Frequently Asked Questions

The Municipality of West Grey's Zoning Bylaw regulates the use of land in the municipality. The Zoning Bylaw sets out where buildings and structures can be located, the types of buildings and structures permitted, how buildings can be used, lot sizes and dimensions, parking requirements, building heights, and setbacks.

To look up the zoning on a property, please visit Grey County Maps, turn on the zoning layer on the left panel, and navigate to the property of interest. Once you know the zoning code of the property, you can review the provisions in the relevant section in the Zoning Bylaw. 

Grey County: 

1. Go to: https://maps.grey.ca/
2. Select ‘Public GIS Site’
3. Find your property of interest by searching the roll number or address in the upper right corner
4. If this information is unknown or not coming up, try searching by clicking the tab ‘Find and Query Data’ in the upper left corner
5. Search by lot and concession or by parcel
6. Once you find the property of interest, select it in the search results on the left
7. Next, in the bottom left, select the ‘Layers’ icon beside the ‘Home’ icon:                                
8. Check the box for ‘Planning’ and expand it by clicking the '+'
9. Check the box for ‘Conservation Authorities’ and expand
10. Check the box for ‘CA Boundaries,’ which shows which Conservation Authority the property of interest applies to
11. Check the box for ‘Regulations,’ check all the boxes, and click the ‘legend’ icon to see what the different coloured areas represent
12. Check the box for 'Municipal Zoning' and expand it by clicking the '+'
13. Check the box for 'Zoning - West Grey' and this will bring up the zoning on the property

Saugeen Valley Conservation Authority:

1. Go to the SVCA Maps and GIS webpage and launch the GIS viewer 
2. Read SVCA disclaimer and click OK
3. To locate a property, enter either the civic address or property roll number into the top left hand search bar

A zoning compliance letter provides information the Municipality may have ​with respect to the status of zoning and official plan designation on a property, including any outstanding bylaw enforcement complaints on the subject property.

Zoning compliance letters do not include building permit records information, such as building code orders or status of permits.

To obtain a zoning compliance letter, please fill out this form and email it to our building department. 

Please be aware that the current rate is subject to the Municipality's Fees and Charges Bylaw.

A land severance is the authorized separation of a piece of land to form a new lot or a new parcel of land. Officially, severances are called consents under the Planning Act. Making adjustments to existing properties through right-of-ways, long term leases, easements or lot additions may also require consent.

Before submitting an application, you need to consult with planning staff to discuss your proposal. At this time we will identify any documentation needed in support of the application. The application must be commissioned by an appointed individual at the municipal office. The required fee must be paid at the time of submission.

To apply for a consent to sever, please fill out this form.

Trailers in West Grey require permits and must have an approved civic address in case of emergency. A mobile home or park model trailer is not permitted to be used as a trailer.

Information you will need for the application includes:

• a detailed site plan, showing where the trailer will be located
• the setbacks of the proposed trailer from the lot lines
• contact information and proof of ownership

The cost is $1,000 annually.

To being the process, please fill out this online application.

The principle behind development charges is that growth should pay for growth. Development charges ease the financial burden on existing taxpayers to fund new services as a result of growth. Without development charges, the costs for additional infrastructure would be at the expense of existing property owners in the form of higher property taxes and user fees. Development charges are used by most municipalities in Ontario. The Development Charges Act, 1997 provides the legislative authority for the collection of development charges.

Zoning changes can be proposed by any private individual, corporation, or by the Municipality itself. The proposed changes need to align with the policies of the Municipality's Official Plan and the Province of Ontario.

You can read more about the zoning by-law amendment process.

The Municipality of West Grey has a specific zoning bylaw amendment that relates to shipping containers (including sea cans), which is available for review here.

The placement of shipping containers is contingent on zoning and other factors, and requires a building permit before being placed.

Names and mailing information for property owners are available at the Municipal Office and prepared by the Municipal Property Assessment Corporation (MPAC).

You will be required to have the roll number associated with the property to find this information. Roll numbers can be found by using the Grey County GIS mapping system.

Surveys are the property of the individuals or corporations that create and purchase them and are subject to copyright laws. The Municipality is not able to release any survey without the expressed written consent of the copyright owners.

Please refer to either the West Grey Official Plan (for the Durham and Neustadt settlement areas) or the Grey County Official Plan (for all other areas in West Grey) to determine how your property is designated. 

View our amended Fees and Charges Bylaw to find the planning fees.

Conservation Authorities are local watershed management agencies that deliver services and programs to protect and manage impacts on watercourses, wetlands and natural hazards associated with those features in partnership with all levels of government, landowners and many other organizations. They are a commenting agency under the Planning Act in respect of natural hazards. There are three conservation authorities across the County: Grey Sauble Conservation Authority, Saugeen Valley Conservation Authority, and Maitland Valley Conservation Authority.

Site plan control is a tool under the Planning Act that includes a detailed review of a property to ensure municipal, provincial, and other agency standards, regulations and policies are met.

Site plan control also ensures that the effects on neighbouring properties are minimized, and that the development is safe and functional. 

Yes.

Please contact Planning staff with any questions and we will do our best to answer your questions and assist you throughout your application process.

Submit an Inquiry Application to get preliminary information about your proposal. A formal pre-consultation meeting is required for some applications and encouraged for all applications.  

Timelines can depend on the application type. If applications are submitted with the required supporting materials (as identified during pre-consultation), processing times can be much quicker.

The Planning Act sets out timelines for approval authorities to make decisions: 120 days for official plans and official plan amendments; 90 days for zoning by-law amendments; and 120 days for plans of subdivision starting from the time of submitting a complete application.

Please note that in order for applications to be complete, they must be submitted in full with payment and reference plans and other supporting materials. Incomplete applications will be returned. You will be asked to resubmit the application with appropriate supporting documents.

Public meetings are required for:

• new or updated official plans
• new or updated zoning bylaws
• zoning bylaw amendment
• minor variance
• Official Plan amendment

Public meetings can either be part of a Council meeting, or a specially organized meeting hosted by Council or a committee (e.g., planning committee). 

Currently, the Planning Act states that subdivision and condominium plans are not required to have public meetings. 

Public meetings are offered as hybrid meetings where individuals can attend in person or connect virtually. During public meetings, people can make comments, ask questions, or simply learn more about the proposal.

In addition, anyone can offer written comments throughout the review process. These are considered by municipal staff and the applicants prior to proceeding with a planning recommendation.

It’s always best to check with Planning staff to get details on how to get involved or provide feedback on specific projects.

When people can't resolve their differences on community planning issues, the Ontario Land Tribunal (OLT) is an legal tribunal that hears cases in relation to a range of municipal planning, financial and land matters. These include matters such as:

• Official plans
• Zoning bylaws
• Subdivision plans
• Consents and minor variances
• Land compensations
• Development charges
• Electoral ward boundaries
• Municipal finances
• Aggregate resources
• Other issues assigned by numerous Ontario statutes

The Ontario Land Tribunal has been previously recognized as the Ontario Municipal Board and most recently, the Land Planning Appeal Tribunal.

Chickens are not permitted in the urban settlement areas of the Municipality, but the keeping of poultry is addressed through the Zoning Bylaw.

Questions about the Zoning Bylaw and its specific application to a specific property can be addressed directly to the Planning Department via planningadmin@westgrey.com. 

New development requires infrastructure and services in order to function efficiently and effectively. Development charges are fees that are paid by new development to fund new infrastructure and services constructed within the municipality.

Development Charges Report

Development Charges Local Service Policy