The Planning Act outlines the development review process in Ontario. Development applications reviewed at the Regional level in Durham Region are as follows.
| Regional Official Plan Amendments (ROPA) |
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Amendments to the Regional Official Plan (ROP) are required when an application does not conform to the existing policies in the plan. Contact the Region's Planning Division to find out if you are required to submit a Regional Official Plan Amendment (ROPA). TimeframeIt generally takes six months to process a ROPA application, however, more complex applications (e.g. environmental constraints) may take longer. |
| Local area municipal Official Plan Amendments (OPA) |
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If you require an amendment to the Regional Official Plan (ROP), you may be required to submit an application to the local area municipality as well. Contact the appropriate local area municipality to find out if you are required to submit a municipal Official Plan Amendment (OPA). |
| Plans of subdivision, condominium and part-lot control |
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A subdivision, condominium or part-lot control application is required to divide land into two or more parcels for development purposes. If your property is located within Pickering, Ajax, Whitby, Oshawa or Clarington, please contact the appropriate local area municipality. If your property is within the townships of Uxbridge, Brock or Scugog, please contact the Region. TimeframeIt generally takes six months to process a subdivision, condominium or part-lot control application, however, more complex applications may take longer. |
| Land division (consent) |
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Consents generally include the creation of new lots (e.g. severances), lot line adjustments, easements, rights-of-way, and permission for mortgaging or leasing parts of lots for more than 21 years. Contact the Region's Land Division Committee to begin the application process. Learn more about land division TimeframeIt generally takes three to four months to process a consent application, however, a consent approval may have certain conditions attached to it, which may add to the length of the time required to process the application. |
| Zoning by-laws |
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Durham Region's eight local area municipalities each have a comprehensive zoning by-law. Zoning by-laws control the use of land, and are often comprised of land use restrictions (permitted uses) and technical provisions (setbacks, lot size requirements, etc.). You may require an amendment to a zoning by-law if your application doesn't meet the permitted uses outlined in the existing by-law. To begin the application process, please contact the appropriate local area municipality. TimeframeThe range and complexity of zoning amendment applications can vary. In most cases, a rezoning application can be processed within three to six months. More complex applications related to development applications may take longer. |
| Minor variance |
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A minor variance is a minor adjustment to the zoning by-law, and may be required to approve your application. To begin the process, please contact the appropriate local area municipality. TimeframeThe average minor variance process is three months. More complex applications involving conditions for approval may take longer. |
Fees
View the Planning and Economic Development Department's fees and charges.
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