Applications
The Planning Department is responsible for processing the following applications:
- Compliance Letters: Environmental, Heritage, Site Plan, and Zoning Confirmation
- Condominium
- Consent (Severance)
- Minor Variance
- Official Plan Amendment
- Part Lot Control
- Pre-consultation
- Sidewalk Café
- Sign By-law Amendment
- Sign By-law Variance
- Site Plan Approval
- Subdivision
- Zoning By-law Amendment
- Zoning Compliance Certificates (required prior to Building Permits only)
Please note that General Compliance Letters are processed through the City’s By-law Division. Written requests and fee payment may be received at:
Mail: By-law Division, MacBain Community Centre, 7150 Montrose Road, Niagara Falls, ON L2H 3N3
Email: [email protected]
Planning applications are submitted (including the completion of application questions, City fee payment, and the uploading of documents) through our online Portal.
Application Requirements
Accessibility:
The City of Niagara Falls is dedicated to ensuring that everyone will be able to access the information they needed.
Reports and Studies submitted with Planning Applications may, upon the request of City Staff, be required to meet the accessibility standard of WCAG 2.0 Level AA.
Address Validation:
Civic addressing must meet internal validation rules and match the corporate addressing database.
Addressing is implemented by Information Systems – GIS division, and adheres to the most current “Civic Addressing Policy”
CAD Drawings/GIS Spatial Mapping:
All digital plans transferred to The City are to be supplied in true spatial format as outlined below:
- Projected and tied to Geographic Coordinate System_North American Datum_1983_CSRS_Universal Transvers Mercator_Zone 17N
- Be provided in one of three acceptable formats including ESRI file geodatabase (.gdb) version 10.6 or higher, shapefile (.shp), or AutoCAD drawing file (.dwg) version 2016 or higher, for compatibility purposes.
- Meet the corporate CAD standard template available here
- Follow proper topology rules (closed polygons, snapped lines etc.)
- Ensure unique Identification links between the graphics and data attributes (hovers, labels, annotation and text layers do not qualify as identifying links)
- Include all support files or customizations necessary to defend and reprint the submission
- Be accompanied by metadata and include at least the following six attributes:
- Last Modification Date, File Format, Data Source, Technical Contact Information, Project or File Reference Number, Unique ID Field Name
Complete Application:
The following information is required to constitute a “complete application”:
- Completion of all on-line questions and uploading of additional submittal forms/letters, when required;
- All material outlined in the outlined in the pre-consultation form/checklist, the City’s Official Plan and the Planning Act and its regulations;
- All required technical reports and studies, to City standards;
- Agreed Terms of Reference for each report; and,
- Fees (City, Niagara Region-if required, and NPCA-if required).
Until all required information and fees have been submitted to City standard, the City may refuse to accept or further consider an application “complete”.
Regional Fee Payment Instructions
If paying by cheque, please address it as payable to “Niagara Region” submitted to the Planning and Development Services Department at the address listed below:
Planning and Development Services Department
Niagara Region
1815 Sir Isaac Brock Way
Thorold ON L2V 4T7
If paying online (preferred) by Visa or MasterCard, please follow these steps:
- Click the following link: https://cityview.niagararegion.ca/portal
- Go to the Planning Applications section and select “planning applications search”.
- In the planning application search put in your project name, planning application number, or address, or roll number. This should populate your file, if not found contact [email protected] or 905-980-6000 ext. 3256.
If your planning application is in the system click on “Pay Fees”, then click “Make Payment” and follow the remaining instructions to process the credit payment
NPCA fees are to be mailed directly to the NPCA.
File Format and Naming:
- Files are to be in pdf, jpeg, or dwg format.
- Files are to be unlocked.
- Files are not to be bundled together.
- No abbreviations are to be used and name must correspond with the file subject.
- File names are to include the submission number, for instance: Site Plan_s1
- For example:
- Site Plan
- Draft Plan of Condominium/Draft Plan of Subdivision
- Elevations
- Site Servicing Plan
- Grading Plan
- Planning Justification Report
- Municipal Servicing Study
- Noise Study
- Traffic Impact Study
- PIN sheet or Deed (Please note: Preliminary or In-Progress deeds or Transfers are not proof of ownership)
- Pre-consultation Report
Pre-Consultation:
A formal pre-consultation meeting with City Planning staff is required to take place within 1 year prior to application submission.
Pre-consultation does not imply or suggest any decision whatsoever on behalf of City staff or the City of Niagara Falls to either support or refuse the application. Pre-consultation identifies information and application requirements for application submission.
Public Consultation:
Applicants and/or their agents are required to participate in open houses and public meetings to inform surrounding property owners about proposed development, when required.
Public Notice Signs:
It is the responsibility of the applicant to post Public Notice Signs, in accordance with the City’s Public Notice Sign Policy, when applicable, in accordance with the Planning Act and its regulations and City standards.
Public Document:
Personal information is collected pursuant to the Planning Act and will be used for the purpose of processing your application. If you have any questions on the gathering of personal information and the release of any personal information to any person or public body under the Freedom of Information and Protection of Privacy Act, you may contact [email protected].
Regulations And Guidelines:
It is the applicant’s responsibility to provide all information required under the Planning Act, applicable Ontario Regulations, Provincial, Regional, and City Policies and Guidelines.
