Planning and Development

A Consent Application is used to divide land (New Lot Creation), reconfigure land (Lot Addition) or to create an easement/right-of-way.

Consent applications that meet all the By-law 2020-27 criteria for an “undisputed” consent application are considered by the Director of Development Services pursuant to By-Law 2020-27 and under delegated authority of the Planning Act.

Applications that do not meet these criteria are considered by the Committee of Adjustment.

A typical consent application generally takes 120 days to process, which includes mandatory circulation timelines for comment from members of the public and various agencies.

Before you submit a consent application, prepare a detailed sketch of your proposal (see a sample sketch here) and then request a meeting with a Planner using our Information/Meeting Request Form.  A Planner will review your proposal and provide guidance.

Helpful Links for Consent Applications:

• Consent Application Form
• How to Complete Your Consent Application Form
• Consent Application Guideline
• Sample Consent Sketch – New Lot Creation
• Sample Consent Sketch – Lot Addition
• Planning Application Fees
• Frontenac Maps interactive GIS Mapping Website

The Township of South Frontenac Zoning By-Law No. 2003-75 regulates how land and buildings are used and where buildings and structures can be located. This by-law also specifies lot sizes and dimensions, minimum setback requirements, building heights and other provisions needed for orderly development.

Sometimes due to site conditions and/or character of existing buildings, it is not possible to meet all the requirements of the Zoning By-law. In this case, you can submit a Minor Variance or Permission application. If approved, these types of applications permit a minor adjustment of a specific Zoning By-law requirement to excuse a property owner from meeting the exact requirement(s) of the By-Law.

A Minor Variance application is used when a property or project cannot meet a specific provision(s) of the Township’s Zoning By-Law, for example: a yard setback, lot coverage, or building height requirement.

A Permission application deals specifically with altering or expanding existing buildings that are legal non-conforming uses.  This means that the  buildings were lawfully constructed before the current Zoning By-law came into effect, but do not comply with today’s zoning requirements.

Minor Variance and Permission applications can take approximately 90 days to process, which includes a mandatory public hearing and circulation timelines for comment from members of the public and various agencies.

All Minor Variance and Permission applications are considered and decided upon by the Committee of Adjustment.

Before you submit a Minor Variance or Permission application, prepare a detailed sketch of your proposal (including a detailed site plan and renderings) and then request a meeting with a Planner using our Information/Meeting Request Form.  A Planner will review your proposal and provide guidance.

Helpful Links for Minor Variance/Permission Applications:

• Minor Variance Application Form
• Planning Application Fee Chart
• Frontenac Maps interactive GIS Mapping Website
• Zoning By-Law No. 2003-75

A Zoning By-Law Amendment Application (as also called a “re-zoning” application) is a planning tool that is utilized when a property owner wishes to use their property for something other than what is permitted under the current Zoning By-Law.

A Zoning By-Law can be amended to change either the zoning of the land or add special provisions to the zoning for a specific property.

Re-zoning applications are considered by Council.

The application process involves public consultation including a mandatory public meeting to receive comments from members of the public, and circulation to various agencies.

Before you submit a re-zoning application, prepare a detailed sketch of your proposal (including a detailed site plan and renderings) and then request a meeting with a Planner using our Information/Meeting Request Form.  A Planner will review your proposal and provide guidance.

Helpful Links for Zoning By-Law Amendment Applications:

• Zoning By-Law Amendment Application Form
• Planning Fees
• Frontenac Maps interactive GIS Mapping Website
• Zoning By-Law No. 2003-75
  

Site Plan Control is a development control mechanism used for commercial, industrial, institutional and residential developments as prescribed under Section 41 of the Planning Act.  It is used to control development details such as the location of buildings, property access, parking requirements, elevations, grading, and landscaping details. It mitigates or eliminates negative impacts on adjacent land uses and ensures that certain features of a development are maintained into the future.

Site Plan Control applications are considered by the Director of Development Services under By-Law 2022-58 and delegated authority of the Planning Act.

Before you submit a site plan control application, prepare a detailed sketch of your proposal (including a detailed site plan and renderings) and then request a meeting with a Planner using our intake form. A Planner will review your proposal and provide guidance.

Helpful Links for Site Plan Control Applications:

• Site Plan Control Application Form
• Site Plan Control By-Law
• Planning Fees
• Zoning By-Law No. 2003-75
  

The Township of South Frontenac’s Official Plan is a key document that guides growth and development in the Township. It includes policies to facilitate housing and economic development and protect important assets such as lakes, the natural environment, and agricultural lands.

If you wish to use or develop your property in a manner that is not in compliance with the Official Plan policies or designation, then you will need to apply for an Official Plan Amendment.

Official plan amendment applications are considered by Council.  If an official plan amendment is adopted by Council, it then needs to go to Frontenac County Council for approval.

The application process involves public consultation including a mandatory public meeting to receive comments from members of the public, and circulation to various agencies.

Before you submit an official plan amendment application, prepare a detailed sketch of your proposal (including a detailed site plan and renderings) and then request a meeting with a Planner using our intake form.  A Planner will coordinate with Frontenac County staff to review your proposal and provide guidance.

Helpful Links for Official Plan Amendment Applications:

• Official Plan Amendment Application Form
• Planning Fees
• Zoning By-Law No. 2003-75
  

Plans of Subdivision and Plans of Condominium are processed by the County of Frontenac. Please reach out to the County’s Planning Department directly to set up a pre-consultation meeting.

A property owner abutting an unopened road allowance may apply to stop up, close and purchase a portion of the road allowance.  

A property owner might make this request if construction took place on a road allowance and where it can be demonstrated that the relevant portion of road allowance has not been correctly identified by surveyors or the Township. 

A property owner might also make this request when a road allowance divides their properties and makes it impossible, because of zoning by-law requirements, for the owner to construct an accessory building on the separate parcel, a request to close the road allowance can also be made.

Please note, that it is Council policy to not sell road allowances that lead from a public road to a waterbody.

If you have questions about the process, contact Michelle Hannah, Deputy Clerk.

You will be required to complete the Road Allowance Closure Application Form and pay the appropriate fees (see below).

Unopened Road Allowance Purchase Price (Land Class Descriptions below)

Land Class                                      Price Per Square Foot*

Residential Lot on Water                            $2.41

Residential Lot (1-2 acres)                          $0.80

Acreage, Farm                                              $0.25

Acreage, Bush                                              $0.21

Commercial                                                  $1.03

*Minimum Purchase Price - $1,000

Residential Lot on Water – any portion of the closed road allowance which lies within 300 ft .of the water - $2.41/sq. ft. If the applicant owns 2 acres or less then the remainder of the allowance -.i.e. after the first 300 ft. - is charged out at .80/sq.ft. and if the property is over 2 acres, the remainder of the allowance is charged out at .21/sq. ft.

Residential Lot – closed road allowance adjacent to a property of 2 acres or less (where the allowance does not abut water or where a portion of the allowance is more than 300 ft. from the water)

Acreage, farm – where a road allowance runs through a field dividing two farm properties

Acreage, bush – where a road allowance is located on land not suitable for agriculture (i.e. hilly and/or rough terrain)

Commercial – enlargement of commercial property through addition of a closed road allowance

Helpful Resources

• Frontenac Maps
• Cataraqui Conservation: 1-877-956-2722
• Quinte Conservation: 613-968-3434
• Rideau Valley Conservation Authority: 613-692-3571
• Land Registry Office: The Township of South Frontenac’s LRO number is 13 (Frontenac). The Land Registry Office no longer has physical offices.  All surveys, deeds and other title documents must be purchased online or through a real estate lawyer.  

Frontenac Maps: has zoning information and conservation authority boundaries. To find your zone on Frontenac Maps:

1. Click on “Interactive Maps” and select “Launch Interactive Mapping”
2. Use the Search bar in the top right hand corner of the page to enter the property address, PIN or roll number (excluding dashes) or scroll to the property manually.
3. Click on the blue “I want to” prompt and select “Change visible map layers”. All the layers will appear on the left toolbar.
4. Select “Zoning” to see the zoning layer

Conservation authorities comment on applications under the Planning Act on matters such as flooding, erosion, natural heritage, stormwater management and hydrogeology. There are three Conservation Authorities that operate within South Frontenac:

• Cataraqui Conservation Authority: 1-877-956-2722
• Quinte Conservation Authority: 613-692-3571
• Rideau Valley Conservation Authority: 613-692-3571

The Land Registry Office contains official documents of land and property in Ontario. It no longer has physical offices. You can purchase surveys, deeds and other title documents from them online or through a real estate lawyer. The Township of South Frontenac’s LRO number is 13 (Frontenac).