Planning Services

Building Permits

Building permits are handled by the local member municipalities within the County of Haliburton. Which municipality you would contact depends on where your property is located.

Plan of Condominium/Plan of Subdivision

A Plan of Condominium and/or Plan of Subdivision is required when a piece of land is divided into multiple lots or units.

The County of Haliburton is the approval authority to process and approve plans of condominium and subdivision.

• • The link to the application for a Plan of Subdivision/Plan of Condominium is not available at the moment. Planning staff are in the process of converting the application form into an accessible document. A copy of the application can be made available to you by contacting the Planning Department by calling phone number 705-286-1333.

Condominium Exemption

Plans of condominium are subject to the same legislated criteria as plans of subdivision.

In the case of plans of condominium, there may be circumstances in which all relevant planning considerations have been reviewed and found acceptable in the context of other planning applications for the development. In these circumstances, an exemption may be appropriate.

• • The link to the Condominium Exemption Application is not available at the moment. Planning staff are in the process of converting the application form into an accessible document. A copy of the application can be made available to you by contacting the Planning Department by calling phone number 705-286-1333. 

Deposits

In addition to the Application Fee, the applicant shall provide the County of Haliburton with a $5,000 deposit against which the County may, from time to time, charge any professional fees and expenses incurred related to peer review.

Any remaining balance from the deposit will be refunded when the file has been completed.

Incentives

Check back soon for more information on incentives.

Official Plan Amendment (County)

Amendments to the Official Plan are required when a new development does not comply with the intended land use categories or policies.

Applying for a County Official Plan amendment

The Planning Act prevents certain land use categories and policies from being amended. Contact our Land Use Planning team to find out if you are eligible to submit a County Official Plan amendment. We require a pre-consultation meeting before consideration.

• • The link to the application for a County Official Plan Amendment is not available at the moment. Planning staff are in the process of converting the application form into an accessible document. A copy of the application can be made available to you by contacting the Planning Department by calling phone number 705-286-1333. 

Official Plan Amendment (local)

Our four member municipalities have Official Plans that detail land use categories and establish local policies to manage growth and development.

Applying for a local municipal official plan amendment

If you need a local municipal Official Plan amendment, please contact the appropriate municipality.

You will be required to complete a local official plan amendment application. 

The County is the approval authority for local municipal Official Plan amendments.

Township of Algonquin Highlands

Municipality of Dysart et al

Municipality of Highlands East

Township of Minden Hills

Part Lot Control

Part-lot control prevents the division of land in a registered plan, other than that allowed for in the approved plan of subdivision.

The County of Haliburton can pass by-laws to remove part-lot control from all or any part of a registered plan of subdivision to allow the conveyance of a portion of a lot without requiring the approval of the land division committee.

Please contact the County Planner for the part lot control application.

Pre-consultation

A pre-consultation meeting is required before submitting a planning application.

This allows you to explain the proposal and will allow County staff to guide you through the process, provide preliminary comments about the viability of your proposal and advise you what plans and studies are required to support an application.

At the pre-consultation meeting, a checklist will be provided setting out the submission requirements for a complete application.

Public Notices

Public Notices related to planning applications can be found on the News section of our website.

They are also published in local newspapers, and posted on the property that the application is for.

Severances and Consents

Consent is required if you want to do any of the following:

• create a new lot (lot creation)
• add land to a neighbouring property (lot addition)
• establish a right to use another property (easement)
• Establish permissions for mortgaging or leasing parts of lots

Site Plan Control

The County and local municipalities use site plan control to ensure a development meets the official plan policies, zoning by-laws and design guidelines.

Site plans detail how a property will be developed. We co-ordinate some site plan applications with the member municipalities.

• • The link to the County Site Plan Control Application is not available at the moment. Planning staff are in the process of converting the application form into an accessible document. A copy of the application can be made available to you by contacting the Planning Department by calling phone number 705-286-1333.

Site Plans and Drawings

Shoreline Preservation

The new Shoreline Preservation By-law 4169 only applies to lands 20 metres from the high water mark of all lakes, rivers, streams and ponds within the geographical areas of the lower-tier municipalities of Algonquin Highlands, Highlands East and Minden Hills, as well as natural heritage features and areas, like significant wetlands, that play a role in water quality. 

• For more information and if you have any questions, contacting the Planning Department by calling phone number 705-286-1333.

The Shoreline Tree Preservation By‐law No. 3505, as Amended, applies only in the geographic Municipality of Dysart et. al. that are within 30 metres of a shoreline/watercourse. The Shoreline Tree Preservation By‐law governs the removal or injuring of all trees with a diameter of 5 cm or more. Diameter is measured 1.37 metres from the ground. The goal is to minimize the destruction of trees in order to protect our water resources and sustain a healthy natural environment. 

• • The link to the By-law 3505 are not available at the moment. Planning staff are in the process of converting the by-laws into an accessible document. A copy of the by-law can be made available to you by contacting the Planning Department by calling phone number 705-286-1333.