Belleville Proposes Updated 2026 Fees & Charges — What Are Your Thoughts?
- Small Town Productions
- Dec 8, 2025
- 4 min read
The City of Belleville has released its proposed 2026 Consolidated Fees & Charges By-Law, outlining adjustments across many everyday services that residents, families, and local businesses rely on. Although these updates occur annually, they can impact the cost of living in very real and practical ways, from registering a child in sports to parking downtown, licensing a pet, or applying for a zoning change.
If approved, the new fees would take effect January 1, 2026.
Below is a community-focused look at some of the most significant exact fee changes, pulled directly from the report.
Key Exact Fee Changes for 2026
Animal Control — For Pet-Owning Families
Rising costs in animal control affect many households:
Kennel Licence Fee: $62 → $150
Dog Tag – Intact (purchased in licensing year): $26 → $50
Dog Tag – Spayed/Neutered: $21 → $30
Replacement Tag: $5.20 → $10.00
For families with pets, these increases may feel noticeable, especially if budgeting month-to-month.
Parking — For Workers, Shoppers & Downtown Visitors
Parking adjustments influence anyone who works or shops downtown:
Meters: $1/hr → $1.50/hr
Monthly Lot Permits: $65 → $95
Daily Permits: $9 → $12
Whether you commute daily or visit occasionally, parking changes shape how affordable and accessible the downtown core feels.
Community Services — Where Families Spend Much of Their Time
Arenas & Event Rentals
Many local families rely on arena programming, especially sports groups:
Prime Time Adult Ice: $200.75 → $216.75
Minor Sports Prime Time: $174.50 → $181.50
Floor Rental – Adults: $98.25 → $119.75
CAA Arena Ice-In Day Rental: $4,558.50 → $5,105.50
New additions like Stage ($700) and Event Floor – Private ($3,500) reflect expanded programming options but come at a higher price.
Fitness, Skating & Camps
For parents planning programs in 2026:
Learn to Skate (per 25-min): $10.50 → $11.25
Day Camps (per day): $39.25 → $41.00
Adult Fitness Hourly: $9 → $9.50
Private Skate Lessons: $26.50 → $28.00
Even small changes can add up over the year for families with multiple children in programs.
Pools — A Popular Community Hub
Pool rentals and swims also see increases:
Main Pool – Prime: $206.00 → $222.50
Main Pool – Non-Prime: $191.25 → $206.50
Lane Rental: $18.25 → $19.75
Extra Lifeguard: $27.75 → $28.75
Recreational swims now cost:
Child/Youth: $4.25 → $4.50
Adult: $5.25 → $5.50
For many families, swimming is one of the most affordable activities — making even modest increases meaningful.
Sports Fields — A Major Shift in 2026
Because field lining and maintenance are now included in the rates, some fees rise sharply:
A Field – Adult: $11.50 → $25.00
A Field – Youth: $8.75 → $21.50
B Field – Adult: $10.00 → $23.25
B Field – Youth: $7.50 → $20.25
A new Cricket Field rate appears at $31.25 per hour.
These increases will impact local sports leagues, youth teams, and community tournaments.
Corporate Services — Everyday Administrative Costs
Several services that residents commonly use also change:
Marriage Licence: $150 → $160
Burial Permit – In Town: $10 → $30
Burial Permit – Out of Town: $15 → $30
Noise By-Law Exemption: now a combined $250
Barber/Hair/Beauty Salon Licence: $25 → $50
Driving School/Instructor Licence: $75 → $125
Short-term rental regulations also rise:
Annual Renewal: $300 → $500
Owner-Occupied New Application: $500
These fees affect small businesses, homeowners converting spaces, and families planning weddings or handling estate matters.
Planning — For Builders, Developers & Growing Families
Planning fees affect everything from home additions to large subdivisions:
Official Plan Amendment – Commercial (>4,000 m²):$9,050 → $9,510
Zoning By-Law Amendment – Other:$6,680 → $7,020
Combined OP + Zoning Amendment – Commercial:$14,320 → $15,040
Consent (new lot):$2,700 → $2,840
Minor Variance – Other:$1,250 → $1,320
Cash-in-Lieu of Parking:$4,300/space → $4,420/space
Housing growth, redevelopment, and small renovations all intersect with these fees.
Why This Matters for Our Community
Whether you're a parent signing your child up for hockey, a senior attending fitness classes, a worker parking downtown, a homeowner caring for a pet, or a business owner planning to expand, municipal fees touch nearly every part of daily life.
City staff emphasize that these updates help reflect real service costs and ensure a balanced mix of fees and taxation. But for many families and residents, even moderate increases can affect annual budgets.
What Are Your Thoughts?
Do these increases feel manageable? Are there areas you feel should remain more affordable for the community? How might these changes impact your household, your business, or your activities in 2026?
Share your thoughts — these decisions affect all of us, and community input matters.
To keep updated with our latest news articles by having them sent straight to your email please visit www.smalltownproductions.org/signup or check out our other articles at www.smalltownproductions.org/news
Link for Donations
We’re proudly independent, with no corporate or political ties, just a commitment to truthful, fact-based reporting. Your support not only helps us stay free from outside influence but also allows us to give back to the communities we serve through meaningful coverage, outreach, and support where it matters most. If you value honest local journalism, please consider donating through the link below. Anything helps us keep you informed and make a real difference.
Comments