Property tax and utilities rates

Our approved 2023 property tax rate increase is 5.45% which is an average increase of $76 per household. Find more details below.

On this page

1. Find 2023 property and utility tax rate
2. Learn where your taxes go within each level of government
3. What your 2023 tax dollars buy
4. Find rates from other municipalities

Find 2023 property and utility tax rate

Our tax increase is guided by our Core Consumer Price Index Policy which states that CPIX acts as a guideline for tax increases. During the budget process a tax increase is subject to council’s approval and may go up or down.

Your property tax increase rate

In order to maintain our level of services while supporting the projects that fund infrastructure renewal the city has approved a tax rate increase of 5.45%. This represents an average increase of $76 per household. The breakdown of the tax increase is:

• 3.83% or $53.41 to support existing services and funding the growth of our facilities and assets
• 1.0% or $13.94 to increase our investment in infrastructure renewal
• 0.62% or $8.65 to deliver on new service in support of the strategic plan

Your city utility rate increase

The average household consumes 17 cubic meters of water per month. Maintaining our water, sanitary sewers and stormwater services is essential.

Our utility rate increase is combined with the Region of Waterloo's rate increase. The 2023 approved utility rate increase is 5.1% which is an average cost of $59.04 per household. The breakdown of the utility rate increase is:

• City of Waterloo - 3.6% or an average cost of $41.68 per household
• Region of Waterloo - 1.5% or an average cost of $17.36 per household

Learn where your taxes go within each level of government

The City of Waterloo is a lower tier municipality, with the Region of Waterloo being the upper tier municipality. For every dollar that goes towards taxes, only three cents ($0.03) goes to fund lower tier municipal services.

The chart below shows an average Ontario family with two annual incomes earning $129,872 combined and are paying $50,582 in taxes. You can see the breakdown of taxes to each level of government in the chart below.

The majority of Ontarians tax dollars goes towards the federal and provincial governments, with $45,560 or 90% divided between the upper level governments.

What your 2023 tax dollars buy

Your tax dollars go towards programs and services to improve quality of life for you and your community. Learn how your tax dollars are used to provide these services to you, your family and your larger community.

For every $1.00 the city receives in property taxes, it is reinvested in the community. See how your property taxes are invested in  public service in the diagram below.

Find rates from other municipalities

See how the City of Waterloo compares in tax increases to other municipalities across Waterloo Region. Waterloo maintains a low tax rate increase among the municipalities across Waterloo Region.