Condominiums and Subdivisions

Plans of Subdivision and Condominium

The County of Haliburton Planning Department is responsible for processing and reviewing applications for plans of subdivision and condominium in Haliburton County. Haliburton County Council is responsible for making decisions on these applications.

Looking for information on severance (consent) applications? Click here.

What is a plan of subdivision?

A plan of subdivision approval is a permission granted by Haliburton County to create multiple lots. Subdivisions are reviewed and approved pursuant to Section 51 of the Planning Act. Subdivisions are typically required when a development proposal for new lots requires the creation of new infrastructure (roads, water and waste-water services, stormwater management), or where the number of new lots exceeds four.

Subdivision approvals are a two-step process. The first step is to apply for draft plan approval, which is where the plan is approved in principle, subject to conditions that must be fulfilled by the developer. The second step is the final approval, where the plan can then be registered and lots can be sold.

What is a plan of condominium?

A plan of condominium is a development application under the Condominium Act. A condominium plan is similar to a subdivision plan, in that it creates new parcels that can be bought and sold. The parcels on a condominium plan are called 'units', rather than 'lots.'

Condominiums also include a shared ownership model, through the registration of a condominium corporation.

Condominiums can be freehold or leasehold, and they can take different forms, including standard, phased, vacant lot, and common elements.

Condominiums are reviewed and approved through the same process as subdivision plans under section 51 of the Planning Act. The primary difference between the two is that subdivisions create freehold parcels with no common ownership structure, while condominiums include the common ownership model with the condominium corporation.

What is the process for approvals?

Subdivisions and condominiums are substantial development applications, and often require supporting reports or studies and the support of qualified professionals (engineers, land surveyors, solicitors, etc.).

There are three major milestones in these approvals:

Pre-Consultation

Prior to submitting an application, developers need to consult with both the County of Haliburton and the local municipality where the subdivision approval will take place. Information on consulting can be found here on our website.

Formal pre-consultation with the local municipality is required prior to submitting your draft approval application to the County. Pre-consultation will provide staff an opportunity to provide you with the complete application requirements (studies, reports, plans that may need to accompany your application) and the local pre-consultation will provide an opportunity to get an endorsement from the local Council.
Draft Approval

Once you have compiled all of the required materials for your application, you can submit a draft plan application to the County. It will be reviewed by Planning and Engineering staff, along with peer reviews of plans or studies by a third-party consultant with subject matter expertise.

Once this review has been completed, the application will be circulated as per Planning Act requirements, and a report will be prepared for County Council's consideration.

Should County Council choose to grant draft approval, you will have three years to satisfy the conditions of draft approval.
Final Approval

Once the conditions of draft approval have been satisfied, you can submit your final plan for approval. Your surveyor and solicitor can then register the subdivision or condominium plan.

What kinds of studies or plans will be required?

All subdivisions or condominiums need to satisfy the criteria set out in section 51 (24) of the Planning Act. This means that the applicant needs to be sure that the land is suitable for the use, appropriate services can be provided, and that the proposal has regard for matters of 'provincial interest.'

Commonly required plans or studies include:

An archaeological assessment
An environmental impact study
A hydrogeological assessment
A functional servicing or servicing options report
Stormwater management report/plan
Engineered drawings for infrastructure (roads, water and waste-water servicing)

All condominiums or subdivisions require a draft plan for review. Information on what needs to be shown on the draft plan can be found here.

Additional reports or studies may be required, depending on the site and its surrounding uses. The pre-consultation process will allow local and County staff to provide a list to the developer.

All plans of subdivision and condominiums will require the services of an Ontario Land Surveyor and a solicitor. Many developers engage the services of a professional planner to assist them through the approvals process.

Where can I find an application?

Applications for subdivision and condominium approvals may be requested by sending an e-mail to planning_services@haliburtoncounty.ca or giving us a call at 705-286-1333.

What is the application fee?

All County Planning Fees can be found on Schedule 'E' of the Tariff of Fees, which is located here: BYLAW 4279 Tariff Of Fees

If you have a question about calculating fees, or making a payment, please contact us and we are happy to assist.

What's the difference between subdivisions/condominiums and severances?

There are two ways to create new lots, either through the subdivision/condominium process, or the consent (severance) process.

Consents are typically the best choice in the following circumstances:

You want to create fewer than four total lots (including the retained land)
You don't need to create new roads or extend any services
You don't need to 'share' any land, amenities, or services with other properties

Subdivisions are typically the best choice in the following circumstances:

You want to create more than four lots
You need to create or extend roads or other infrastructure to service the development

Condominiums are typically the best choice in the following circumstances:

You want to sell units in a building
You need to 'share' a common roadway, parking areas, or services (like a communal water or waste-water system)

Condominiums can be developed to complement subdivisions; for example, you can have a subdivision that is serviced by a common elements condominium road.

Not sure what you need?

Reach out for a consultation with County planning staff - we're happy to help!

How to I find out about the status of an active subdivision application?

Information on current applications can be found here.

Questions?

If you have questions about subdivision or condominium approvals, please get in touch:

Email: planning_services@haliburtoncounty.ca

Phone: 705-286-1333

In-Person: 11 Newcastle Street, Minden, Ontario (Note: we recommend calling or emailing to make an appointment to ensure an appropriate staff member is available to help.)