Planning and Building

Official plan

An official plan sets out a municipality's general policies for future land use, and states the land use planning goals that guide development.

Zoning

Zoning by-laws establish and regulate land use by implementing the general policies from the Official Plan.

Minor variance

If a development proposal does not conform exactly to a Zoning By-law, but meets the general intent and purpose and complies with the Official Plan, an application may be made for a minor variance.

Consent (Severance)

All division of land in Ontario is subject to subdivision control, either through a plan of subdivision or consent approval to ensure that the new lots are consistent with the planning policies set out in the Official Plan and Zoning By-laws.

Site plan

Site plan control by-laws require certain types of buildings or developments to obtain “site plan approval” prior to construction.

Development charges

NOTE: As per Section 10(4) of the DCA; “(4) The council shall ensure that a development charge background study is made available to the public at least 60 days prior to the passing of the development charge by-law and until the by-law expires or is repealed by posting the study on the website of the municipality or, if there is no such website, in the municipal office. 2015, c. 26, s. 5 (3).”

Next Steps:

• Notice of Public Meeting - The notice needs to appear in the paper BEFORE January 23 (20 clear days before the public meeting).  
• Public Meeting  - February 13  
• By-law Passage – March 13  
• Notice of By-law Passage – no later than 20 days after by-law passage.  
• Last Day for By-law Appeal – 40 days after by-law passage.
• Information Pamphlet completed and online – within 60 days after the in-force date of the bylaw

Click here to view the Warwick DC Report 

Reports and publications

• Ministry of Municipal Affairs and Housing Citizens Guide to the Planning Act
• Ministry of Municipal Affairs and Housing Land Use Planning and the Building Code