Site Plan Control

Richmond Hill's By-Law 76-23, as amended, establishes all of the City of Richmond Hill as a Site Plan Control Area. Pursuant to Section 41 of the Planning Act, Site Plan Control applies to specific areas and/or types of development that are required to be reviewed through the City's Site Plan or Site Plan Amendment application process. In accordance with the Planning Act, development includes:

• Constructing, erecting or placing one or more buildings or structures on land, subject to additional exclusions for residential development proposals;
• Additions or alterations to a building or structure that significantly increases the size or usability of it;
• Establishing a commercial parking lot; and,
• All new construction and/or additions/modifications to industrial, commercial, institutional, mixed-use and multi-residential developments.

Most recently the Province has introduced Bill 23, the More Homes Built Faster Act, 2022 and subsequently Bill 97, the Helping Homebuyers, Protecting Tenants Act, 2023 which now changes the scope of the City’s Site Plan Control, including but not limited to the following:

• removal of Site Plan Control for residential development proposals up to 10 units, except for land lease communities and where the development is in proximity to a shoreline or a railway line; and,
• removal of a municipality’s power to regulate exterior design with the exception of specific matters as outlined within the legislation.

In accordance with the above-noted legislative changes, the City’s Site Plan Control By-Law 76-23 has been updated.

How to Apply

Pursuant to Planning Act requirements, a Pre-Submission Meeting with Planning staff is encouraged prior to submitting a development application. The purpose of this meeting is for the applicant to present a development proposal on a preliminary basis to confirm the approvals required for the development of a site, identify the studies and technical requirements and to provide feedback and collaboratively discuss the development proposal.

Site Plan and Site Plan amendment applications can be submitted online. 

Site Plan or Site Plan Amendment Application Form [Online submission]

Please note that all applications are subject to the Tariff of Fees By-Law 94-23.

Email the 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 at the City of Richmond Hill's main Municipal Offices located at:

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