Planning Services
The County of Haliburton's planning department provides professional land use planning advice to members of the public, as well as Council, staff, and our four member municipalities.
Our aim is to grow our communities while protecting our natural resources.
Land use planning promotes sustainable development and efficient land use patterns. We work to support economic growth, and enable healthy, liveable, safe, age-friendly and accessible communities.
Planning services and applications
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 subdivision and condominium. Here's a link to the application for a plan of subdivision/plan of condominium. |
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. Here's a link to the Condominium Exemption Application. |
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 amendmentYou can apply for an amendment to the County's Official Plan by submitting an Official Plan amendment application. 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. |
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 amendmentIf 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 |
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:
Here's a link to the Application for Consent. |
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. Here's a link to the site plan control application. |
Site Plans and Drawings |
Site plans, also known as drawings, sketches, or draft plans are required to accompany all planning applications. |
Shoreline Tree Preservation |
The Shoreline Tree Preservation By‐law No. 3505, as Amended, applies to all lands in the County of Haliburton, that are within 30 metres of a 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. For more information, please see frequently asked questions. |
Our roles and responsibilities
Some of the responsibilities of the County's planning department include:
- Creating and updating the Official Plan for the County of Haliburton
- Processing applications for amendments to the Official Plan for the County of Haliburton
- Approving local municipal Official Plans and amendments
- Processing and approving plans of subdivision, plans of condominium and consents
- Conducting special studies in support of the County's Official Plan such as the Population and Employment Projections, Housing Study, Growth Management Study and Public Transportation Options.
- Taking part in external regional planning initiatives including Housing and Homelessness Planning, Source Water Protection Planning, Watershed Flood Management; and
- Providing expert testimony before the Local Planning Appeal Tribunal (LPAT)
Pre-consultation
Pre-consultation is required before making any applications to the County of Haliburton.
Check with your local government
Please visit the website of your local township or municipality for more information on applications for official plan and zoning by-law amendments and minor variances.