Page Category: Planning and Development

  • Heritage

    Cultural Heritage in Meaford

    The Municipality of Meaford protects Meaford’s Cultural Heritage by:

    • Designating individual properties as a protected heritage property under Part IV of the Ontario Heritage Act
    • Designating the downtown area of urban Meaford as a Heritage Conservation District under Part V of the Ontario Heritage Act.

    See the Municipal Heritage Registry of individual designated Heritage Properties (Part IV of the Ontario Heritage Act). 

    For more information about the Heritage Conservation District in the downtown, see the Heritage Conservation District Plan and Guidelines. The Heritage Conservation District Plan protects the heritage of Meaford’s downtown core by encouraging the maintenance and upkeep of the buildings and helping promote new developments that respect the character of the existing buildings.

    Heritage Conservation District Plan and Guidelines Update

    It’s time to update Meaford’s Heritage Conservation District Plan. Staff have been working with NPG Planning Solutions to develop an update to the District Plan. 

    Started in 2022, this project was on hold, but is now underway with an expected completion summer 2026!

    Information about this project will be added to this section as it is available. Subscribe to this page (bottom right red box) to get page updates right to your email. 

    Heritage Permit Applications

    Before you start any work on your property in the Heritage Conservation District or on an individually designated property on the registry, please consult with Planning Staff at the Municipal Office to discuss your project. We can be reached at 519-538-1060 ext. 1127 or by email at planning@meaford.ca   

    Note that Heritage Permits are required for several types of minor works, such as signs, repairs and small additions. 

    You can also download the Heritage Permit to learn more about the application process.

    Heritage Advisory Committee

    The Heritage Advisory Committee advises and assists Council on matters relating to Parts IV and V of the Ontario Heritage Act, 1990, and other heritage matters as Council may specify through by-law or in the Official Plan and Downtown Meaford Heritage Conservation District Plan and Guidelines.

    See the Agendas and Minutes for the Heritage Advisory Committee.

  • Development Charges

    Development charges are one-time fees imposed by the Municipality and County from developers, home builders and institutions when they develop or build on land. The fees are intended to offset the cost of increased municipal services and infrastructure required due to growth in the municipality.

    Development Charges Projects

    You may be required to pay development charges for land development or redevelopment projects, if you are:

    • Constructing a new building
    • Making an addition or alteration to an existing building that increases the number of residential units or the non-residential gross floor area
    • Redeveloping a property or making interior alterations that result in a change of use to all or part of a building
    • For a fulsome list of exemptions, reference should be made to the bylaw

    Please note that Development Charges for the County of Grey apply only to new residential development.

    Fees can be found in the fees and charges By-law 2024-48 – Development Charges for the Municipality of Meaford.

    Development Charges have been indexed as of January 1, 2026, as per By-law 2024-48.

    Appeals

    Any person or organization may appeal the by-law to the Ontario Land Tribunal under section 14 of the Act by filing with the clerk of the municipality a notice of appeal setting out the objection to the by-law and the reasons supporting the objection. Details about the deadline for an appeal will be included in a future notice to the public about the passing of the new Development Charges By-law. For information on how to appeal, including forms and fees, see the Ontario Land Tribunal Website.

    Frequently Asked Questions

    Where development charges apply, a building permit will only be issues once the development charges have been paid in full.

    Development Charges will be calculated when you apply for a building permit. If you are looking to pre-plan your project, you may use the Development Charges Brochure or rates sheet posted.

    Development charges help pay for growth-related capital costs for the following municipal services:

    Public library, fire protection services, parks and recreation, services related to a highway: public works, development studies, water, sewer, stormwater

    If you are not fronting the water or wastewater system you will only pay the Municipal Wide Charge and not the water/wastewater charge.

    The Development Charges Act does allow for some exemptions. Examples include:

    • Affordable, Attainable and Non-profit housing (as defined by the province)
    • Enlargement of 50 percent or less of an existing industrial building

    Yes, development charges rates are different for residential.

    Unlike Development charges which are applied to all new development (unless specifically exempted), community benefits charges may only be collected on higher density developments of at least five storeys and more than 10 units, as outlined in the Planning Act section 37. Meaford currently does not have a community benefits charges by-law in place and does not collect community benefits charges.

    Once a by-law is passed by the Council, development charges are active for a 10 year period.

    Resources

  • Consent & Minor Variances

    Are you thinking of Severing Land?

    If you are thinking about severing land from your property, you need the “consent” of the Municipality. 

    Section 50 of the Planning Act sets out specific circumstances where land can be subdivided or by which an interest in land can be conveyed to another person.

    The Consent process, under Section 53 of the Act, is typically used to provide for the creation of a new lot; the enlargement of a lot/alteration to existing lot boundaries; or the creation of a right-of-way or easement that extends beyond 21 years in duration.

    The Municipality of Meaford’s Committee of Adjustment has been delegated the authority of Council to make decisions on applications for consent. All decisions of the Committee must conform to applicable Official Plans and must be consistent with the Provincial Policy Statement.

    Should you be interested in pursuing an application for consent, Staff strongly recommend you participate in a pre-submission consultation. At this meeting, we will review the applicable policy, discuss the procedure and requirements, and help you to determine the costs and timeframes involved with completing your consent transaction.

    For additional information on severances, please visit the Ontario’s Citizen’s Guide to Land Use Planning – Land Severances (Consent)

    Download the application form to apply for a Land Severance: Consent Application Form (Severance)

    Do you think you need a Minor Variance?

    A minor variance is a special permission to excuse a landowner from one or more of the rules set out in the the Zoning By-law.  A minor variance cannot add new uses or allow prohibited uses, but can help with things like reducing a setback, increase in height or other zoning regulations. 

    The authority for the Municipality to give a minor variance is from Section 45(1) of the Planning Act. When evaluating an application for minor variance, Staff and the Committee of Adjustment must consider how the proposal meets the what is known as the ‘four tests’ of a minor variance. Each test must be met in order for the Committee to approve an application.

    Four Tests:

    1. The variance must be minor
    2. The variance must be desirable for the appropriate development or use of the land, building or structure
    3. The general intent and purpose of the Zoning By-law must be maintained
    4. The general intent and purpose of the Official Plan must be maintained

    Should you be interested in submitting an application for Minor Variance, you are encouraged to consult with planning staff to ensure your proposal is supported by the four tests. 

    Download the Application Form to apply for a Minor Variance: Minor Variance Application

    Committee of Adjustment

    Decisions on both Land Severance and Minor Variances are the responsibility of the Committee of Adjustment. The Committee of Adjustment is a ‘quasi-judicial’ body established by Council as permitted by Section 44(1) of the Planning Act. The Municipality of Meaford’s Committee of Adjustment is comprised of five appointed members who meet on a monthly basis to hear applications for consent, minor variance, and alterations to legal non-conforming structures and uses.

    In accordance with the Planning Act, notice of a Public Hearing is given at least 14 days prior to meetings related to consent applications, and 10 days prior to a meeting for a minor variance. A Public Hearing can take between 15-60 minutes for each matter, depending upon the complexity of the application and any agency or public comments that are raised with respect to the file.

    Committee of Adjustment 2026 Schedule and Application Cut-off dates

    Committee of Adjustment now meets for Public Hearings in person, with an option to join the meeting remotely via Zoom. All meetings will be broadcast live and on demand on the municipal YouTube channel. Meeting agendas are available on the Council Portal. If you would like to speak on an application, you can do so by providing comments in writing to planning@meaford.ca to be read at the Committee meeting. If you wish to register as an attendee for a virtual public meeting, you must register with the Secretary-Treasurer by emailing planning@meaford.ca no later than noon on the meeting date.

    The following virtual meeting guides include information on how to join and participate in a meeting once registered with the Secretary-Treasurer: 

    Resources

  • Infrastructure Standards

  • Official Plan

    What is an Official Plan?

    An Official Plan describes is a long range policy document that provides a guide for growth in the development in the community. It is prepared with input from the community and to ensure that future planning and development will meet the specific needs of your community. 

    The Municipality of Meaford Official Plan guides all land use decisions and development strategies. It contains the goals and objectives of our community and establishes policies to direct the form, location, nature and rate of growth and change for the future.

    This means when development proposals come forward for consideration, they are not reviewed in isolation, but in the framework of the guiding policies of the Official Plan. 

    Official Plans have legal status, deriving their authority from the Planning Act of Ontario, and all Municipal public works and by-law must conform to the Official Plan and its standards.

    The Official Plan provides a strong level of policy guidance for land use, but the legislative implementation of the Official Plan is accomplished through by-laws. One of the main reasons for having an Official Plan is to provide a framework to structure the Zoning By-law.  The Zoning By-law must conform to, and implement the policies of, the Official Plan. 

    Official Plan Policies and Maps 

    Maps:

    Amending the Official Plan

    In some cases, an amendment to the Official Plan may be needed because  specific policies or constraints on properties do not allow a property owner to proceed with development. 

    The Official Plan should only be amended when the policies of the Plan do not address site specific issues, or when issues have been raised with respect to site specific proposals that must be addressed in a comprehensive manner. A common reason for amending the plan is that the general nature of the Plan’s policies may not recognize the potential – or limitations – of a particular property. 

    Please note that the County of Grey is the approval authority for Meaford’s Official Plan and amendments.

    How to Apply

    Before  applying to amend the Official Plan, you should consult with the Municipality first. The municipality has a formal pre-consultation process. To book a Pre-Application Consultation with Planning staff to discuss your proposal contact planning@meaford.ca or 519-538-1060 extension 1127.

    Official Plan Amendment Application Form

    In review of all applications to amend the Official Plan, Staff and Council will consider:

    • The rationale or basis for the change
    • The direction provided by the Provincial Policy Statement
    • The goals and objectives of the Official Plan
    • The desirability and appropriateness of changing the Plan
    • The impacts the proposed change will have on the character of the area
    • Conformity to the County of Grey Official Plan

    If you have questions about the official plan or applying for an amendment, please contact Planning Services. 

    Resources