Planning Applications and Forms

The Counties of Leeds and Grenville is the Consent Granting Authority for all consent applications in the Township, however preliminary consultation with the municipality is the first step.

If you have not yet completed the preliminary severance process with the Township, please see the Planning/Preliminary Inquiries page to submit your preliminary severance inquiry.

If you have already completed the preliminary severance process and have received preliminary severance comments from planning staff, you may proceed to the United Counties of Leeds and Grenville for information on the application process, fees, and how to submit a formal consent/severance application.

Forms and information:

• Minor Variance Application Form
• Minor Variance Application Information Guide
• Minor Variance Application Process Chart

A Minor Variance application is used when a property or project cannot meet a specific provision(s) of the Township’s Zoning By-Law, for example: a yard setback, lot coverage, or building height requirement. The Minor Variance process is intended to be a mechanism to provide minor relief from the Zoning By-Law under certain circumstances. Minor Variances are reviewed by the Committee of Adjustment which is a committee appointed by Council. There are four general criteria used to determine whether a Minor Variance should be granted:

1. it is a minor variance;
2. it is desirable for the appropriate development or use of the land, building or structure;
3. it maintains the general intent and purpose of the by-law (zoning by-law/interim);
4. it maintains the general intent and purpose of the Official Plan.

If approved, a minor variance application permits a minor adjustment of a specific Zoning By-law requirement to excuse a property owner from meeting the exact requirement(s) of the By-law.

The Township’s fee for a Minor Variance Application is $800.00. Please note additional fees may be required (i.e. Conservation Authority review fee).

Please pre-consult with planning staff prior to submitting an application. In most cases, the planner will be able to provide some direction to an applicant as to whether an application could be supported by Staff.

Forms and Information:

• Zoning By-law Amendment Application Form

Any development/use that cannot meet the regulations dictated by the Zoning By-Law requires relief from the Zoning By-law through a planning application. Amendments are necessary to allow uses not permitted, alter other non-quantitative aspects of the Zoning By-Law, or request major reductions from quantitative aspects of the Zoning By-Law. A Zoning By-Law can be amended to change either the zoning of the land or add special provisions to the zoning for a specific property. The application process involves public consultation including a mandatory public meeting to receive comments from members of the public, and circulation to various agencies. Following the public meeting, Zoning By-Law Amendments are reviewed by the Planning Advisory Committee and a final decision is then made by Council. 

The Township's fee for a Zoning By-law Amendment Application is $2,100.00. The fee for a concurrent Zoning By-law Amendment and Official Plan Amendment Application is $3,600.00. Please note additional fees may be required (i.e. Conservation Authority review fee).

Please pre-consult with planning staff prior to submitting an application. In most cases, the planner will be able to provide some direction to an applicant as to whether an application could be supported by Staff.

Forms and Information:

• Official Plan Amendment Application

An Official Plan Amendment Application is required if a proposal is not permitted by the Official Plan. The current Official Plan was approved, as amended, by the United Counties of Leeds and Grenville on October 25, 2018. Official Plans are required to be updated/reviewed every ten (10) years. The current Official Plan will be reviewed in 2028.

The Official Plan is a key planning instrument that outlines the long term goals and objectives of the municipality in relation to land use planning. It is a statement about where and how development should take place now and in the future. It also defines the planning policies and land use designations which are currently in effect. The application process involves public consultation including a mandatory public meeting to receive comments from members of the public, and circulation to various agencies. Following the public meeting, Official Plan Amendments are reviewed by the Planning Advisory Committee and then considered by Council. If an Official Plan amendment is adopted by Council, it then needs to go to the United Counties of Leeds and Grenville for a final decision. 

The Township's fee for an Official Amendment Application is $2,600.00. The fee for a concurrent Official Plan Amendment and Zoning By-law Amendment Application is $3,600.00. Please note additional fees may be required (i.e. Conservation Authority review fee).

Please pre-consult with planning staff prior to submitting an application. In most cases, the planner will be able to provide some direction to an applicant as to whether an application could be supported by Staff.

Forms and Information:

• Site Plan Control Application

Site Plan Control is a development control mechanism used for commercial, industrial, institutional and residential developments as prescribed under Section 41 of the Planning Act. It is used to control development details such as the location of buildings, property access, parking requirements, elevations, grading, and landscaping details. It mitigates or eliminates negative impacts on adjacent land uses and ensures that certain features of a development are maintained into the future.

Site Plan Control applications and amendment decisions are delegated to the Township Planners under By-law No. 24-054. 

The Townships fee for a Site Plan Control Application is $1,000.00. The Townships fee for an amendment to an existing Site Plan Agreement is $500.00. . Please note additional fees may be required (i.e. Conservation Authority review fee, legal/registration fee). 

Please pre-consult with planning staff prior to submitting an application. In most cases, the planner will be able to provide some direction to an applicant as to whether an application could be supported by Staff.

Plans of Subdivision and Plans of Condominium are processed by the United Counties of Leeds and Grenville. Please reach out to the County’s Planning Department directly to set up a pre-consultation meeting.