Planning and the City of Toronto
Toronto's Planning Division helps to guide the way the city looks and grows. City Planning works with the community and other City divisions to set goals and policies for socially, economically and environmentally responsible development. Planning staff gather public input, work with local organisations and groups, study issues and develop plans, policies and projects that protect and improve our urban environment. They provide support and advice to City Council to help ensure orderly growth and the kind of communities, neighbourhoods and city we want.
The Planning Process
For applications that require public meetings the City follows the process below.
Planning in Ontario is governed by the Planning Act and the City of Toronto Act, 2006. The Planning Act requires each municipality to have an Official Plan, outlines the approval processes for land development and the minimum requirements for public consultation, and sets out appeal rights to the Ontario Municipal Board. The Province also issues Policy Statements which provide planning direction on issues such as the environment, the economy and housing. All of the City's planning decisions must be "consistent with" the Provincial Policy Statements and must also "conform" to the Province's "Growth Plan for the Greater Golden Horseshoe".
The Toronto City Planning Division is organized into four districts - Etobicoke York, North York, Toronto & East York and Scarborough. Work is done by four sections: Urban Design, Transportation, Community Planning, Policy and Research.
- Urban Design
- Promotes quality design for our streets, parks and open spaces
- Guides how buildings are located, organized and shaped on a particular piece of land
- Transportation
- Deals with improving transit, discouraging automobile dependence and encouraging alternative forms of transportation such as walking, cycling, subways and public transit
- Community Planning
- Offers advice to Council on development projects after consulting with members of the public and City services, and after reviewing and analyzing all parts of a development project.
- Policy and Research
- Develops planning policy based on extensive research in land use, housing, employment, community services and the environment
- Administers and promotes heritage preservation projects and programs
The City's Official Plan, a legal document approved by City Council, prepared in consultation with City residents, is a blueprint for how the City will grow over the next 30 years. It describes the location for new housing, industry, parks, office and retail areas, community services and other land uses. The Official Plan also establishes policies for the built environment, for improvements to the City's hard services (such as transit, roads, sewers, etc.) and for the protection of the City's natural environment. All development applications are evaluated against the Official Plan and the City's bylaws must reflect the intent of the Plan.
The Planning Process and the role of the public
With public participation, City Council is able to make better decisions about the future of Toronto's neighbourhoods. Community involvement in the decision-making process varies depending on the type or complexity of the application, the committees involved and the number of revisions, public meetings and submissions that are required.
At Community Consultation meetings, which are not required under the Planning Act, the Planning staff, generally the Ward Councillor and the local community have an opportunity to go over a planning proposal with the applicant.
The Planning Act requires the City to hold Public Meetings when considering applications for amendments to the Official Plan or Zoning By-laws and Plans of Subdivision, as well as for City-initiated Official Plan or Zoning By-law amendments. The responsibility for Public Meetings has been assigned to the City's four Community Councils and, where there is City-wide significance, to the Planning and Growth Management Committee. The purpose of the Public Meeting is to consider the staff report and provide a public forum for debate on the merits of the application. Applicants have the opportunity to present their proposal, the public can write in or attend to make their views known and Community Council has the ability to evaluate the application.
For more information
You are encouraged to find out about planning applications, proposals or policy change by:
- talking to your neighbours
- participating in meetings, public forums and consultations
- making deputations at City committee meetings
- writing to your Councillor about your views
- contacting City planners with your questions, concerns and ideas and
- checking out City Planning's website
The City's website lists the project information for major development applications that have been submitted to City Planning Division. "Major" projects contain six or more residential dwelling units or more than 1,000 square metres of non-residential floor space. The monthly reports are separated into two groups; residential and non-residential applications.
311 Toronto
311 Toronto is the public information and referral service for the City of Toronto. This service operates 24 hours a day and seven days a week.
Phone within Toronto city limits: 311
Phone outside city limits: 416-392-CITY (2489)
TTY customers: 416-338-0TTY (0889)
Fax: 416-338-0685
E-mail: 311@toronto.ca
This guide is prepared for information purposes only. Reference should always be made to the relevant legislation and regulations.
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