Official Plan and Zoning By-law Amendment application process
Before starting a development application, all applicants should understand the requirements.
Are you a returning applicant that is familiar with this process? Skip the instructions and start your application now
If you are a new applicant, or need a reminder about the application process, please review the information below.
Confirm that you need this application
A development application refers to the submission of:
- an Official Plan Amendment (OPA)
- a Zoning By-law Amendment (ZBA)
Learn more about each type of submission:
OPAs
An official plan is a policy document that describes how land should be used in the community based on identified goals and objectives. It provides direction for future planning activities and for public and private initiatives aimed at improving the existing physical environment.
Livable Oakville is the Town of Oakville's Official Plan and is based largely on input made by citizens through the public participation process. Official plans address issues such as:
- where new housing, industry, parks, shopping areas, schools, hospitals, offices and other land uses are to be located
- what services such as sewers, water mains, roads and schools will be needed
- when and in what order parts of the community will grow
The town’s North Oakville Secondary Plans are part of the town’s official plan for lands north of Dundas Street and south of Highway 407 between Ninth Line and Tremaine Road.
If you want to use your property or develop it in a way that conflicts with the approved official plan, you will need to obtain an official plan amendment. Every official plan amendment triggers a review by staff, and requires approval by Council. Before you apply for an amendment, a mandatory pre-consultation is required with Planning and Development Department.
ZBAs
Zoning By-laws implement the policies of the Official Plan by regulating land, such as:
- types of uses permitted
- where buildings or structures may be located
- standards for lot size, parking requirements, building height, side yard dimensions and setback from the street among other items
A ZBA is required when a development application proposes to develop the property contrary to what the applicable Zoning By-law prescribes. A rezoning, or zoning amendment, can be considered only if your new use is allowed by the official plan. Otherwise, an Official Plan Amendment is also required. Every zoning amendment triggers a review by staff, and an approval by Council.
A minor variance from the zoning by-law may be considered through the Committee of Adjustment (COA). Minor variance requests from the zoning by-law may include such things as:
- Changing how close a building is to a property line
- Increasing a building height
- Reducing the number of required parking spaces in a commercial development
Understand the requirements
Before submitting a development application, applicants must review the Development Application Guidelines, which will guide you through the description of site and proposal, and the engineering, urban design, environmental, transportation, financial and cultural considerations.
Also review the neighbourhood information map and requirements.
Review additional information regarding digital submissions and electronic fee payments.
Pre-consultation meetings are mandatory for all development applications.
Pre-consultation process
The Town of Oakville has what’s known as a pre-consultation process, as it relates to proposed developments that require some form of Planning Act approval from the town.
When a landowner, or a perspective developer of a parcel of land, is interested in developing a parcel of land that requires approval under the Planning Act, they are first required to submit to the town a pre-consultation request form, along with a preliminary site plan of the proposed development.
At times, the proposal submitted to the town may be of confidential nature, as the applicant may be not yet be in a position to publicly disclose the details of the proposal due to business or financial reasons.
Upon receipt of this material, Planning staff hold a pre-consultation meeting with the applicant and other key commenting departments and agencies, who provide feedback to the applicant concerning the planning and technical merits of the proposal, along with a detailed list of submission requirements. The applicant is then able to submit the proposal and the Planning Act application to the town as originally contemplated; or alternatively, may modify the plan based on the feedback received, and submit a modified proposal.
A list of specific submission requirements will be prepared at the pre-consultation meeting and detailed in the pre-consultation application form (pdf).
Planning and development applications are reviewed and approved in accordance with the town’s applicable procedures and guidelines, Terms of Reference, and by-laws.
The documents required will be identified during the mandatory pre-consultation meeting with staff.
Prepare your application using the applicable documents
Application forms
- Pre-Consultation Application Form (pdf)
- Fence Variance - Proof of Notification from Abutting Neighbour Letter (pdf)
- Development Application Form (pdf)
- Rental Housing Demolition and Conversion Application (pdf)
- Rental Housing Demolition and Conversion Declaration of Use and Screening Form (pdf)
- Site Plan Application Form (pdf)
Digital submissions reference
- Planning Digital Submissions Guide (pdf)
- File Naming Conventions Reference (pdf)
- Steps for Uploading Files to Oakville BOX (pdf)
Other application forms and materials
- Site Plan - Agreement Information Sheet (pdf)
- Site Plan - Inspection and Security Reduction Standard Forms (pdf)
Development application sign template
Additional information
Online application process
Once you have attended a mandatory pre-consultation meeting, complete the Development Proposal Application Form (pdf), including all applicable sections, schedules and signatures.
Include the pre-consultation checklist which has been completed and signed by staff during your mandatory pre-consultation meeting.
The documents required will be identified during the mandatory pre-consultation meeting with staff. All reports, documents and drawings submitted must be:
- in digital (PDF) format unless otherwise required (e.g. Word, Excel, SketchUp, etc.).
- presented in metric measure that can be accurately scaled.
- prepared, stamped and signed by a qualified professional architect (for site plan and architectural drawings), engineer (for site plan and engineering drawings/reports), or Landscape Architect (for landscape and tree protection drawings/reports)
Request an Oakville Box link and a fee submission reference number from planningapps@oakville.ca for all digital submissions.
Submit all materials by uploading files to Oakville Box (pdf), following the mandatory file naming conventions (pdf).
Payment of application fees should be sent via e-transfer/EFT (Electronic Funds Transfer) to planningapps@oakville.ca at the same time as your submission.
Ensure you quote the fee submission reference number from step #2.
After submission
- Your Planning Application file number will be assigned once the fee is received.
- For a resubmission of an existing application where a fee is required, please use the Planning file number already assigned.
- Region and Conservation Authority fees are paid directly to the agency.
You might be interested in one of our other application types:
- Other Planning and Development applications including Site Plans, Plans of Condominium/Subdivision and more!
- Building applications including building permits and building inspections requests
- Consent and minor variance requests to the Zoning By-law, made before the Committee of Adjustment
- Development Engineering (DENG) permit applications for private property and the municipal right-of-way
- Heritage permits, to undertake changes to properties designated under the Ontario Heritage Act.
- Zoning applications, including Zoning Certificates of Occupancy and Holding By-law Removals