Zoning & Building Compliance Information Requests are made available by the Building Services Division of the Planning and Development Department. This information is generally requested by lawyers and real estate agents wanting to ensure that a property is in compliance with Town of The Blue Mountains By-laws. This information is available to any interested party.

Please note we do not provide verbal zoning confirmation over the phone or in person. Information can be officially requested through the submission of a REQUEST FOR INFORMATION (RFI) Form. Please complete the RFI and return to Zoning Coordinator

Payment may be made by VISA or MasterCard by phoning 519-599-3131 ext 239, or by Cheque payable to "The Town of The Blue Mountains"

Please allow a minimum of 5 business days to receive written response via e-mail.

Visit our Zoning Information page to view current Zoning Bylaw and Official Plan information that is available to the public for review.

Zoning By-law

The purpose of the Zoning By-law is to implement the policies of the Town's Official Plan. The Official Plan contains general policies that affect the use of land throughout the Town. These policies specify where certain land uses are permitted and, in some instances, specify what regulations should apply to the development of certain lands.

A Zoning By-law controls the use of land within a municipality. More specifically, Zoning By-laws state exactly:

• how land may be used;
• where all buildings and structures can be located on a lot;
• the types of buildings and structures that are permitted and how they may be used; and
• the number of parking and loading spaces required, in addition to other amenities.

The purpose of a Zoning By-law is to implement the policies of an Official Plan. The Official Plan contains general policies that affect development and the use of land throughout the municipality.  The Zoning By-law implements the Town's Official Plan and provides for its day-to-day administration while providing a legally enforceable way of managing land use and future development

Please note that a portion of the Town is located within the Niagara Escarpment Plan Area and is administered through Niagara Escarpment Development Control by the Niagara Escarpment Commission.

The Government of Ontario has produced a series of Citizens' Guides which explain how the land use planning process works in Ontario.

• The ZBLA process provides a way to change zoning regulations for individual properties and is generally initiated by the property owner and allows for site specific amendments to the Town’s Zoning By-laws 
• Zoning By-law Amendments are approved by Town Council
• The Zoning By-law Amendment Application can be picked up at the Town Office, by contacting Planning Services or by visiting the Applications & Forms Webpage. 

The Committee of Adjustment is an independent body appointed by Council, under authority granted by the Province of Ontario. The Committee of Adjustment is composed of three members of the public, who are appointed by Town Council.

The Town's Committee of Adjustment has authority under the Planning Act to grant minor variances from the zoning by-law and fence by-law; and other associated powers under Section 45(2) of the Planning Act with extensions and similar/compatible uses to non-conforming uses, and conformity of uses that are defined in general terms.

For more information and a list of current members, please visit our Committee of Adjustment page.

If a proposal does not comply with the Zoning By-law, the owner of any land, building or structure (or any person authorized in writing by the owner) may apply to the Committee of Adjustment for a Minor Variance.

The goal of a Minor Variance is to seek relief from a specific Zoning By-law requirement.

Minor Variances may be granted under the following criteria:

• The request is minor in nature
• The request is needed for the appropriate development or use of the land, building or structure
• The general intent and purpose of the Zoning By-law and the Official Plan are maintained

What You Need to Know About Applying for a Minor Variance

• Applications can be picked up at the Town Office, by contacting Planning Services, or by visiting Applications & Forms Webpage
• Minor Variance application fee is payable to the Town, however, there may be associated Agency commenting fees
• Please feel free to preconsult to determine the associated fees
• Public Notice must be circulated to residents within 60 metres of the subject property ten days prior to the hearing date A placard of the Public Notice is required to be posted on the subject lands ten days prior to the hearing date
• An appeal period of 20 days is required after making a decision on a minor variance application
• The Committee of Adjustment convenes public hearings normally the third Wednesday of each month with these meeting dates being posted on the Municipal Calendar 

• A land severance is the authorized separation of a piece of land to form a new lot or a new parcel of land
• This is commonly known as a consent 
• It is required if a person wants to sell, mortgage, charge or enter into any agreement (at least 21 years) for a portion of their land
• If the two parts are split already, by a road or railway for example, consent is not needed
• The Town’s Official Plan has specific policies and requirements for land severances
• In addition to the division of land, rights-of-way, easements and any change to existing property boundaries also require land severance approval
• If several severances are intended in the same area, a plan of subdivision may be more appropriate 
• It is up to the Town to decide whether a consent is the best approach or if a plan of subdivision is necessary for the proper and orderly development
• Official approval is required to ensure that:
  • Land severances are considered within an established community planning framework
  • New lots and new land uses do not conflict with the overall future planning goals and policies of the Town
  • Consideration is given to the effects of the division of land on the site, on the neighbours and on the community as a whole
• Once a severance has been approved, the new land parcels may be sold or resold without further approval
• The only exception is if the Town has specified that this should not occur without further approval
• The granting of consents is carried out by Committee of Adjustment
• Applications can be picked up at the Town Office, by contacting Planning Services  or by visiting the Applications & Forms Webpage.