Have a Planning Question?
-
Email us anytime at planning@orillia.ca - corresponding by email allows us to provide accurate, convenient, expedited service and is the preferred method of communication to provide the information you require in a fast and efficient manner. Please note that inquiries will be answered in sequence based on the time/date of receipt.
-
"Frequently Asked Questions" (FAQ) - provides answers to commonly requested information together with easy to follow links where additional materials and resources can be found, please see below.
-
Set up a virtual appointment - virtual meetings may be arranged with staff and time will be set aside to answer your questions. Please email for details planning@orillia.ca.
-
Call us at 705-325-2622 - with a busy department like ours, service via the phone may delay providing the information you require.
-
Visit us in person, 3rd Floor City Centre - schedule appointments are preferred, please email planning@orillia.ca to arrange.
The Planning Division is a component of the Development Services and Engineering Department.
The Planning Division is responsible for:
Ministry of Municipal Affairs and Housing
The Ministry of Municipal Affairs and Housing has created a Citizen's Guide to Land Use Planning which provides information about land use planning, including the Planning Act, Official Plans, and Zoning By-laws. The Citizen's Guide to Land Use Planning offers a summary of Ontario planning legislation and policies.
Appeals to Planning Applications
Appeals to Planning Applications are heard by the Ontario Land Tribunal (OLT) (formerly Local Planning Appeal Tribunal (LPAT)). To find out more information about the appeal process for Planning Applications, visit the following website:
The City of Orillia Web site includes links to Web pages or sites operated by third parties that will take you away from our site to destinations over which we have no control. Our privacy statement does not apply to the sites of third parties and we do not assume any responsibility for the actions of third parties. We encourage you to review the policies of these sites yourself upon your arrival.
The City of Orillia attempts to make our website documents Accessible however, some of these documents, may not completely meet all AODA Accessibility requirements. If you require assistance or communication support, please contact 705-325-2622.
Frequently Asked Questions
|
| I want to add an Additional Dwelling Unit on my property, where can I find more information, including grant programs? |
|
Refer to the City’s Guide to Creating Additional Dwelling Units.
For more information on the County of Simcoe's Secondary Suites grant Program, click here.
|
| I’d like to legalize an existing illegal dwelling unit in the City, what is the process? |
| Please visit the City's Legalization of Existing Dwelling Units webpage for information regarding legalizing existing units, including an information guide which sets out what is required. |
| How can I find out if an existing apartment in a home is legal? |
|
If you don't know if the Dwelling Units in your building are legal or if you want the City to search our records for any evidence indicating existing Dwelling Units, you can submit the Multiple Unit Inquiry Form and pay the associated fee. The City will search its records and provide you with a letter.
More information regarding legalizing existing dwelling units can be found on the City’s Website at this link.
|
| I want to build a fence on my property, what are the rules? |
- The maximum height of a fence that is permitted in the City is 2.0 m (6’ 6”). This height excludes caps on top of posts provided they do not extend more than 0.2 m (about 7.5 inches ) above the top of the fence.
- If a fence is located in a Sight Triangle, the fence must be of open construction (you can see through it) or it must be 1.0 m or less in height. Sight Triangles are 3.0 m adjacent to driveway entrances and 7.5 m where streets intersect (see diagram below)
|
| I plan to install a Swimming Pool on my property, what are the rules? |
| A swimming pool may be located in the back yard of a residential property. The pool must be at least 1.5 m/4.9 ft from any lot line. If the property is a waterfront property, the pool can be in the front (water) yard provided that it is located at least 10.0 m/32.8 ft from the average high water mark. Pools are required to be fenced and pool fences require a permit. More information regarding pool fences can be found on the City’s website. |
| I want to build a Shed, Detached Garage or other Detached Structure. What are the rules? |
| Sheds or Detached Structures that are under 10 m2/108 ft2 |
| A shed or other Detached Structure that is under 10 m2/108 ft2 does not require a Building Permit but must comply with the requirements of the Zoning By-law. Sheds under 10 m2/108 ft2 must be set back at least 0.5 m/1.6 ft from a side property line and at least 1.5 m/4.9 ft from a rear property line. These setbacks are measured from the outside of the eave overhang of the shed. The maximum height of a shed is 5.0 m/16.4 ft measured to the mid-point of a sloped roof or to the top of a flat roof. See also General Information - Sheds or Detached Structures, below. |
| Sheds or Detached Structures (including Detached Garages) that are over 10 m2 /108 ft2 |
| A shed or other Detached Structure (including a Detached Garage) over 10 m2 /108 ft2 does require a Building Permit. Please refer to the City’s website for more information on Building Permits. Sheds larger than 10 m2/108 ft2 must comply with the side yard requirement for the Zone (generally 1.2 m/3.9 ft in Residential Zones), must be set back at least 1.5m/4.9 ft from a rear property line and cannot exceed 5.0 m/16.4 ft in height. These structures must be set back at least 6.0 m/19.68 ft from the front lot line. See also General Information - Sheds or Detached Structures, below. |
| General Information - Sheds or Detached Structures |
| Note that a maximum of three (3) Accessory Structures (including sheds) is permitted on a residential property and that the maximum lot coverage cannot be exceeded (generally 45% in Residential Zones). |
|
| Can I place a Shipping Container on my property? |
| A Shipping Container may be placed on a residential property only if the roof is finished with shingles, tiles or other suitable roofing material and if the exterior walls are cladded. The placement of Shipping Containers must be in accordance with the rules for sheds/Accessory Structures as outlined in the preceding section regarding sheds and a Building Permit is typically required. |
| How can I locate my property boundaries? |
|
The City does not locate property boundaries, and we may or may not have a survey showing your property boundaries in our files. You should contact an Ontario Land Surveyor or search the website at landsurveyrecords.com to see if a survey of your property exists.
|
|
How can I find the zoning on a property?
|
| Step 1: The first step to finding the zoning is to refer to Schedule “A” to the Zoning By-law to determine in which Zone category the property is located. The key map contains 40 rectangles, each representing a zoning schedule map for part of the City. Clicking on the rectangle will take you to the zone schedule for that part of the City. The Zone category will be indicated on the schedule by a symbol or abbreviation. For example, you may see a symbol such as “R2” beside the property. This would indicate that the property is within the “Residential Two” Zone.
Step 2: The next step to finding the zoning is to determine what uses are permitted on the property. Subsection 3 in Sections 7 to 13 of the Zoning By-law identifies the Permitted Uses and Zone Provisions for each Zone in the City. Where the permitted use is followed by the symbol ‘i’, that use is only permitted in Zones with the corresponding ‘i’ symbol on the Schedules to the By-law, which indicate that the area is a planned Intensification Area.
The definitions in Section 4 can clarify the nature of a permitted use or how it has been defined for the purposes of this By-law. Uses which are not identified as permitted uses within a particular Zone are not permitted in that Zone.
You have now identified the Zone in which the property is located and have identified what uses are permitted on the property. The next step is to determine what standards apply to the uses on the property. Subsection 4 in Sections 7 to 13 of the By-law identifies the Zone Provisions for each of the Zone categories in the City.
|
| I’m interested in opening a Cannabis Retail Store in the City, where can I find more information? |
|
Please see this link for more information.
|
|
I’d like to apply for a Minor Variance, where can I find more information?
|
|
The City’s Minor Variance Information Guide contains an explanation of the process.
|
|
I’m interested in applying to sever a property in the City, where can I find more information?
|
| The City’s Consent Information Guide contains an explanation of the process. |
| I need to hire a consultant to help with my Planning Application, do you have a list? |
| Yes. Refer to the City’s Consultant List. |
|
