Durham Region’s 2026 Property Tax Increase: What Happened, Who It Affects, and What You’ll See on Your Tax Bill

 You may have seen posts circulating recently about Durham Region and a close vote on property taxes. Since this decision was made back in December and is resurfacing now, I wanted to clarify what actually happened — and what it means when your property tax bill arrives.

In December, Durham Regional Council voted on the proposed 2026 regional property tax increase. Staff had originally recommended a 6.04% increase to the regional portion of property taxes. For the average homeowner, that would have meant more than $200 extra per year on the regional share alone.

During the budget process, an amendment was introduced to use existing regional reserve funds to reduce the impact on residents and businesses. That amendment passed by a narrow 15–13 vote, meaning the original 6.04% increase was not approved.

Instead, council moved forward with a reduced regional tax increase of 3% for 2026.

Who does this apply to?

This increase applies to all property types, not just residential homes. That includes:

• Residential properties (detached homes, townhomes, condos)
• Commercial properties
• Industrial and multi-residential properties

The percentage increase is the same, but the dollar impact varies depending on assessed value and tax class. The commonly shared “about $100” figure refers to the average residential homeowner — commercial properties will typically see a higher dollar amount due to higher assessments and tax ratios.

What does the increase actually look like on your tax bill?

The ~$100 figure represents the total additional cost over the entire year, not per bill and not per month.

For residential homeowners, that works out to approximately:

• $100 spread over the year
• About $25 per quarter if you pay quarterly
• Even less per payment if you’re on a monthly tax plan or mortgage escrow

Your exact amount may be slightly higher or lower depending on your MPAC assessed value.

Commercial and industrial property owners will see a different dollar increase, but it is still:

• Spread over the year
• Applied automatically
• Reflected in regular billing cycles

When will people see this increase?

The change appears on 2026 property tax bills.

In Durham Region, most property owners receive:

• Interim tax bills early in the year
• Final tax bills later in the year

There is no separate line item that suddenly appears. The approved 2026 regional tax rate is built into the total, showing up as a slightly higher regional portion compared to 2025.

A quick reminder about how property taxes are structured

Your total property tax bill is made up of three parts:

• Regional taxes (Durham Region)
• Municipal taxes (your local town or city)
• Education taxes (set by the province)

The 3% increase applies only to the regional portion. Municipal and education tax rates are set separately.

Why this decision mattered

By approving a 3% increase instead of 6.04%, council effectively cut the originally proposed increase almost in half. For homeowners, that meant avoiding a $200+ jump and instead seeing a more gradual increase spread throughout the year.

For businesses and property owners, it reduced short-term operating cost pressure at a time when many are already managing rising expenses.

That said, using reserve funds to offset taxes now does raise longer-term budget considerations, which will continue to be part of future regional discussions.

The bottom line

• The vote already happened in December
• The 6.04% increase was declined
• The approved 2026 regional increase is 3%
• It applies to both residential and commercial properties
• The increase is annual and spread out, not a lump sum

If you have questions about how property taxes affect affordability, operating costs, or long-term planning — whether you’re a homeowner, buyer, investor, or business owner — I’m always happy to help explain it clearly.