Planning

Apply for a Consent if you need to change the boundaries of a property. This process, also called a severance, can create a new lot, add land to an existing lot, or establish rights to use part of a property.

Consent to Sever Application Form

Guidelines

Contact the Planning Coordinator to arrange a pre-consultation meeting with the Senior Planner.

Preparation for a Pre-consultation meeting.

Prepare application and severance sketch.

Schedule an appointment with the Senior Planner to submit the consent application form and fees.

Planning staff will circulate notice of the application to the agencies required under the Ontario Planning Act.

Planning staff will circulate notice of the application to all landowners within 60 metres of the boundary of the property.

Applicants will be required to post a sign on the property 20 days prior to the date the application will be considered by the Committee of Adjustment.  The sign(s) with be prepared by the Township and the applicant will be notified when they are ready to be picked up for posting.

A public meeting will be held for each application at the Committee of Adjustment meeting.  The Committee of Adjustment meetings are held at 2 p.m. on the second Tuesday of each month except August.  When an application is submitted, the applicant will be advised of the date of the meeting at which their application will be considered.

A decision can made at the meeting if there are no public or agency concerns that haven’t been addressed or sometimes the Committee defers a decision to a future meeting.  Once a decision has been made, a Notice of Decision is sent to the applicant outlining the conditions of consent. There is a 20 day appeal period after the Notice of Decision has been issued.  Only specific prescribed agencies can appeal the decision as well as the municipality and the applicant.

The consent that is granted is a conditional consent and all conditions must be fulfilled within 2 years, or the consent will lapse.  Typical conditions include but are not limited to the following:

• • Submission of a registered reference plan and digital copy
  • Submission of a draft transfer (deed)
  • Rezoning if required
  • Cash in lieu of parkland
  • Property taxes must be paid up to date
  • Sometimes road widening is required if the municipal or County road allowances are not standard widths

Application Fees (2025)

• • Township of Hamilton  $1,500
  • Northumberland County Planning  $350
  • Northumberland County Inspection Services  $400
  • Ganaraska Region Conservation Authority  $1,000 (if applicable)

Apply for a Minor Variance if you need a small adjustment to zoning rules. This may include changes like exceeding height or size limits, or reducing the required distance from a property line. Approval is required to ensure the change fits within the community’s planning goals.

Minor Variance Application Form

Guidelines

The Minor Variance application process is generally the same as the Consent application process however the decision comes into effect after the appeal period expires. 

Contact the Planning Coordinator to arrange a pre-consultation meeting with the Senior Planner.

Application Fees (2025)

• • Township of Hamilton  $1,000
  • Northumberland County Planning  $350
  • Northumberland County Inspection Services  $300
  • Ganaraska Region Conservation Authority  $650 (if applicable)

Apply for an Official Plan Amendment to request changes to the Township’s long-term land use policies. This process is used when proposed developments or land uses don’t align with the current Official Plan and require formal review and approval. Amendments ensure that growth and development remain consistent with community goals and provincial policies.

Official Plan Amendment Application Form

Guidelines

An Official Plan amendment may be necessary if you are looking to change policies, change the designation or change or expand uses on your land.  Learn more about the application process, guidelines and applicable fees.

The Official Plan is regulated by Section 17 of the Ontario Planning Act and identifies planned municipal structure, and provides the framework for municipal regulations, including zoning by-law, site plan control and new lot creation.

Official Plan amendments occur from time to time due to community growth and proposed development conditions that meet the Township’s planning goals.  An amendment may seek to change the land use designation of a property and/or apply new policies to a specific property as part of a proposed development or expansion of an existing use that is not allowed under the current Official Plan.  You will need to complete an Official Plan amendment application if a proposed use is not consistent with the Official Plan.

An Official Plan amendment may also require other approvals, such as a zoning by-law amendment before development can occur.  All Official Plan amendment applications must conform to the Official Plan and the Provincial Planning Statement and consider relevant provincial legislation and policies and guidelines.  Official Plan amendment applications usually require the submission of supporting documentation and supporting studies such as traffic, noise and/or vibration, environmental impact assessment, natural heritage evaluation, hydrogeology etc.

Application Process

Contact the Planning Coordinator to arrange a pre-consultation meeting with the Senior Planner.  The Senior Planner will arrange the attendance of other necessary Township or agency staff is necessary.  Other agencies or staff could include: public works, fire, building, County (planning, transportation, waste services), Ganaraska Region Conservation Authority, Ministry of Transportation etc.

Pre-consultation meeting.

After the pre-consultation meeting, the applicant and/or their agent will be provided with a formal response outlining the requirements for a complete application.

Preparation and submission of application and supporting documentation.

Review of application and supporting documentation.  Depending upon the supporting documentation required, the Township may not have the expertise to review that information and may retain peer reviewers.  The applicant is responsible to cover the costs associated with the peer reviews.

Public notification and a public meeting will be held once the application and supporting documentation have been reviewed.  

Council will make a decision on the application.  If approved, the decision will be forwarded to Northumberland County who is the approval authority for Official Plan amendments.  If the application is denied, the applicant can appeal the decision to the Ontario Land Tribunal (OLT).

Northumberland County will issue their decision and there is a 20 day appeal period.

Application Fees (2025)

• • Township of Hamilton application fee  $5,000
  • Township of Hamilton development deposit  $5,000
  • Northumberland County  $1,500
  • Ganaraska Region Conservation Authority  $1,000

Apply for a Site Plan Application to ensure your development follows approved plans and minimizes impacts on the surrounding area. The site plan details the location of buildings, services, driveways, walkways, parking, landscaping, and how these fit within the neighborhood.

To discuss site plan requirements, please contact the Planning Coordinator to schedule an appointment with the Senior Planner.

Site Plan Application Form

Guidelines

Site plan control is required for commercial, industrial, institutional and multi-residential developments over 10 units.  Learn more about the site plan process, including application, process and applicable fees.

Site plan control is a development approval process that established design and technical aspects and helps ensure developments are constructed in a way that is aligned with the Township’s responsibility to provide services, plan for public safety and orderly development designed to meet the needs or the community.  Site plan approval is regulated by Section 41 of the Ontario Planning Act.  Council for the Township of Hamilton has designed the entire Township as a “site plan control area.”

The responsibility for site plan approvals with the Township of Hamilton, through the site plan control by-law to the Chief Building Official.

Site plan approval is essential component of the development review process.  It is intended to implement the objectives of the Official Plan.

 Application Fees (2025)

• Township of Hamilton application fee - Residential  $100/unit
• Township of Hamilton application fee - Non Residential  $5,000
• Site Plan Deposit - Non Residential/Multi Residential  $5,000
• Site Plan Telecommunication Towers  $2,000

Apply for a Subdivision Application to create multiple lots from a larger property. Applications are reviewed to consider factors such as community need, water and sanitary systems, road access, and environmental features.

Subdivision approvals are managed by Northumberland County Council, which has its own application process. For details on County-level requirements, please contact the Northumberland County Planning Department.

Subdivision Application Form

Apply for a Zoning By-law Amendment if you wish to change a zone provision or permitted use of a property. 

Section 34 of the Ontario Planning Act gives Township Council authority to adopt zoning by-laws in conformity with the Official Plan.  Zoning by-law amendments provide a way to change zoning regulations for individual properties.  All rezoning applications must conform to the Official Plan and the Provincial Planning Statement and consider relevant provincial legislation and policies and guidelines.  If the rezoning application is complex, the applicant may be required to submit additional supporting information and supporting studies such as traffic, noise and/or vibration, environmental impact assessment, natural heritage evaluation, hydrogeology etc.

Zoning By-law Amendment Application Form

Guidelines

Contact the Planning Coordinator to arrange a pre-consultation meeting with the Senior Planner.

Pre-consultation meeting.

Prepare application and sketch and any additional information as determined during the pre-consultation meeting.

Schedule an appointment with the Senior Planner to submit the zoning by-law amendment application form and fees.

Planning staff will circulate notice of the application to the agencies required under the Ontario Planning Act.

Planning staff will circulate notice of the application to all landowners within 120 metres of the boundary of the property.

Applicants will be required to post a sign on the property 20 days prior to the date the application will be considered by Council.  The sign(s) will be prepared by the Township and the applicant will be notified when they are ready to be picked up for posting.

A public meeting will be held for each application at a Council meeting.  Council meetings are held at 1 p.m. on the third Tuesday of each month except August.  When an application is submitted, the applicant will be advised of the date of the meeting at which their application will be considered.

A decision can made at the meeting if there are no public or agency concerns that haven’t been addressed or sometimes Council defers a decision to a future meeting.  Once a decision has been made, a Notice of Decision is sent to the applicant. There is a 20 day appeal period after the Notice of Decision has been issued.  Only specific prescribed agencies can appeal the decision as well as the municipality and the applicant.

Application Fees (2025)

• Township of Hamilton  $2000
• Northumberland County Planning  $350
• Northumberland County Inspection Services  $400
• Ganaraska Region Conservation Authority  $1,000 (if applicable)

When a property is listed for sale, it’s common for the buyer’s lawyer to request a Compliance Letter to confirm zoning and check for any outstanding work orders. This letter can be requested by the property owner, their lawyer, or their real estate agent.

Learn more about Zoning Compliance Letters