Draft Plan of Subdivision

A draft Plan of Subdivision is one way to divide property into two or more parcels. Section 51 of the Planning Act outlines what is needed to prepare a draft Plan of Subdivision.

Some of the key considerations in the review of and approval of a draft Plan of Subdivision applications include:

• Does the plan have regard for Provincial Policy Statements and other Provincial Plans?
• Does the plan reflect the policies of the City of Richmond Hill Official Plan and Region of York Official Plan?
• Is the proposed use suitable for the land and compatible with nearby land uses?
• Will the development be accessible and provide for necessary municipal services?

How to Apply

NEW: The City has implemented the Collaborative Application Process (CAP) (Staff Report SRPI.23.059), a revised development application review and approval process. If your Draft Plan of Subdivision application is associated with an Official Plan Amendment, Zoning By-law Amendment and/or Site Plan or Site Plan Amendment submission, please note that it will be subject to the City’s CAP process.

Pursuant to Planning Act requirements, a Pre-Submission Meeting with Planning staff is still required. This constitutes part of Phase 1 of the City’s CAP process.

Please also note that all applications, including the CAP submissions are subject to the City’s Tariff of Fees by-law.

Under the Planning Act, the City of Richmond Hill has the authority to approve applications for draft Plan of Subdivision and to register the final plans. The Application process (where no other application is proposed) is as follows:

1. A Pre-Submission Meeting must be held with Development Planning Staff prior to the submission of a formal application. Following the meeting, the Development Planning Division issues a Submission Requirements letter.
2. The City receives a completed Consolidated Development Application Form, including a response to Richmond Hill's Submission Requirements letter and all other development planning application requirements.
3. Once the application is deemed complete, the Development Planning Division circulates your application to other City departments and applicable external agencies for review and comment.
4. Following circulation of the application, Development Planning Division prepares a recommendation report, inclusive of conditions of draft approval (as applicable) for the Committee of the Whole for consideration. The Committee decides to approve, deny or defer the application and this decision is ratified at the next Council meeting
5. Following approval of the application at a Council Meeting, the Development Planning Division issues a Notice of the Draft Approval and a 20-day appeal period begins. If the application is denied or referred back to staff, an appeal of the application to the Ontario Land Tribunal can be made in accordance with the Planning Act.
6. If there are no appeals received within the 20-day period, your draft Plan of Subdivision and related conditions of the draft approval become final and binding
7. Following draft approval of the subdivision, the applicant makes an engineering submission(s) to the Development Engineering Division in accordance with the requirements in the City’s Standards and Specifications Manual.
8. The applicant may be required to enter into a Subdivision Agreement with the City.
9. The applicant clears all conditions of approval and prepares the final plan for review and approval.
10. The City of Richmond Hill clears the final plan and ensures that the required submission materials are forwarded to the Land Registry Office.
11. The Plan of Subdivision (M-Plan) is registered.

Email the Development Planning Division or call 905-771-8910, if you have any questions about your application. You can also visit the Planning and Building Services Department in person at the City of Richmond Hill's main Municipal Offices located at:

225 East Beaver Creek Road, 4th Floor
Richmond Hill, ON L4B 3P4