All non-residential building projects are subject to site plan control. Please refer to the Site Plan Control Bylaw for more information.
Site Plan
A site plan is an overhead drawing for a proposed building project. It shows the location of existing buildings and any decks, sheds, garages, additions, or new homes for building permit applications.
A Site Plan Sketch can be completed by a property owner, designer, surveyor, or other individual. Site plans are needed when applying for a building permit for review to ensure that it complies with the requirements of Ramara's Zoning Bylaw.
The Township's Building Bylaw requires a site plan be submitted for review for residential development to ensure compliance with the Ramara Zoning Bylaw and the Ontario Building Code prescribed setbacks. If the project is 50 m2 , a site grading plan plan is required through a Zoning & Grading Review Application (an application under the Ramara Building Bylaw).
Site Plan Control
The Township of Ramara Official Plan designates the entire municipality as an area under site plan control. The Township's Site Plan Control Bylaw outlines the requirements for building projects that need a full site plan review. Please note that a pre-consultation application is required prior to accepting an application for Site Plan Control under the Planning Act.
Applying for Site Plan Approval
A Site Plan Approval Application is an application under the Planning Act, to ensure the development is undertaken in accordance with municipal, county, and provincial requirements.
To apply for Site Plan Approval, a Pre-Consultation Application is strongly recommended first to ensure all requirements for the application are clarified, as well as any unique conditions that the Township or another Approval Authority (including but not limited to County of Simcoe, LSRCA, MTO).
The applicable application forms and associated Planning Fee Schedule are available on the Planning Applications webpage.
Site Plan Development Types
Some residential projects are subject to Site Plan Control. Please refer to the Site Plan Control Bylaw for a list of exemptions.
The Province of Ontario recently made changes to the definition of development under Section 41 of the Planning Act. The definition for development was updated to exclude the construction, erection or placing of a building or structure for residential purposes on a parcel of land if that parcel of land will contain no more than 10 residential units, unless the parcel of land includes any land in a prescribed area. The prescribed area includes, but is not limited to, area that is:
- Within 300 metres of a railway line
- Within 120 metres of
- a wetland
- an inland lake
- a river
Building projects that do not require Site Plan Approval that are larger than 50 square metres and one or more of the following are subject to a Pre-Permit Zoning Review with Lot Grading:
- Lots located on the waterfront
- Lots designated as Hamlet, Village, or Shoreline in the Township's Official Plan
- Lots less than 1.5 acres in size and designated as Rural or Agriculture in the Township's Official Plan
An Ontario Land Surveyor or Professional Engineer must prepare a site-grading plan if a building project requires a grading review.
The plan will need to show:
- Driveway entrances
- Easements
- Elevations
- Parking spaces
- Septic
- Setbacks
- Wells
All requirements are outlined on the Zoning & Grading Review Application found on the Planning Applications page.
Contact Us
Corporation of the Township of Ramara
2297 Highway 12, PO Box 130, Brechin, ON, L0K 1B0
T. 705-484-5374
E. ramara@ramara.ca
Township of Ramara Planning Services
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