The Municipal Role

Municipalities play a key role in land use planning in Ontario. They are responsible for determining the future development of the community through the preparation of official plans, zoning by-laws and other planning tools. Municipal land use planning must follow Ontario's provincial policies, plans and laws.

Before making changes to buildings or land use, property owners and developers should obtain appropriate permits and approvals from the municipality. The processes for acquiring these permits and approvals vary from municipality to municipality. For more information about permits and approvals, contact your local municipality’s Planning Department.