Planning and Development

The Planning Act

The Planning Act establishes the rules for land use planning within the Province of Ontario and describes how land may be controlled. This Act was passed to:

• promote sustainable economic development in a healthy natural environment within provincial policy framework;
• establish a land use planning system led by provincial policy; and
• allow for the planning process to be fair by making it open, accessible and efficient.

Citizens' Guide 1 - The Planning Act by the Ministry of Municipal Affairs and Housing provides more information.

The fully serviced settlement areas of Mitchell has a Local Official Plan that implements the County Official Plan for the Mitchell Ward.

West Perth Official Plan (Mitchell Ward)

Local Official Plan Amendment Application

Local Official Plan Amendment Guide

Citizens' Guide 2 - Official Plan by the Ministry of Municipal Affairs and Housing provides more information.

View the New 2019-2020 County Official Plan

Planning and Building Department staff are available to answer questions. Applicants are strongly encouraged to speak with planning staff in person or on the phone before submitting any application.

As Planning staff are only in the Municipal Office on a scheduled basis, it is recommended that discussions/meetings be arranged ahead of time by emailing planner@westperth.com. 

A plan of Subdivision/Condominium is an application process under the Planning Act to create multiple lots or blocks from an existing property. Once approved, the Plan of Subdivision or Condominium is registered on the title of the property and allows for the new lots or blocks to be sold. 

Applications for Plan of Subdivision/Condominium are submitted to the County of Perth Planning and Development Department. Prior to submitting an application, a pre-consultation meeting with the County of Perth Planning and Development Department and the Municipality’s planning staff is needed to determine the suitability of the request and to review the submission requirements. See the “Mandatory Pre-Consultation” tab below for more information.

Application of Plan of Subdivision  

Citizens' Guide 4 - Subdivisions by the Ministry of Municipal Affairs and Housing provides more information.

A consent is the authorized separation of a piece of land to allow for the creation of a new parcel of land (also known as land severance). This approval begins with the submission of a Development (Land Severance) Application to the Municipality.

Within the County Official Plan there are policies and requirements for land severance. If the severance and creation of multiple lots is intended, an application for a plan of subdivision will normally be required.

Prior to making an application a proponent is encouraged to pre-consult with the County Planning department to review the request and submission requirements. Each application must include the application fee. Please contact the County Planning and Development Department at the information provided here, or by email to planning@perthcounty.ca, to arrange a pre-consultation meeting.

Application for Consent

Application Information Sheet

Surplus Farm Dwelling Severances Guide for Applicants

Surplus Farm Dwelling Severance - Farm Owner Form

Citizens' Guide 5 - Land Severances by the Ministry of Municipal Affairs and Housing provides more information.

A Zoning By-law is a legal document that regulates the use of land within the Municipality. The by-law determines among other things:

• What each parcel of land can be used for
• Where and what types of buildings or structures may be located on the land
• The requirements of lot sizes, parking lots, building heights and setbacks

The Zoning By-law must conform to the Official Plan of the Municipality. A copy is available for viewing in the documents below and at the Municipal Office.

Zoning By-law Consolidated - updated February 2020

West Perth Zoning Maps

Citizens' Guide 3 - Zoning By-laws by the Ministry of Municipal Affairs and Housing provides more information.

Zoning By-law Amendment Application

Site Plan Approval is a form of development control, authorized under Section 41 of the Planning Act and Implemented through the Municipality of West Perth By-law 206-2015. This means the Municipality has the authority to influence the site design of certain types of development in addition to meeting requirements of the Municipal Zoning By-law and the Ontario Building Code.

Site Plan Approval applies to all development within West Perth with the exception of single-detached dwellings; two-unit dwellings; buildings which are accessory to such dwellings; farm buildings; and temporary buildings. Site Plan Approval is required prior to the issuance of a Building Permit for all developments which are subject to Site Plan Approval. Site Plan Approval is required for a new building; addition to existing buildings; or a commercial parking lot.

New and amended site plans shall conform to the Zoning By-law and to the Building and Fire Codes. Please consult the West Perth Site Plan Design Guidelines during the preparation of a site plan.

Site Plan Application 

Site Plan Control Guidelines

By-law No. 206-2015

The Municipality may pass a by-law to remove part-lot control from all or any part of a registered plan of subdivision. This allows lands within a plan of subdivision to be further divided into individual parcels without the approval (and associated Public Hearing/Meeting) by the County of Perth Land Division Committee or Council.

This exemption is appropriate when the resulting changes will not affect the nature or character of the subdivision. This application is usually applied to semi-detached or townhouse developments in order to establish property boundaries. This is done after the construction of the buildings due to the difficulty of the builder constructing the common centre wall on the exact property line.

Development in the agricultural area requires, amongst other things, compliance with the Minimum Distance Separation (MDS) Formulae. The MDS formulae were developed by the Province to reduce incompatibility concerns stemming from odour impacts from livestock facilities.

For more information on Minimum Distance Separation view the Ontario Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs (OMAFRA) website.

MDS is made up of two separate, but related, formulae that act reciprocally to site both new development (e.g. residences, churches, and other sensitive uses) and new or expanding livestock facilities as follows:

MDS I – provides the minimum distance separation between proposed new development and any existing livestock barns, manure storages and/or anaerobic digesters.

MDS II – provides the minimum distance separation between proposed new, expanding or remodelled livestock barns, manure storages and/or anaerobic digesters and existing or approved development.

If you are considering new development or new, expanding or remodelled livestock barns, manure storages and/or anaerobic digesters (or both), an assessment of MDS will be required.

There are agricultural consultants in and around the Perth County area that can assist and prepare the necessary MDS assessment needed in order to obtain a building permit. Contact information is provided below in no particular order:

The above consultants have all confirmed with the Municipality that they are able to prepare MDS calculations/assessments for both MDS I and MDS II. The above contact information was obtained from the Province’s Nutrient Management Consultants registry available online. 

To be added to the above list, please Email the Planner with your full contact information advising that you are:

a. on the Province’s Nutrient Management Consultants registry; and,

b. able to prepare such MDS calculations/Assessments for both MDS I and MDS II. 

The purpose of meeting prior to submitting an application is to permit the County Planner to consult with the applicant and clarify information that the applicant may be required to submit to the County.

To set up a pre-consultation meeting please contact the Planning Department.

The County Planning department works with each of the local municipalities to provide land use planning services to County Council, local municipal Councils and staff as well as the public. This integrated approach allows for a relatively seamless service delivery.

West Perth Development Charges By-law 63-2019

For updated information regarding the new Development Charges By-Law, view our Development Charges page. 

If a land owner or a contractor is considering a tree removal, they are required to submit a Notice of Intent to the County Planning and Development Department. A Notice of Intent needs to be received by the County Planning and Development Department at least five (5) business days prior to any destruction or injury or trees pursuant to Section 3 (2) of the By-law and at least twenty (20) business days prior to any destruction or injury of trees pursuant to Section 3 (1) of the County's Forest Conservation By-law.

To contact the County's By-law Enforcement Officer:

T: 519-291-2236 

E: By-law Enforcement Officer