Doing everyday things like flushing the toilet, washing the dishes and tossing out the garbage will be more expensive for taxpayers in the District of North Vancouver in the new year.
At a Dec. 9 meeting, council approved the 2025 rates for sewage, water and solid waste management. The rates represent a combined increase of 10 per cent for a single-family home.
A significant portion of the district’s annual utility costs are attributed to Metro Vancouver as they rely on them for fresh water supply and the conveyance of liquid and solid waste, according to a DNV staff report.
Sewage and drainage charges increase 19.1 per cent
A single-family home’s sewer fee will be $1,126.10 for the year, a 19.1 per cent, or $180.60, increase from 2024.
The high increase is mainly driven by Metro Vancouver costs and to maintain sufficient funding for DNV operating programs, reserves and infrastructure projects.
The proposed rate increases are consistent with the Utility Rate Study conducted by FCS Group and council’s objectives of maintaining financial sustainability in the management of sewer utility infrastructure, according to the staff report.
Unmetered water supply
Water will rise to $901.30 for a single-family home, a 3.3 per cent increase from last year.
The staff report said the increase is primarily due to Metro Vancouver’s bulk water rate increase and inflation, but also district operating programs, reserves and infrastructure projects.
Garbage and environmental fee
The total combined garbage and organics with environmental fee will be $365.90, up from $354.10 in 2024, a 3.3 per cent change for a single-family home having a 240 litre bin.
For a single-family home with 140 L bin, people will see $317.10 from $306.70 last year.
The increase will cover the increasing costs of streetscape and other public realm recycling services, waste reduction education and policy development, according to the staff report.
Every owner in a residential dwelling where curbside collection service is available must pay all applicable collection and other fees and charges whether the owner uses the service or not, the staff report states.
Businesses will see a five per cent increase in commercial container fees, garbage disposal tipping fees and monthly flat fees for organics collection.
The increase is due to inflation on costs and rising tipping fees at the North Shore Recycling and Waste Centre, according to staff.
New residential utility billing process
Beginning in 2025, residential utility charges will be billed separately from property taxes.
The district hopes the new change will help show transparency for residents to better understand cost drivers that may affect their total utility fees. The bill will highlight Metro Vancouver’s growing charges and include a separate handout explaining the changes the district is seeing in the bills in the years to come.
Bills will be mailed out by late February, with payment due on March 31.
A five per cent penalty will apply on outstanding balances after March 31. However, only in 2025, if payment is received on or before the last business day of May, the penalty will be reversed to ease the transition of the new system.
During the Dec. 2 council meeting, Coun. Jim Hansen spoke about the new billing system.
“Conceptually, I have never understood why there is a deferral program for taxes but not for utilities. It seems to me that the same argument applies to both,” Hansen said.
All new rates will be in effect starting Jan. 1, 2025.
Abby Luciano is the Indigenous and civic affairs reporter for the North Shore News. This reporting beat is made possible by the Local Journalism Initiative. [email protected]
