A subdivision is when land has been divided into multiple lots for the purpose of development. These lots may be developed individually, or as a group. They can be used for a range of uses such as residential, commercial, or institutional, depending on the designation of the land in the City of Kenora's Official Plan and Zoning By-law.
Subdivision and Condominium Application
View the application fees.
Typically, subdivision applications are required if you plan on dividing a piece of land into at least four or more parcels in order to ensure proper and orderly development. If you are dividing a property into two to three lots, you can apply for a land severance or consent.
Pre-consultation
Before filing an application, it is recommended that you contact the Planning team to set up a pre-consultation meeting. During the meeting, we will outline what you need to include in your application, including the planning rationale.
Draft plan of subdivision
The purpose of a draft plan of subdivision is to develop land in an orderly manner by making sure that the proper infrastructure and municipal services will be in place, if they are not already. Contact an Ontario Land Surveyor to prepare your draft plan.
The City of Kenora’s Director of Planning and Building Services and/or City Council is the approval authority for draft plan of subdivision applications..
A draft plan of subdivision must show:
- Property line boundaries and dimensions of each lot
- Location of streets
- Location of schools and/or park sites
A draft plan of subdivision does not show:
- Specific building locations
- Architectural design or construction materials
Evaluation of applications for subdivision
The City of Kenora evaluates each proposal against various criteria, as set out in the Ontario Planning Act:
- Conformity with the Official Plan and compatibility with adjacent uses of land
- Compliance with the City of Kenora Zoning By-law
- Regard for Provincial Policies and those described in Section 51 (24) of the Planning Act
Timeframe for approval
Depending on complexity, draft Plan of Subdivision applications typically take three to four months before draft approval is given. This includes the mandatory appeal period of 20 days, after notice of the Committee's decision is given. If there are no appeals, your draft Plan of Subdivision and related conditions of the draft approval become final and binding.
You have three years to satisfy all of the conditions of approval. Once all departments and external agencies that provided conditions have advised the City that their requirements have been met, the plan of subdivision can be registered.
Technical review |
| Once your application is deemed complete, we will circulate your application to other City departments and applicable external agencies for review and comment. |
Public notice |
| A public hearing date is assigned and the Planning Division will circulate written notice to external agencies and to property owners within 120 m of the subject property, at least 14 days in advance. |
Public hearing |
| Draft approval of Subdivision applications are made by the Director of Planning and Building Services. The Director and/or Council may ask you to explain the proposal and answer any questions during the meeting. The Director and/or Council will also invite other parties to speak in support of, or in opposition to, the application. |
Decision and appeal period |
| The Director and /or Council considers the Planner’s report and the opinion of public delegations and may render a decision, adjourn the application or reserve its decision. The Director and/or Council's decision will be issued within 10 days of the hearing. This decision can be appealed to the Ontario Land Tribunal, in accordance with their requirements. If you want to learn about appeal rights, see our Key Planning and Development Topics page. |
Get involved |
| If you, as a member of the public would like to get involved in the approval process, you can: If you decide to present, you must come with information about how you believe the proposal impacts you. It is important to note that the application hearing is not mandated to deal with:
Under the Planning Act, only the applicant, the Minister, a specified person or public body who made submissions, or the municipality can appeal a decision of the Director and/or Council to the Ontario Land Tribunal. |
Frequently asked questions
Review our frequently asked questions to help you better understand the subdivision approval process.
If someone objects, is my application automatically refused? |
| No. The decision makers weigh all evidence presented at the public hearing and makes a decision on that basis. The decision makers must also find your proposal desirable from land use and development perspectives. Conformity with the general intent of approved planning documents, such as the Official Plan and Zoning By-law, is also essential. |
Do I get my money back if my application is refused? |
| No. Staff time and costs are incurred regardless of the outcome. |
What if my application is approved and my neighbour strongly objects? |
| Members of the public no longer have the right to appeal the decision. Only the applicant, the municipality, a public body, a specified person under the Planning Act, and the Minister may appeal these decisions. |
Additional resources
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