Building Permits
E-Permitting for Building Permit Applications
The Township is processing all permit applications online through the CityView Portal from Dufferin County's Building Division website. You can submit applications, check permit statuses & schedule inspections online.
The Township and County of Dufferin Building Department will only be accepting building permit applications through the CityView Portal.
For more information regarding Building Permits please visit Dufferin County's Building Services website page.
Building permits are required for the construction of new buildings or structures, building additions, pools, decks, sheds and structural alterations and must comply with the provisions of the Township By-Laws. A building permit application can be obtained from the Municipal Office or the County of Dufferin Building Department.
Please note that municipal approvals are required for all renovations and/or building on your property. Please contact the Administration Office for further information.
Development Charges
For information regarding the 2019 Development Charges Background Study, By-Law 32-2019 for the Imposition of Development Charges and the annual indexed Development Charges as of January 1, 2021, please visit our 2019 Development Charges Background Study page.
Planning Applications
Due to COVID-19 the Township is accepting Planning Applications electronically only. Please contact the Planning Department for more information.
Severance (Consent)
The Township is responsible for applications for Severances or Consents. Please contact our Planner to set an appointment to review the policies applicable to your property.
Please visit our Applications, Licences and Permits webpage for the Consent Application and Agent Authorization Form.
Official Plan
The Official Plans contain objectives and policies established primarily to provide guidance or the development of a municipality. Official Plan Amendments may be obtained from time to time by following the applicable amendment process. Information can be obtained at the Municipal Office and forms available below.
- To review the Official Plan Document
- To review Schedule A Map
- To review Schedule A1 Map
- To review Schedule A2 Map
- To review Schedule B Map
Please visit the Applications, Licences and Permits page for a Official Plan Amendment Application.
Official Plan Review
Official Plan Amendment No. 8
Please see Notice of Adoption dated January 6, 2021 with respect to By-Law 50-2020 being a by-law for the adoption of an amendment to the Township of East Garafraxa Official Plan (Amendment No. 8).
Please note that Official Plan Amendment No. 8 requires approval from the County of Dufferin, which is the approval authority under the Planning Act. Any person or public body will be entitled to receive notice of the decision of the approval authority if a written request to be notified of the decision (including the person’s or public body’s address, fax number or email address) is made to the approval authority at the address listed on the Notice.
Purpose and Effect of the Official Plan Amendment
The purpose of this Amendment is to ensure the Township of East Garafraxa Official Plan is consistent with the Provincial Policy Statement, 2020 (PPS 2020) and to bring the Plan into conformity with the County of Dufferin Official Plan, the Credit Valley-Toronto and Region - Central Lake Ontario (CTC) Source Protection Plan; and the Grand River Source Protection Plan.
Public Open House and Public Meeting
Please see Notice of Official Plan Public Open House and Public Meeting dated August 31, 2020 and details below with respect to the Township of East Garafraxa Official Plan Review.
- Draft Official Plan Amendment Documents
- Draft Official Plan Amendment No. 8 dated September 2020
- Draft Official Plan Amendment - Tracked Changes Consolidation dated September 2020
Due to the COVID-19 State of Emergency, physical attendance is not permitted at this Open House and Public Meeting. The Open House takes the form of a presentation which can be found below. Questions and comments can be submitted by email or mail to Susan M. Stone between Friday, September 11, 2020 and Tuesday, September 22, 2020 at the address below. The public meeting is being held electronically through Zoom and will be available for public viewing, please register here. The Open House and Public Meeting dates and times are as follows:
Open House Dates
Friday, September 11, 2020 at 10 a.m. to Tuesday, September 22, 2020 at 4:30 p.m.
Please see the following Virtual Public Open House Presentation.
Meeting Date and Time
Tuesday, September 29, 2020 at 6:00 p.m.
ANY PERSON may participate in the public meeting or make written or oral representation either in support of or in opposition to the proposed Official Plan Amendment.
1. Written Submission
Written submissions should be addressed to the Township Clerk at the address shown below. Written comments will be accepted until October 16, 2020. If you wish to be notified of the adoption or the refusal of the proposed Official Plan Amendment, you must also make a written request to the Township Clerk before the adoption of the amendment.
2. Oral Submission
Oral submissions may be provided to Council at the meeting electronically. You must pre-register with the Clerk’s office by email at info@eastgarafraxa.ca, or telephone at 1-226-259-9400 or mail at the address below before 4:30 p.m. on Monday, September 28, 2020. Please include your full name, address, and a call-back phone number. You will be contacted by the Clerk’s office to confirm your participation and receive the online and call-in information before the meeting. Technical assistance may be provided to ensure you are able to participate.
The Township of East Garafraxa is processing the Official Plan Amendment as required by the Planning Act and welcome any comments that you may have.
Details of The Official Plan Review and Proposed Amendment
The current Official Plan was adopted by Township Council on December 14, 2004 and approved by the Minister of Municipal Affairs and Housing on October 26, 2005. Official Plan Amendment No. 4 (“OPA No. 4”) to bring the Official Plan into conformity with the Provincial Greenbelt and Growth Plans was subsequently approved in part by the Ontario Municipal Board on June 24, 2016. OPA No. 4 constituted Phase One of the Official Plan Review.
Phase Two, as noted, addresses matters of provincial interest, and consistency with the PPS and conformity with the County Official Plan. It affects lands throughout the entire Township of East Garafraxa, therefore a key map or description of the affected lands has not been provided. Proposed changes include:
- Additions to the permitted uses in the Agricultural and Rural designations to reflect the County Plan;
- Expanded permissions for secondary residential units in existing or new single detached dwellings and related accessory buildings in accordance with the Planning Act;
- Prohibition of new residential lots and other sensitive uses not ancillary to primary employment uses in the Employment Area designation;
- Updated policies for the evaluation of Extractive Industrial uses and related development;
- Addition of policies related to source water protection;
- Updated policies related to development criteria including with respect to development compatibility; environmental impact assessments; cultural heritage resources; minimum distance formulae; stormwater management; and excess soil;
- Updated growth management policies in conformity with the County Plan;
- Pre-application consultation and complete application requirement;
- Updated Schedules with respect to the Environmental Protection designation within the Grand River Conservation Authority Watershed and Source Water Protection; and,
- Housekeeping matters to the text and Schedules.
Additional Information
Additional information relating to the Township Official Plan Review and the proposed Township Official Plan Amendment may be requested by email, mail, fax, or telephone from the Township at the address below.
Planning Act Requirements
If a person or public body does not make oral submissions at the public meeting or make written submissions to the Township of East Garafraxa before the proposed Official Plan Amendment is adopted, the person or public body is not entitled to appeal the decision of the Township of East Garafraxa to the Local Planning Appeal Tribunal.
If a person or a public body does not make oral submissions at a public meeting or make written submissions to the Township of East Garafraxa before the Official Plan Amendment is adopted, the person or public body may not be added as a party to the hearing of an appeal before the Local Planning Appeal Tribunal unless, in the opinion of the Tribunal, there are reasonable grounds to add the person or public body as a party.
Zoning By-Law 60-2004
The Township Zoning By-Law is a legal document, which is used to control the development of properties and buildings. Zoning Classifies properties into zones such Agricultural, Rural, Estate Residential, etc. Each of these zones has legally enforceable regulations attached to them such as the location and size of building.
Changes to the Zoning By-Law may be required. The Planning Advisory Committee review Zoning By-Law Amendments Applications and forwards recommendations to Council. Information regarding these processes and applications forms can be obtained at the Municipality or by using the links below.
Please visit the Applications, Licences and Permits page for a Zoning By-Law Amendment Application.
Site Plan Approval
The Site Plan Approval is an essential component of the development review process. It is intended to:
- Complement the objectives of the Official Plan;
- Conform to the requirements of the Zoning By-Law and other appropriate by-laws/regulations
- Eliminate or reduce negative impacts on adjacent land uses;
- Provide clear guidelines to help streamline and speed up the approval process.
- PROCEDURES AND REQUIREMENTS FOR SITE PLAN APPROVAL
Please visit the Applications, Licences and Permits page for a Site Plan Approval Application.