers the difference in market value of the land with regard to proposed change in density: a) The market value of the land before the density lift (i.e. under existing land use regulations); and b) The market value of the land after the density lift, (i.e. under land use controls and densities proposed by the Applicant).

Due Date: Paid before Zoning Bylaw Adoption.

Affordable Housing CACs

Applies to: Any City-wide re-zoning or subdivision that permits an additional residential dwelling unit in excess of the minimum density permitted in that Zone.

Effective Date: The Affordable Housing Contribution came into affect on April 9, 2018.

Contribution Type: The Affordable Housing Amenity Contribution is a fixed rate of $1,068 per residential unit.

Due Date: Paid before subdivision approval for Single Family & Duplex; Paid before Building Permit Issuance for Multifamily.

Exclusions: Secondary suites, purpose‐built rental (with a Housing Agreement), social or non‐market affordable housing dwelling units or dwelling units used as a caretaker’s residence, and non‐residential uses are excluded from the Affordable Housing Contributions.

Secondary Plan and Infill Area CACs

Applies to: Any rezoning for additional bonus density within a Secondary Plan or Infill area identified in Surrey Zoning Bylaw in Schedule G - Section D.

Contributions: A fixed rate (per residential unit), and in some cases non-residential (per acre), or per square foot rate may apply. The fixed rates and types of CACs vary in each Secondary plan and Infill area as identified in Surrey Zoning Bylaw Schedule G - Section E.

Due Date: Paid before subdivision approval for Single Family & Duplex, and before Building Permit Issuance for Multifamily and Non-Residential.

Public Art Contributions

Applies to: Any re-zoning that includes more than 10 dwelling units, and/or any rezoning for Commercial or Industrial with a total floor area of greater than 1,000 m².

Contribution Type: The Public Art contribution is a fixed rate of 0.50% of the total project construction cost. Public Art Contributions may also include (in-kind) contributions towards public art. 

Due Date: Paid before subdivision approval for Single Family & Duplex or before Building Permit for Multifamily, Commercial, or Industrial.