Planning, Building and Development

Planning is the management of land and resources to ensure a healthy community - economically, socially and environmentally. The Planning Department's role is to provide professional advice and information to Council, local residents, landowners and the development sector, with the goal of serving public interests and enhancing the quality of life and environment within the community.

The Planning Department meets regularly with Council on the fourth Monday of each month, unless posted otherwise.

Please be advised that effective January 1st, 2023 planning application fees have increased, as per By-law 131 of 2022 being a By-law to establish fees and user charges.

Planning Fees

Effective January 1st, 2023 Planning application fees will be charged as follows:

Planning fees by application type
Application Type Fee
Committee of Adjustment
Minor Variance from Zoning By-law $520.00
Consent Applications (including easements) $520.00/lot
Development Agreement by Severance (servicing) $520.00/lot
Deed stamping $260.00/lot
Recirculation of application (due to deferral or amendment) $105.00
Validation Certificate Application $210.00
  
 Official Plan
Official Plan Amendment

$1,665.00

($600.00 to County of Lambton)
  
 Zoning
 Zoning By-law Amendment (ZBA)

 $1,250.00

($425.00 to County of Lambton)
 ZBA Recirculation  $105.00
 Zoning Certificate  $70.00
Zoning Compliance Report (comprehensive review) $125.00
Removal of Holding "H" Designation $260.00
 
Site Plan Control
Site Plan Agreement $780.00
Staff Engineering Review Fee $260.00
3rd Party Servicing / Engineering Review Invoiced to applicant, as applicable
Site Plan Agreement Amendment $260.00
 
Subdivision / Condominiums
Subdivision / Condominium Agreement Preparation $1,560.00
Subdivision / Condominium Staff Engineering Review $3,120.00
3rd Party Servicing / Engineering Review Invoiced to applicant, as applicable
Subdivision / Condominium Agreement Amendment $260.00
Deeming By-law $260.00
Exemption from Part-Lot Control Application $260.00
 
Miscellaneous
MDS Review $50.00
2nd House Agreement Application $260.00
2nd House Agreement $5,200.00 unless specified otherwise

Committee of Adjustment

The Committee of Adjustment is appointed by Council to consider applications for minor variances, permission and consents. The Committee of Adjustment holds regular public hearings to consider the applications that fall within its' mandate.  The meetings are open to the public and any interested party can appear before the Committee to present their views, in support or in opposition, to an application. This Committee generally meets on the second Tuesday of the month, with meetings beginning at 5:15pm. Applications are due 40 days before the scheduled Committee  meeting to allow sufficient time for review and circulation.

2023 Meeting Dates

January 10th (complete applications due November 24th, 2022)

February 14th (complete applications due January 5th, 2023)

March 14th (complete applications due February 2nd, 2023)

April 11th (complete applications due March 2nd, 2023)

May 9th (complete applications due April 30th, 2023)

June 13th (complete applications due May 4th, 2023)

July 11th (complete applications due June 1st, 2023)

August 8th (complete applications due June 29th, 2023)

September 12th (complete applications due August 3rd, 2023)

October 17th (complete applications due September 7th, 2023)

November 7th (complete applications due September 28th, 2023)

December 12th (complete applications due November 2nd, 2023)

 

The Committee of Adjustment reserves the right to refuse applications that are incomplete or where sufficient payment has not been received.

The Committee of Adjustment is authorized by the Planning Act to consider applications for:

Minor Variances from the Zoning By-Law
If a proposal does not comply with the Zoning By-law, the owner of any land, building or structure (or any person authorized in writing by the owner) may apply to the Committee of Adjustment for a Minor Variance. The goal of a Minor Variance is to seek relief from a specific Zoning Bylaw requirement.

Minor Variances may be granted under the following criteria:

  • The request is minor in nature.
  • The request is needed for the appropriate development or use of the land, building or structure.
  • The general intent and purpose of the Zoning Bylaw and the Official Plan are maintained.

Minor Variance is established under Section 45 of the Ontario Planning Act. The current fee to apply for a Minor Variance is $520.00 per application.

For more information, view our minor variance procedure and application. We also have a fillable version of the minor variance application. When making a minor variance application you are required to submit a drawing of the proposal. Please refer to our minor variance drawing example for assistance in preparing drawings for an application.

Land Division and Consents

Land division and consents include severing a new lot from an existing lot, adding land to an existing lot, easements, and mortgages or leases in excess of 21 years.

New lots must be approved through an application for a Plan of Subdivision. If only one or two new lots are being created, a full subdivision application may not be necessary. In this case, an application for consent to sever may be appropriate.

Consent is established under Section 53 of the Ontario Planning Act. Bill 276 has allowed applicants' two (2) years to fulfill conditions of an approved consent before the application will lapse. The current fee to submit a severance application is $520.00 per lot. Please refer to the consent procedure and application for additional information on the application and other associated fees. We also have a fillable version of the consent application form.

If a severance or lot line adjustment is proposed on lands serviced by a private septic system, an assessment of sewage flows is required. There is a $75.00 fee payable to the County of Lambton for the assessment. In the event the system is found to not be in good health, it may be a condition of consent that the system be replaced or improved. 

Official Plan Review 2020 /2021

The new consolidated Official Plan and OP mapping, including Official Plan Amendment #54, is now in effect but does not include the following areas which are subject to appeal (please note policy numbers have been adjusted with the consolidation to include OPA #54). For additional information regarding the appeal status of the below provisions of OPA #54, please visit the Ontario Land Tribunal Website.

  • Policy 2.4, 2.8 - Agricultural Lot Size
  • Policy 2.12 e) - Surplus Farm Dwelling and Farm Consolidation
  • Policy 4.1.1.23 and 4.1.1.32 - Urban Settlement Area Policies
  • Policy 18.3.5 and 18.3.11 - Urban Design
  • Policy 16.1 - Infrastructure
  • Policy 18.5.3.24 - Community Improvement Areas
  • Mapping:
    • Part 10 Schedule A - North Wyoming, West of village, Confederation Line lands
    • Part 4 Schedule A - North side of Queen Street, immediately east of Bluewater Developments, Queen Street lands
    • Part 7 Schedule A - Westerly corner of Hillsboro Road and Townsend Line, Hillsboro Road lands

 

The proposed Official Plan was approved by Council of the Town of Plympton-Wyoming. It was then presented to the County of Lambton for review and approval. On October 28th, 2021 the County approved OPA #54. The final day to appeal this decision was November 17th, 2021. Two appeals were received that deals with specific areas of the Official Plan. These areas of the Official Plan remain unchanged, anything that was not appealed is now in effect. 

 

Please see below the most recent documents in regards to the review:

 

Official Plan and Amendments

An Official Plan is a statutory document required by the Province. It is prepared with input from the public and helps to ensure future planning and development meets the specific needs of your community.

New development and redevelopment proposals may require changes to the Official Plan. Public input through the Official Plan Amendment process is important.

To apply for an amendment to Plympton-Wyoming's Official Plan, review the Official Plan Amendment procedure and application. We also have a fillable copy of the Official Plan Amendment application. Please consult with the Planning Department before making a formal submission. The fee for submitting an Official Plan Amendment is $1,665.00, with $600.00 of the fee going to the County of Lambton.

View the Town of Plympton-Wyoming's Official Plan and mapping.

Official Plans and Amendments are established under Section 16 of the Ontario Planning Act. 

Zoning By-law and Amendments
A Zoning By-law controls the use of land in your community, such as:
  • Where buildings and other structures can be located
  • The types of buildings that are permitted and how they may be used
  • The lot sizes and dimensions, parking requirements, building heights and setbacks from the street.

To apply for an amendment to Plympton-Wyoming's Zoning By-law, review the Zoning By-law Amendment procedure and application. We also have a fillable version of the Zoning By-law amendment Application. Please consult with the Planning Department before making a formal submission. The fee for submitting a Zoning By-law Amendment is $1,250.00, with $425.00 of the fee going to the County of Lambton.

View the Town of Plympton-Wyoming's Zoning By-law and maps.

Zoning is established under Section 34 of the Ontario Planning Act.

Site Plan Applications

The Town's Official Plan designates the entire municipality as a Site Plan Control area. The Council may, through a Site Plan Control By-law, designate the whole or any part of the municipality as a Site Plan Control Area, either geographically or by reference to one or more zones set out in the Zoning By-law. Low density residential development and agricultural buildings and structures are not normally subject to site plan control, unless specifically indicated in the implementing Site Plan Control By-law. Site Plan Control is established under Section 41 of the Ontario Planning Act.

The site plan approval process allows Town staff to review and approve development details, such as:

  • Building locations and setbacks
  • Parking facilities
  • Grading
  • Servicing
  • Snow storage
  • Lighting

 

This review allows us to ensure that the Town's minimum standards have been met before construction of a project begins. Once the site plan has been approved, the owner and the municipality enter into a site plan agreement, a contract that binds the owner to develop and maintain the site according to the approved plans and the terms of the agreement.

To apply for site plan approval, you must review and complete the Site Plan Approval Guide and Application and submit it to the Planning Department (contact information is located at the bottom of this page). A fee of $780.00 must accompany a site plan application, please refer to the planning fees chart at the top of this page for other associated costs. 

Subdivision and Development Agreements
Plans of subdivision divide larger parcels of land into smaller lots. A subdivision agreement confirms the property owner's responsibilities for development of this land. Plans of subdivision usually involve the division of three or more lots, and the construction of new roads and services.

Plans for creating fewer than three lots generally require an application for severance instead of a plan of subdivision.

Subdivision applications are processed under Section 51 of the Planning Act.

Subdivision approval ensures that:

  • The land is suitable for its proposed new use
  • The proposal conforms to the Official Plan as well as Provincial and regional planning policies
  • The development can be appropriately serviced and accessed.

Draft approvals for all plans of subdivision or condominium are approved by the County of Lambton. Draft approval is required prior to entering into a subdivision agreement with the Town.

Fees associated with subdivision agreements can be found closer to the top of this webpage.

Zoning Certificates

Request Zoning Certificate

Submit your request to the Planning staff and choose your payment option below.

Payment Options

The current fee for a zoning certificate is $70 per roll number.

Methods of Payment:

  • mail with a cheque, or
  • courier with a cheque.

Please make cheque payable to "Town of Plympton-Wyoming".

Mailing address: Town of Plympton-Wyoming 546 Niagara St, P.O. Box 250 Wyoming, ON, N0N 1T0

By-law Enforcement
Together with By-Law Enforcement staff from the County of Lambton, Plympton-Wyoming enforces the Town's By-laws.

Complaints are required to be put in writing and submitted to the Municipal Office. An investigation then occurs and if required, resolved pursuant to the applicable by-laws.

Related By-laws:

Building Permits
Permits are issued and inspections completed by the County of Lambton Building Services Department as per By-law 46 of 2014. 

Please call 519-845-5420 to apply for permits or to arrange inspections.

Refer to our Building Permit Guide, fee schedule and deposit notice for further information.

Please note, recent amendments to the Ontario Building Code state that no building permit is required for an accessory building or shed which is not more than 15 m2 or 162 ft2 provided:

  • The proposal achieves all criteria below, and;

    • is not more than 15 m2 in gross area,

    • is not more than one storey in building height,

    • is not attached to a building or any other structure,

    • is used only for storage purposes ancillary to a principal building on the lot, and

    • does not have plumbing.

  • All applicable law, including general zoning provisions (i.e. setbacks, lot coverage etc.), and;
  • Conservation Authority Approval etc., and;
  • Finally, that construction shall generally achieve all Ontario Building Code requirements (i.e. must be structurally safe)

Previous criteria was that accessory structures less than 10 m2 or 108 ft2 did not require a building permit.

Ken Melanson, Manager, Planning & Development Services, County of Lambton

Randi Burke, Planner

Corrine Nauta, Chief Building Official, County of Lambton