Frequently Asked Questions - Planning Services

Planning Services Staff can advise whether an application has been received to develop a particular property. If no application has been received, Planning Services Staff can provide the current Official Plan designation and Zoning of the lands in question that itemizes those uses that could potentially developed on the site.

It may be necessary to hire a surveyor to perform a Surveyors Real Property Report. Often, the original survey was carried out with the construction of a house. Over time, changes made to the property, such as fences, a pool, or a garden shed etc. may not be shown on the original survey.

Most additions to commercial, industrial, multi-unit residential and institutional buildings require Site Plan Control approval unless the additions are deemed to be minor. Please contact Planning Services at (705) 445-1290 for more information.

Depending on the designation applied to your property and/or building, you may be required to submit a Heritage Building Permit Application and get Town Council and/or Heritage Committee approval to make alterations to your designated property. Contact Building Services, 2nd floor Town Hall, 97 Hurontario St., (705) 445-1030 ext. 3243 for more information on the heritage designation of your property. 

Town of Collingwood Planning Services should be consulted (705) 445-1290 to ensure the use is permitted and whether the existing building and property will comply with all the zoning requirements. This may include meeting the minimum lot area, the minimum lot width, the minimum building setbacks and providing sufficient parking. In most cases an amendment to the Zoning By-law will be required.  A Building Permit will also be required and existing sanitary and water services need to be verified.  Please contact the Building Department at (705) 445-1030 for permit requirements. 

A permit or permission to cut down a tree on private property may be required. Cutting down, damaging or otherwise destroying trees on private property is subject to the guidelines described in the Tree Protection By-law for which the application can be found here. In accordance with this Municipal By-law, you must have a permit to destroy or damage trees on private property unless lands are otherwise exempt.

Yes, subject to compliance to zoning provisions. Please contact Planning Services for further information.

A home based business is permitted in any Residential zone that permits a dwelling unit. Home occupations are subject to provisions as set out in the Zoning By-law. Contact Planning Services for details.

You must meet the provisions of the zoning of your property. You must contact Building Services, 2nd floor Town Hall, 97 Hurontario St., Collingwood, ON  L9Y 3Z5 (705) 445-1030 ex. 3243 to see if a permit is required to construct your deck.

Contact Planning Services as the width, location and number of permitted driveways are regulated by the Zoning By-law. 

The Town of Collingwood Planning Services should be contacted when you need answers relating to the use of your property, particularly when that use may involve Zoning By-laws. Some examples where changes to property relate to Zoning By-laws are:

1. If you want to convert your property to include an accessory apartment.
2. If you want to change the use on your subject property from one zoning classification (i.e. residential) to another (i.e. commercial).

The Town of Collingwood is under Site Plan Control and, as such, all commercial, industrial, and multi-residential developments as well as some recreational and institutional developments require site plan approval prior to the issuance of a Building Permit. Site Plan approval is one of the many processes administered by Planning Services. Generally, if a development complies with the applicable zoning regulations, a Building Permit can be issued once the necessary site plan approval is obtained.

Each application has its own processing time. Requirements such as the submission and approval of required studies supporting the proposal (i.e. traffic, noise); review and acceptance of Planning Reports, adoption and approval of all amendments; appeal periods; public notifications; public meetings; and preparation, signing and registration of agreement all play a role in determining the processing time.

• Official Plan Amendment: 6 to 12 months
• Rezoning: 4 to 6 months
• Draft Approval for Plan of Subdivision: 8 to 12 months
• Site Plan Approval: 3 to 4 months
• Part Lot Control: 1 to 2 months
• Minor Variance and Consent: 1 to 2 months

The application forms are available from Planning Services at 105 Hurontario Street. You can come in person to pick it up, or request it be mailed or faxed to your address or you may download it here. Please note that a preconsultation meeting may be required before many development applications can be submitted.  Please contact Planning Services to set up a Preconsultation Meeting.

Section 69 of the Ontario Planning Act allows The Town of Collingwood to establish a tariff of fees for the processing of applications made in respect of planning matters. The Town of Collingwood passes a Fee By-law once a year to set application fees for the development review process based on total 100% cost recovery. The current and complete fee schedule is available for viewing or downloading here. (Planning Department fees begin on page 22).

When buying, renting or leasing property, it is a good idea to first obtain Official Plan and Zoning information. Official Plan and Zoning information is available in Planning Services and may be obtained by telephone at (705) 445-1290, fax at (705) 445-4704 or through email. Please be sure to include the exact address of the subject property when making inquiries.

When buying, renting or leasing property, it is a good idea to first obtain Official Plan and Zoning information. Official Plan and Zoning information is available in Planning Services and may be obtained by telephone, fax or through email. Please be sure to include the exact address of the subject property when making inquiries.

If you want to use or develop your property in a way that is not allowed by the Zoning By-law, you may have to apply for a zoning change, also known as a zoning by-law amendment or a rezoning. Council may consider a rezoning application if the new use is in conformity with the Official Plan. If it is not in conformity with the Official Plan, an Official Plan Amendment would also be required. Before you apply for rezoning, you should talk to Planning Services staff for advice and information. You are required to complete an application form which contains information prescribed by the Minister and any other additional information that the Town of Collingwood may require. You can find the application online here or at Planning Services at 105 Hurontario Street. 

A new comprehensive Zoning By-law is being drafted during 2008 which will be presented to the Public for comment in October 2008. You may access the DRAFT New Zoning By-law online here.

In the meantime, we encourage that Zoning information be obtained directly from Planning Services staff since the documents are not consolidated with the various Zoning By-law amendments that have taken place.  If you require further information or assistance, please call our Planning office at (705) 445-1290 for more information.

The Town of Collingwood has three Zoning By-laws; one for “Collingwood”, and two for the different parts of the former Township of Nottawasaga. The Town of Collingwood Zoning By-laws put the policies of the Official Plan into “law” for day-to-day administration. They contain specific requirements that are legally enforceable. Construction or new development that doesn't comply with a Zoning By-law is not allowed, and the municipality will refuse to issue a building permit.

1. how land may be used
2. where buildings and other structures can be located
3. the lot sizes and dimensions, parking requirements, building heights and setbacks from the street

You can download the document from the web for free here. Schedules of the Official Plan can be downloaded here.

The Town of Collingwood Official Plan is a principal policy document adopted by Council under the provisions of the Ontario Planning Act. It reflects matters of municipal and provincial interests and applies to the entire Town. The Official Plan sets out Goals and Objectives in which to guide orderly development for a twenty year period. Using the Plan as a guide, Council adopts more detailed planning policies such as secondary plans and community improvement plans for specific areas and neighborhoods and directs the development of new subdivisions. The use and development of individual parcels of land is also influenced by the Official Plan which determines more specific regulatory measures related to land subdivision, zoning and site plan control.

The Official Plan describes Council's policies on how land in the Town of Collingwood should be used. It is prepared with input from the public and helps to ensure that future planning and development will meet the specific needs of our community.

Section 16.1 of the Planning Act sets out what shall be contained within an Official Plan:

1. Goals, objectives, and policies established primarily to manage and direct physical change and the effects on the social, economic and natural environment of the municipality or part of it, or an area that is without municipal organization;
2. Such other matters as may be prescribed

Section 16.2 sets out what may be contained within an Official Plan

1. A description of the measures and procedures proposed to attain the objectives of the plan
2. A description of the measures and procedures for informing and obtaining the views of the public in respect of a proposed amendment to the official plan or proposed revision of the plan or in respect of a proposed zoning by-law; and
3. Such other matters as may be prescribed.

The Planning Act sets out the ground rules for land use planning in Ontario and describes how land uses may be controlled and who may control them. Section 1.1 of the Planning Act sets out the purposes of the Act.

The Committee of Adjustment hears applications under Section 45, 53 & 57 of the Planning Act R.S.O. 1990 c.P13, as amended. The Committee of Adjustment is an independent body consisting of five (5) members of the public appointed by the Town of Collingwood Council.  There are four types of common applications to the Committee of Adjustment: 

1. Applications for Consent to create new lots or adjust lot boundaries;
2. Applications for Minor Variances to the municipal Zoning By-law requirements;
3. For Special Permission to enlarge or extend land uses that have existed prior to the passing of the current By-law (i.e. Legal non-conforming uses); or
4. To establish new uses that are similar to or more in conformity to the Zoning By-law.

A land severance is the authorized separation of a piece of land to form two new adjoining properties. This is commonly known as a Consent. Where land division is minor and a plan of subdivision is clearly unnecessary for development, or where a boundary is being adjusted, the Planning Act allows the consent granting process. Section 53 with reference to 51(24) of the Planning Act sets out a list of criteria that the Committee of Adjustment shall have regard to when considering a consent application.

A minor variance is a small variation from the requirements of the zoning by-law. A minor variance approval is a special permission, because it allows the property owner to obtain a building permit even though their property does not comply precisely with the zoning by-law. Under Section 45(1) of the Planning Act there are four tests a minor variance must meet:

1. Does the application conform to the general intent of the Official Plan?
2. Does the application conform to the general intent of the Zoning By-law?
3. Is the application desirable for the appropriate development of the lands in question?
4. Is the application minor?

Download a Minor Variance Application