Planning Services

Land use planning helps to shape the Township and decide where homes and businesses should be built, where parks and schools should be located and where roads should be provided. The Planning Department manages the Township's Official Plan (our long-term vision for the Township), the Zoning Bylaw (permitted uses and location, size and height of buildings), as well as amendments to these documents. Both the Official Plan and Zoning Bylaw are expected to be changed over time.

Our goal is to provide you with the best possible service. We welcome your inquiries over the phone, via email or at the Township offices. We can be reached Monday to Friday from 8:30 a.m. until 4:30 p.m. Please call ahead for an appointment as dropping by the office without an appointment may result in waiting for the Planner or Planning Technician to be available.

Planning Technician

Phone: 905-899-3463 ext. 226

Sarah Ivins, Planner

Phone: 905-899-3463 ext. 225
Email: planning@wainfleet.ca

Pre-Consultation

Before submitting an application, you are required to consult with the Planner or Planning Technician. Most applications also require a pre-consultation meeting to discuss your application with other Township departments and review agencies such as Niagara Region Planning & Development Services and the Niagara Peninsula Conservation Authority (NPCA). The pre-consultation meeting will identify any studies or information that is required to be submitted with your application and the required application fees.

Pre-consultation meetings are held on the second and fourth Thursday of the month from 9 a.m. until noon. To schedule a pre-consultation please submit the Pre-Consultation Meeting Request Form a minimum of 10 days prior to your requested meeting date. Requests are scheduled on a first come, first serve basis.

Application Forms

Pre-Consultation Meeting Request Form
Consent Application (severance, lot addition, easement, etc.)
Surplus Farm Dwelling Supplemental Information Sheet
Validation of Title Application
Minor Variance Application (includes alterations to legal non-conforming uses and structures)
Zoning Bylaw Amendment Application (includes temporary use by-law and removal of a holding symbol)
Official Plan Amendment Application
Plan of Subdivision/Plan of Condominium Application
Site Plan Application

Application Fees

Application fees must be provided at the time you file your application. Certain review agencies may require application review fees which will be outlined in your record of pre-consultation.

Township application fees can be paid by cash, debit or cheque (made payable to the Township of Wainfleet). If agency review fees are required, please submit a cheque (made payable to the agency) with your application. We will forward the cheque to the agency when we circulate your application for review.

Permitted Use Letter/Zoning Compliance Letter

Permitted use letters and zoning compliance letters are often requested by your real estate lawyer or your mortgage company when you buy, sell or mortgage a property. These letters contain information regarding what uses are permitted on a specific property and whether existing uses and structures comply with the Township's Zoning By-law.

Please contact the Planning Technician to discuss which letter is best suited to your needs.

If you require information regarding building permits, outstanding work orders, complaints, notice of violations or other issues affecting the property, please contact the Building Department or By-law Enforcement Department.

Permitted Use Letter

A permitted use letter contains:

Official plan designation of the subject property and the uses permitted within the designation;
Zoning of the subject property and the uses permitted within the zone;
Opinion as to whether or not the current use or a proposed use of the subject property is permitted under the Zoning By-law.

Please note that this does not include a title search.

To request a permitted use letter, please complete the Permitted Use Letter Application Form and send the application form along with the required fee to:

Attn: Planning Department

P.O. Box 40, 31940 Highway #3

Wainfleet, ON L0S 1V0

Payment options include cash, debit or cheque (made payable to the Township of Wainfleet).

Please note that your letter will not be processed until payment is received. Once payment is received, processing times are between 3 - 5 business days.

Zoning Compliance Letter

A zoning compliance letter contains:

Official plan designation of the subject property and the permitted uses within the designation;
Zoning of the subject property and the uses permitted within the zone;
Opinion as to whether or not the current use of the subject property is permitted under the Zoning By-law;
Opinion as to whether or not the existing structures on the subject property comply with the Zoning By-law (based on a survey supplied by the applicant);
The status of registered agreements (subdivision, site plan, consent) and securities (if applicable);
Whether there are any active Planning Act applications for the subject property.

Please note that this does not include a title search.

To request a zoning compliance letter, please complete the Zoning Compliance Letter Application Form and send the application form along with the required fee to:

Attn: Planning Department

P.O. Box 40, 31940 Highway #3

Wainfleet, ON L0S 1V0

Payment options include cash, debit or cheque (made payable to the Township of Wainfleet).

Please note that your letter will not be processed until payment is received. Once payment is received, processing times are between 7 - 10 business days.

Planning Information Brochures

The following brochures explain the process for the various planning applications:

Maps

Erin Shacklette
Planning Technician
31940 Highway 3, PO Box 40, Wainfleet ON L0S 1V0
T. 905-899-3463 x226
F. 905-899-2340
Email the Planning Technician
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Planning Services