City of Burnaby - 2024 Water and Sewage Fee Revisions and Bylaw Amendments
Adopted
January 16th, 2024
As mentioned in previous updates, on December 13th, 2023 Council adopted proposed changes to the 2024 Waterworks and Sanitary Sewer Utility Rates. Amendments for both utilities are contained within the Consolidated Fees and Charges Bylaw and would come into effect on January 1st, 2024.
Waterworks Utility Rates
The City minimizes annual fluctuations by drawing on reserves when necessary, and after ensuring the quality and availability of water, there was no need to increase fees for 2024.
The City has proposed changes to the Construction Meter Damage Deposit. A damage deposit will be taken in lieu of the existing fee to ensure that the meter assembly is returned at occupancy undamaged. Water connections are currently covered under one generic charge, based on the cost of the connection. City staff have also proposed these fee types be updated to split into three - with multi-family and ICI being at actual cost.
Staff have proposed the commencement of annual flat rate charges for new construction. The annual construction flat rate charge will be applied to all multi-family dwellings and all commercial, industrial, and institutional properties during construction unless a construction water meter is installed. The charge will commence on issuance of a Building Permit and be prorated for the remainder of the calendar year.
Currently, the City requires all Multiple Dwelling buildings to “configure their water service or mechanical room with a sufficient straight length pipe or spool piece to enable a future metered service”. An amendment was proposed to require configuration for metered water service as well as installation of a water meter prior to occupancy.
Sanitary Sewer Utility Rates
The proposed rate increase for 2024 is 5%.
More information can be found in the Waterworks and Sanitary Sewer reports by City staff, as well as the proposed Fee Schedules for Waterworks and Sanitary Sewer.
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November 28th, 2023
On November 6th, Council authorized the City Solicitor to bring forward amendment bylaws to implement rate changes for the 2024 Waterworks and Sanitary Sewer utilities. Amendments for both utilities are contained within the Consolidated Fees and Charges Bylaw and would come into effect on January 1st, 2024.
Waterworks Utility Rates
The City minimizes annual fluctuations by drawing on reserves when necessary, and after ensuring the quality and availability of water, there was no need to increase fees for 2024.
The City has proposed changes to the Construction Meter Damage Deposit. Previously, this deposit was collected towards the cost of installing a construction meter at sites where the installation was challenging and required additional work by City crew. City staff have proposed new construction water meter technology that would be dropped off and installed by the developer under an Engineering inspection, removing the fee. A damage deposit will be taken in lieu of the existing fee to ensure that the meter assembly is returned at occupancy undamaged. Water connections are currently covered under one generic charge, based on the cost of the connection. City staff have also proposed these fee types be updated to split into three - with multi-family and ICI being at actual cost.
Staff have proposed the commencement of annual flat rate charges for new construction. Currently, the Burnaby Waterworks Regulation Bylaw does not differentiate amongst different forms of development regarding the commencement of annual flat rate charges for new construction. It is proposed that a new section be added to identify when annual flat rate charges will start to be charged for the following forms of development that are not subject to metered water service:
- Single and Two-Family Dwelling – commencing on building permit issuance;
- Multi-family/residential and commercial properties that will be stratified – on the date of strata subdivision with the Land Title and Survey Authority;
- Multi-family residential properties that will not be stratified – upon issuance of an occupancy permit; and
- Laneway Homes – upon issuance of an occupancy permit.
The annual construction flat rate charge will be applied to all multi-family dwellings and all commercial, industrial, and institutional properties during construction unless a construction water meter is installed. The charge will commence on issuance of a Building Permit and be prorated for the remainder of the calendar year.
Currently, the City requires all Multiple Dwelling buildings to “configure their water service or mechanical room with a sufficient straight length pipe or spool piece to enable a future metered service”. An amendment was proposed to require configuration for metered water service as well as installation of a water meter prior to occupancy.
Sanitary Sewer Utility Rates
The proposed rate increase for 2024 is 5%.
More information can be found in the Waterworks and Sanitary Sewer reports by City staff, as well as the proposed Fee Schedules for Waterworks and Sanitary Sewer.
