The Planning Act is the law that allows the City to pass a site plan control by-law. The Site Plan Control By-law is a legal document that sets out whether development can proceed with or without site plan approval.
The site plan control process allows the City to influence land development so that it is safe, functional and orderly. It is also used to ensure that the development standards approved by the City and other agencies are implemented and maintained. Building location, landscape treatment, pedestrian access, drainage control and parking layout are a few of the items addressed during review.
Consult the Site Plan Control By-law to determine if a development is exempt from approval and, if not, what type of site plan control application is required. In general, the following developments may be exempt from approval if the property location, land use and parking count comply with the Site Plan Control By-law.
In accordance with the By-law, a development that is exempt may be required to obtain site plan approval if required by the Planning, Real Estate and Economic Development Department.
To confirm that site plan control approval is not required telephone 3-1-1 to speak with a Development Information Officer. If approval is required, a building permit cannot be issued until it is granted.
Before making an application, you should discuss your proposal with staff. Pre-consultation with City staff is required for applications subject to public consultation. The pre-consultation process is designed to help promote the exchange of information and development considerations early in the planning process and a customized list of the studies and plans required in support of a development application is provided. If you fail to consult with staff, the City cannot guarantee the completeness or accuracy of your application submission which may result in processing delays.
Certain proposals are subject to the City's public notification and consultation process. In general, the following site plan proposals are subject to public notification and consultation.
Site plan control application approval timelines vary based on the development complexity, scale, and public consultation process if applicable. The legislated timeline under the Planning Act is 60 days.
Approval of site plan control applications is delegated to staff. When approval is granted there are typically a number of conditions to be met by the Owner and often includes the requirement for the Owner to enter into an agreement or undertaking with the City. Agreements are registered on title and remain in effect for the lifetime of the development. A request to release an agreement may be considered if all conditions of the approval have been met. A non-residential agreement must remain on title for at least five years after the release of all financial securities.
For additional details on the steps associated with the processing and review of development applications, please refer to the City’s development application process information.
The following fees (effective January 1, 2024) apply to an application for Site Plan Control.
| Fees Related to Non-Rural Areas | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Type of Application | Planning Fee | Legal Fee | Total |
| New Complex | $64,216.78 | $6,888.00 + HST | $72,000.22 |
| Plus an initial engineering design review and inspection fee (includes HST) | |||
| value of Hard and Soft Servicing is less than ( <) $50,000, or | $1,000, or | ||
| value of Hard and Soft Servicing is $50,000 - $300,000, or | $5,000, or | ||
| value of Hard and Soft Servicing is greater than (>) $300,000 | $10,000 | ||
| Plus an initial Conservation Authority fee | |||
| Wards 7, 8, 9, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18 | $125 or | ||
| Remainder of City | $1,120.00 | ||
| The Conservation Authority will invoice for any additional fees and technical report review as required. | |||
| New Standard | $22,302.00 | $6,888.00 + HST | $30,085.44 |
| Plus an initial engineering design review and inspection fee (includes HST) | |||
| value of Hard and Soft Servicing is less than ( <) $50,000, or | $1,000, or | ||
| value of Hard and Soft Servicing is $50,000 - $300,000, or | $5,000, or | ||
| value of Hard and Soft Servicing is greater than (>) $300,000 | $10,000 | ||
| Plus an initial Conservation Authority fee | |||
| Wards 7, 8, 9, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18 | $125 or | ||
| Remainder of City | $1,120.00 | ||
| Type of Application | Planning Fee | Legal Fee | Total |
| Revision - Complex | $44,518.78 | $3,458.00 + HST | $48,426.32 |
| Revision - Standard | $9,948.00 | $3,458.00 + HST | $13,855.54 |
| Extension | $5,582.00 | ||
| Street Townhouse not previously approved through the Subdivision Process | $9,948.00 | ||
| Plus an initial Conservation Authority fee | |||
| Wards 7, 8, 9, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18 | $125 or | ||
| Remainder of City | $1,120.00 |
| Fees Related to Rural Areas | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Type of Application | Planning Fee | Legal Fee | Total |
| New Complex | $64,216.78 | $6,888.00 + HST | $72,000.22 |
| Plus an initial engineering design review and inspection fee (includes HST) | |||
| value of Hard and Soft Servicing is less than ( <) $50,000, or | $1,000, or | ||
| value of Hard and Soft Servicing is $50,000 - $300,000, or | $5,000, or | ||
| value of Hard and Soft Servicing is greater than (>) $300,000 | $10,000 | ||
| Plus an initial Conservation Authority fee | |||
| Wards 7, 8, 9, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18 | $125 or | ||
| Remainder of City | $1,120.00 | ||
| The Conservation Authority will invoice for any additional fees and technical report review as required. | |||
| New Standard | $18,682.00 | $6,888.00 + HST | $26,465.44 |
| Plus an initial engineering design review and inspection fee (includes HST) | |||
| value of Hard and Soft Servicing is less than ( <) $50,000, or | $1,000, or | ||
| value of Hard and Soft Servicing is $50,000 - $300,000, or | $5,000, or | ||
| value of Hard and Soft Servicing is greater than (>) $300,000 | $10,000 | ||
| Plus an initial Conservation Authority fee | |||
| Wards 7, 8, 9, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18 | $125 or | ||
| Remainder of City | $1,120.00 | ||
| Type of Application | Total | ||
| Rural Small | $1,207.00 | ||
| Revision - Standard | $1,207.00 | ||
| Extension | $1,207.00 |
| Fees Related to All Areas | |
|---|---|
| Type of Application | Total |
| Master - Draft Approval | $49,594.78 |
| Plus an initial engineering design review and inspection fee (includes HST) | |
| value of Hard and Soft Servicing is less than ( <) $50,000, or | $1,000, or |
| value of Hard and Soft Servicing is $50,000 - $300,000, or | $5,000, or |
| value of Hard and Soft Servicing is greater than (>) $300,000 | $10,000 |
| Plus an initial Conservation Authority fee | |
| Wards 7, 8, 9, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18 | $125 or |
| Remainder of City | $1,120.00 |
A Site Plan Control application that has been withdrawn, in an effort to resolve circulation or City comments, may re-apply within a 60-day timeline at a reduced fee. The following are applicable Re-Application fees effective January 1, 2024:
Complex, Standard - Non-Rural, Standard – Rural
Revision Complex, Revision Standard - Non-Rural
An application is considered 'new' if site plan control approval has never been granted, changes are proposed more than 3 years after the previously approved site plan, or if a previous site plan control approval is no longer in effect through the following:
Rural-Based
Rural area site plan control applications are where the subject lands are located inside the area of Schedule B9 of the Official Plan of the City of Ottawa.
Rural Small
Rural Small applies in the following circumstances only.
Please see additional information related to the City’s Development Application Fees including information related to reductions for multiple applications, on-site signs, engineering design review and inspections, fourth and subsequent engineering reviews, as well as refunds.