January 16,2026
RE DFM News Desk
Surrey city staff are recommending a series of utility rate increases for 2026, including a 5.3 per cent hike to water rates compared with 2025, a 1.37 per cent increase in sewer rates, a 1.5 per cent increase to the drainage, dyking and flood protection utility parcel tax for all property classes, a 1.2 per cent increase to solid waste rates, and a 6.4 per cent increase to district energy utility rates.
Parking fees are also under review, with meter rates to be adjusted based on market demand and time of day. A report from the city manager and finance manager says parking fees are reviewed annually to ensure fairness and consistency across Surrey.
Under the Community Charter, municipalities are required to prepare a five-year financial plan each year. A public hearing on Surrey’s draft plan is scheduled for 2:30 p.m. on Monday, January 26, at city hall, located at 13450 104 Avenue, and will be live-streamed on the city’s website. If the finance committee endorses the staff recommendations, council will vote on the measures later that evening. Members of the public can register to speak in person or submit comments by email to clerks@surrey.ca.
Utility rate increases have been a recurring issue for Surrey residents in recent years, with hikes also approved in 2023, 2024 and 2025.
If approved, the average impact on water customers would be an annual increase of $25.52 for metered single-family homes, $141.80 for metered commercial properties, and $56.72 for non-metered residential customers. The city says the increase is necessary due to a 6.4 per cent rise in Metro Vancouver water rates, with bulk water costs expected to climb by an average of 2.6 per cent annually over the remaining four years of the five-year plan.
For sewer services, metered single-family households would pay an additional $10.14 per year, metered commercial customers $56.32 more, and non-metered residential customers $22.53 more. Metro Vancouver sewer rates are projected to rise by an average of 9.1 per cent annually over the next four years.
Proposed drainage rate changes would see residential and agricultural customers pay $250.71, up from $247, while commercial and industrial customers would pay $613.06, up from $604.
Surrey provides weekly curbside organic waste collection and alternating bi-weekly garbage and recycling pickup to approximately 108,200 single-family households and 42,000 secondary suites. About 35,200 apartment buildings receive centralized recycling service, with roughly half also receiving weekly organic waste collection.
The city is recommending a 1.2 per cent solid waste rate increase due to a $7-per-tonne increase in Metro Vancouver’s tipping fees in 2026. Those fees are projected to rise by $8 per tonne annually from 2027 to 2029 and by $9 in 2030.
Under the proposal, solid waste rates would increase to $344.08 from $340 for single- and multi-family garbage, recycling and organics; to $172.04 from $170 for secondary suites; to $46.55 from $46 for apartment and townhouse recycling and organics; and to $35.42 from $35 for apartment and townhouse recycling service.
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