Planning and Development

E-Permitting for Building Permit Applications

All permit applications will be processed through the online CityView Portal, in collaboration with the County of Dufferin Building Department. Please visit the County of Dufferin Building Services webpage for checklists and help documents with respect to submitting an application. 

Please contact the Township office to arrange for payment of associated fees if applicable with respect to applications (example Township Development Charges, Entrance Deposit and Fee etc.).

Municipal Approval and Building permits are required for the construction of new buildings or structures, building additions, renovations, 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 Township website on the Applications, Licences and Permits page or the administration office or at the County of Dufferin Building Department. 

Please note Township Municipal Approval is required for all development even when a Building Permit is not required by the County of Dufferin Building Department under the Building Code. 

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 the Township 2019 Development Charges Background Study page.

Fencing

Please be advised that the Township does not have a fence bylaw for perimeter/boundary fences on private property in residential areas, although there is a Pool Fence Bylaw that applies to all properties. Fencing along the roadway should be placed far enough from the property line so as not to cause snow issues on the roadway, and fencing should not be located within a registered easement on a property, or located within a drainage swale, if such swale exists on the subject property.

Placement of a perimeter fence on a property:

• If there is no agreement between property owners to share the fence, it is advisable for the fence to be constructed solely on the property of the owner(s).

Except in the above noted circumstances (for a pool fence or impeding a registered easement), the Township would not be involved, does not provide surveys, nor require surveys for fencing.

Minimum Distance Separation (MDS)

The Minimum Distance Separation (MDS) Formulae are land use planning tools that determine setback distances between livestock barns, manure storages or anaerobic digesters and surrounding land uses.
The objective of the Minimum Distance Separation is to minimize land use conflicts and nuisance complaints related to odour and sensitive uses. The Minimum Distance Separation does not account for other nuisances such as noise or dust.

The Minimum Distance Separation Formulae are based on five factors:

1. The type of livestock housed.
2. The potential number of livestock housed (based on barn capacity or lot size).
3. The percentage increase in the size of the operation.
4. The type of manure system and storage.
5. The type of encroaching land use.

When is Minimum Distance Separation used?

• When developments (building permits, severances, rezoning applications, etc.) are located outside of the Settlement Areas of the Township of East Garafraxa.
• To determine the appropriate setback distances for development from sensitive land uses (i.e. proposed dwelling to livestock facility).
• A Minimum Distance Separation calculation is required for a surplus dwelling if the existing dwelling and livestock facility are on the same property prior to the severance, but not if they are on two separate parcels prior to the severance.
• A Minimum Distance Separation calculation is not required for accessory structures.
• A Minimum Distance Separation calculation is not required for development on the same property as the livestock facility.

Minimum Distance Separation Calculations

Minimum Distance Separation calculations are performed via the Ontario Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs (OMAFRA) AgriSuite which is an online calculator and can be performed by the applicant or by a Nutrient Management Consultant.

OMAFRA has developed computer software to help municipalities, farmers and consultants calculate MDS setbacks to determine if a proposed land use application can meet MDS I and if a proposed building permit can meet MDS II.

Visit the AgriSuite web page for information on accessing AgriSuite and for help with using the MDS software. The version of the software in AgriSuite is considered the official version of the MDS software by OMAFRA for calculating setbacks in accordance with Publication 853.

For help with Minimum Distance Separation and AgriSuite, email the Agricultural Information Contact Centre or call 1-877-424-1300.

Role of the Municipality 

Municipalities are responsible for ensuring that Minimum Distance Separation setbacks are met when reviewing land use planning applications (i.e. lot creation applications) or building permits. An application may be deemed not complete without the calculation. 

Minimum Distance Separation calculations are required for building permits and Planning Act applications associated and/or near livestock facilities.

 Planning Notices

In accordance with the Planning Act and pursuant to Township of East Garafraxa By-law 35-2022 and the Township Official Plan, as amended, owner(s)/applicant are required to consult with the Township prior to the submission of development applications, such as:

• Official Plan Amendment
• Zoning By-law Amendment
• Temporary Use By-Law
• Holding Zone Removal
• Draft Plan of Subdivision
• Draft Plan of Condominium
• Consent (Severance)
• Site Plan Approval
• Site Plan Amendment(s)
• Minor Variance

No development applications submitted to the Township of East Garafraxa for approval under the Planning Act, shall be deemed complete or accepted for processing, until at least one pre-application consultation meeting has occurred between the proponent and Township staff.  Pre-application consultation is mandatory in respect of all development applications under the Planning Act.

Please see the Mandatory Pre-Application Consultation Information sheet for more details. 

Please visit our Applications, Licences and Permits webpage for the Minor Variance Application Form. 

Minor Variances, or exceptions to the general Zoning By-law for the Township, may be requested when a specific zoning requirement cannot be met. In order to be granted, the Variance requested must be minor in nature and generally in keeping with the overall intent of the general Zoning By-law. These applications are heard by the Committee of Adjustment.

Please visit our Applications, Licences and Permits webpage for the Minor Variance Application Form. 

• 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 our Applications, Licences and Permits webpage for the Site Plan Application and Agent Authorization Form.

The Township is responsible for applications for Severances or Consents. 

Pursuant to the Planning Act, applications for consent are required to be circulated to property owners within 60 metres of the subject property and applicable agencies a minimum of fourteen days prior to the Public Meeting. Public Meetings are held during Council meetings and Council are the decision making body. After a decision has been made by Council, the Clerks Department circulates a Notice of Decision, there is a twenty day appeal period from the date of the Notice. If the application has been approved the Notice of Decision will include the applicable conditions that need to be met prior to the consent being created. The whole process takes a minimum of three months.

For information regarding Surplus Farm Dwelling Severances please review the Township Surplus Farm Dwelling Severances pamphlet.

Please visit our Applications, Licences and Permits webpage for the Consent Application and Agent Authorization Form. 

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. Information regarding these processes and applications forms can be obtained at the Municipality.

• Zoning By-Law 60-2004 *This edition (Township Consolidation dated January 2011) is prepared for the purposes of convenience only.   For accurate reference, recourse should be made to the original By-laws on file in the Office of the Township Clerk.
• Schedule A Map
• Schedule A-1 Map
• Schedule A-2 Map
• Schedule B & C

• Township Wide Zoning By-Law Amendment By-Law 26-2023 (not included in By-Law 60-2004 Township Consolidation dated January 2011) - Regulations for Accessory Dwelling Units and Permitted Rural Residential Uses (Rural Residential (RR) Zone).  

*New* Interactive Zoning Mapping 

The Township of East Garafraxa in partnership with the County of Dufferin have developed Interactive Mapping for properties within the Township. The Interactive Mapping includes layers for zoning, municipal boundaries, aerial photos and more. 

To find zoning information for a specific property, enter an address or roll number, into the mapping search bar at the following link Township of East Garafraxa and County of Dufferin Interactive Mapping.

Zoning By-Law Amendment Listing

For copies of Zoning By-Law Amendments NOT included in the above Zoning By-Law 60-2004, as amended,  Consolidation dated January 2011, please see chart below. 

Please visit our Applications, Licences and Permits webpage for the Application for Zoning By-law Amendment / Temporary Use / Holding Removal form.

• To review the 2004 Official Plan document (not consolidated with OPA#4, OPA#8 or OPA#9)
• OPA#4 Decision Ministry of Municipal Affairs March 10, 2015
• OPA#4 Decision Ontario Municipal Board Decision June 24, 2016
• OPA#8 Decision County of Dufferin 
• OPA#9 Decision County of Dufferin 

• Schedule A Map
• Schedule A1 Map
• Schedule A2 Map
• Schedule B Map
• Schedule D Map
• Schedule E Map

Please visit our Applications, Licences and Permits webpage for the Application for an Official Plan Amendment.

Due to COVID-19 the Township is accepting Planning Applications electronically only. Please contact the office for more information.

Official Plan Amendment No. 9

County of Dufferin Decision 

County of Dufferin By-Law 2022-44 being a by-law to approve Official Plan Amendment No. 9 (OPA#9) to the Township of East Garafraxa Official Plan and Notice of Decision dated October 24, 2022. 

Notice of Adoption

TAKE NOTICE that the Council of the Corporation of the Township of East Garafraxa passed By-law No. 40-2022 on the 19^th day of July, 2022 pursuant to Sections 17 and 21 of the Planning Act, R.S.O., 1990, as amended, to adopt Amendment No. 9 to the Township of East Garafraxa Official Plan. The amendment applies to the lands of the Township of East Garafraxa in their entirety.

AND TAKE NOTICE that Official Plan Amendment No. 9 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 following address:

County of Dufferin
Development and Tourism
planner@dufferincounty.ca   
30 Centre Street, Orangeville, ON L9W 2X1

Click here for a full copy of the Notice of Adoption dated July 25, 2022. 

Public Meeting 

In accordance with Sections 17 and 21 of the Planning Act, a statutory public meeting is being held concerning a Township Official Plan Amendment which proposes a number of revisions to the Official Plan. The proposed revisions are intended to assist the Township in its ability to process planning applications in a timely manner to enable the Township to provide decisions within the statutory timelines of the Planning Act as amended by the More Homes for Everyone Act, 2022. 

DATE AND FORMAT OF PUBLIC MEETING

This Notice is being given in accordance with Planning Act requirements.  A final recommendation on the amendment will not be presented until after the Public Meeting and all technical comments have been received.

Please be advised that all Council and Statutory Public Meetings are being held virtually/electronically at this time. Questions and comments can be submitted by email or mail to Susan M. Stone between Thursday, June 2, 2022 and Tuesday, June 28, 2022 at the address below. The public meeting is being held electronically through Zoom and will be available for public viewing, please register at the following link. 

The Public Meeting date and time are as follows:

MEETING DATE and TIME: Tuesday, June 28, 2022 at 4:00 p.m. 

For more information please see the Notice of Public Meeting dated May 31, 2022. 

A copy of the draft Official Plan Amendment File OPA 9 is available at the following link. 

Official Plan Amendment No.8 

County of Dufferin Declaration of No Appeal dated May 3, 2021 with respect to Official Plan Amendment No. 8 (OPA#8).

County of Dufferin By-Law 2021-19 being a by-law to approve Official Plan Amendment No. 8 (OPA#8) and Notice of Decision dated April 9, 2021. 

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).