Severances, Subdivisions & Minor Variances

Severances

Land Severances are the responsibility of the County of Perth. The five members of the Land Division Committee are appointed by Perth County Council and consist of County Council members. The Township is a commenting agency to the Land Division applications.

Subdivisions and Condominiums

Subdivision and Condominium approval are also the responsibility of the County of Perth. Application forms and additional information can be obtained from the County Planning and Development offices. Please see the County of Perth site for application forms and information regarding land severances and subdivision/condominium applications.

Minor Variances

A minor variance is a small variation from the requirements of the zoning by-law. A minor variance approval is a certificate of permission, because it allows the property owner to obtain a building permit even though their property does not comply precisely with the zoning by-law. Under Section 45(1) of the Planning Act there are four tests a minor variance must meet:

•  Is the application minor?
  
•  Is the application desirable for the appropriate development of the lands in question?
  
• Does the application conform to the general intent of the Zoning By-law?
  
• Does the application conform to the general intent of the Official Plan? It is important to note that to consider any application a minor variance it must meet all four tests.