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Introduction: Navigating the maze of land use regulations, zoning bylaws, and approval processes can be daunting. This is where an Urban Planning Consultant (also known as a planning consultant or planning professional) becomes an invaluable ally. Whether you’re a developer planning a complex project or a homeowner looking to build an addition, a planning consultant’s […]

Introduction: Navigating the planning approval process – whether it’s for a minor variance, consent, rezoning, or site plan – can be challenging. Mistakes or oversights can lead to delays, added costs, or even refusals. Luckily, many common pitfalls are avoidable. Drawing from the experience of planning professionals (and some hard-earned lessons by applicants), here are

Introduction: One of the early questions in planning a development or property improvement is: Do I need a minor variance, or do I need a rezoning (zoning by-law amendment)? Using the correct approval route is crucial. Minor variances are quicker and simpler, but only suitable for small changes. Rezonings handle bigger changes but take longer

Introduction: Despite best efforts, not all planning decisions please everyone. If you’ve had a development application denied, approved with disagreeable conditions, or if you’re a neighbor unhappy with an approval, there is a recourse: an appeal to the Ontario Land Tribunal (OLT). The OLT (formerly known as the Ontario Municipal Board, OMB) is a quasi-judicial

Introduction: For developments involving the creation of multiple lots or new roads – essentially, building a new neighborhood or multi-lot project – a Plan of Subdivision is usually required. Unlike a simple severance that creates one or two lots, a plan of subdivision is the formal process to divide a larger piece of land into

Introduction: Once you have the right zoning and permissions for a development, there is often another crucial step before construction: Site Plan Approval. Site plan control is a process that municipalities use to review and approve the detailed design and layout of a development to ensure it is functional, attractive, and fits the community and

Introduction: Sometimes property owners want to split a parcel of land into two or more lots – for example, to sell part of their big backyard for a new house, or to divide farmland among family members. In Ontario, this land division (other than as part of a plan of subdivision) is done through a

Introduction: An Official Plan (OP) sets out a municipality’s high-level vision and policies for land use and development. It’s like the “blueprint” for growth, describing what can go where, broadly speaking. If your project doesn’t align with these policies, you may need an Official Plan Amendment (OPA). This is a formal change to the municipality’s

Introduction: When a proposed development or land use doesn’t conform to the current zoning by-law in a significant way, a rezoning, formally known as a Zoning By-law Amendment (ZBA), is required. Rezoning is a process to change the permitted use, density, or other major provisions of the zoning for a property. This blog will explain

Introduction: A minor variance is a small change or exception to a zoning by-law. It allows a property owner to obtain permission to proceed with a project even if it doesn’t fully comply with the zoning rules, provided the deviation is considered minor. Minor variances are commonly used when strict application of the by-law would