Committee of Adjustment

The Committee of Adjustment meets on Thursday evenings, starting at 7 p.m. in Council Chambers at the Municipal Offices, located at 225 East Beaver Creek Road.

*NOTE* If you have submitted an application by the cut-off date and all required documents are not submitted correctly, your application will not be circulated for that particular meeting date. 

2024 April to December Fee Schedule - Committee of Adjustment

All fees effective April to December 2024, in accordance with By-law No. 20-24

* All Fees are Subject to Change*

 Payment Request for Committee of Adjustment

The Committee of Adjustment is a quasi-judicial committee appointed by Council. It is empowered to hear both consent applications and minor variance applications and to ensure that the intent and purpose of the Zoning By-law and the Official Plan are maintained.

Hearings are open to the public and members of the public may attend hearings in-person.

(225 East Beaver Creek Road, Richmond Hill, Council Chambers). Registration is not required to participate prior to a hearing. 

Any interested individuals can submit written and oral observations in support or against an application. 

Committee of Adjustment Hearings are live-streamed through YouTube and can be watched on the City of Richmond Hill’s YouTube channel

Submitting written or oral comments before the hearing:

Email your comments to the Committee of Adjustment by 4:30 p.m. on the day of the hearing to ensure correspondence is received by Members of the Committee.

Comments should avoid issues that are irrelevant to an application, such as:

• private disputes between neighbours.
• demolition and construction related activities.
• property standards enforcement.
• landlord-tenant matters.

Additional Information: To obtain additional information, please contact the Committee of Adjustment staff during regular business hours or at committeeofadjustment@richmondhill.ca

All submitted information becomes public.

Be aware that, in accordance with the Planning Act, the Municipal Act and the Municipal Freedom of Information and Privacy Act, all information presented to the Committee of Adjustment is considered public information and can be shared with any interested individual. Information you choose to disclose in your correspondence and during the hearing, including your personal information, will become part of the public record, and shared with Committee Members, the Applicant(s) or their agent and any other interested individual.

The evaluation of "minor" is subjective and is directly related to the application at hand. Minor is not a mathematical calculation, and sometimes the reduction of a zoning standard to zero may be deemed minor in the circumstances. You should assess the impact of the variance on the subject and surrounding properties.

Test #1 - Is the variance Minor?

Test #2 - Is the variance desirable for the appropriate development or use of the land building or structure?

Test #3 - Does the variance maintain the intent of the Zoning By-law?

Test #4 - Does the variance maintain the intent of the Official Plan?

If you wish to request a Notice of Decision you must submit a written request to committeeofadjustment@richmondhill.ca. 

• For consent applications, the appeal period is 20 days from the date that the Committee's decision is provided to the applicant. 
• For minor variance applications, the appeal period is 20 days from the date of the making of the decision (being the date of the meeting).

Only the Applicant, the Minister or a specified person or public body that has an interest in the matter may appeal the decision to the Ontario land Tribunal. A "specified person" does not include an individual or community association.

There is an appeal fee of $400 plus a $200 processing fee for each application. All appeals must be filled with the Secretary-Treasurer within 20 days of the notice of decision being sent for consent and within 20 days from the date of the (hearing date) for minor variances.

The OLT is an independent tribunal established by the province for hearing and deciding on a variety of land use matters. If the decision of the Committee of Adjustment is not appealed, it becomes final and binding following the closing of the appeal period.

For more information on the Ontario Land Tribunal and the appeal process, please visit their website at https://olt.gov.on.ca/. 

The Committee of Adjustment members will visit the property anywhere from six days before a hearing to the day of the hearing. Property owners are not required to be home or present on the site when the members visit the property. The members do require an unobstructed access to the site (i.e. make sure gates are unlocked, walkways are clear). 

Committee of Adjustment staff will assist with scheduling a virtual appointment to commission the Freedom of Information document after submission of a minor variance application and payment is received.

 Please ensure you have the following.

• Authorization form – All registered owners of the property must sign the form.
• Application Fee – Payment must be made at time of on-line application submission.
• The application must be accompanied by a sketch or survey plan (in metric) containing this information (you may submit additional sketches if all information is not able to be provided in one plan)
• Elevation Plans, for all sides where new construction is proposed and indicating height, grade and window and door openings. Floor plans are not required as a part of your submission.  
• To find the Official Plan designation please contact Development Planning at planning@richmondhill.ca.
• You may find the zoning of your property by contacting zoninginfo@richmondhill.ca

 You must provide these details with your sketch map:

• the true dimensions and boundaries of the property for which the application is being made (note: a sidewalk is not usually a lot line)
• the location, size, and type (e.g., deck, single family dwelling etc.) of all existing buildings, structures or uses on the subject property, including setbacks measured from the front, rear and side lot lines.
• the location, size, and type (e.g., covered porch, 2-unit dwelling, parking spaces, etc.) of all proposed buildings, structures or uses on the subject property, including setbacks measured from the front, rear and side lot lines.
• all projections from buildings and structures, including but not limited to eaves and gutters, steps, fire escapes/exterior staircases etc.
• location of all natural and artificial features on the subject land and on land that is adjacent to the subject land that may affect the application (e.g., railways, trees, wells, and septic tanks)
• location, width, and name of any roads within or abutting the subject land.
• location and nature of any easement affecting the subject land.
• the information provided must be legible and drawn with good drafting techniques.

Minor Variance On-Line Application  

Authorization of Owners Form

Committee of Adjustment Internal Stages of Application Processing.

Step 1 – Submission

After submitting your application through the on-line portal, together with payment you will receive an email confirming that your application has been received.

If you do not receive a confirmation email, please email committeeofadjustment@richmondhill.ca

Step 2 – Preliminary Review

A review of your application will be completed by Zoning, Parks, and Heritage.

This review is performed to confirm accuracy of the variances identified in your application. As a part of this review, you may be asked to provide additional information.

Step 3 - Development Planning & Engineering Review

Now that the zoning review is complete, your application is being circulated to all internal departments and outside agencies for review.

Development Planning and Engineering staff will be reviewing your submission to determine additional submission requirements.

Planning and Engineering staff will also provide feedback on potential issues and may request changes to your application.

As part of this review, staff may recommend changes to your application. Our office will coordinate the information being sent between all parties to ensure your application is properly processed and kept up to date.

All changes to your application must be reviewed to ensure conformity with the Zoning By-law.

While this can be frustrating, staff are working to provide the applicant with a positive recommendation which may require additional time in some instances.

Step 4 – Tentative Hearing Date Assigned

At this stage, you are provided by email a tentative hearing date and a date to pick-up notice sign(s).

*Tentative hearing dates should not be considered final as they are subject to change*

Step 5 – Committee of Adjustment Staff Report

On the Friday prior to your scheduled hearing our office will send the staff report by email to the owner and/or agent. The reports will also be posted on our webpage. 

Step 6 – Committee of Adjustment Hearing

Hearings are held in-person commencing at 7 p.m. in Council Chambers, located on the first floor of the Municipal Offices located at 225 East Beaver Creek Road. 

The Committee requires the owner or agent to attend the meeting to respond to any questions or concerns they may have about the applications. The hearing of the application may be adjourned to another date if no one is present to represent it, or the Committee may make a decision in your absence and a re-scheduling fee may apply.

Step 7 – Committee of Adjustment Decision

Four days after the hearing you will be provided with a copy of the Committee’s formal decision.

There is a statutory 20-day appeal period for all applications.

Step 8 – Decision Final and Binding

For minor variance applications, the 20-day appeal period begins after the decision is made.

Once the 20-day appeal period expires, provided that no appeals were received, our office will issue a letter advising that the Committee’s decision is now final and binding. 

Committee of Adjustment staff will assist with scheduling a virtual appointment to commission the Freedom of Information document after submission of a consent application and payment is received.

Please ensure you have the following.

• Authorization form – All registered owners of the property must sign the form.
• Application Fee – Payment must be made at time of on-line application submission.
• To find the Official Plan designation please contact Development Planning at planning@richmondhill.ca.
• You may find the zoning of your property by contacting zoninginfo@richmondhill.ca

You must provide these details with your sketch/plan or reference plan prepared by an Ontario Land Surveyor:

• the property boundaries and dimensions for which the application is being made including the part that is intended to be severed and the part that is intended to be retained.
• the dimensions and boundaries of any land abutting the property that is owned by the current property owner.
• the location of all land previously severed  on the property originally acquired by the current property owner.
• the approximate distance between the subject land and the nearest City lot line or landmark such as a bridge or railway crossing.
• the approximate location of all natural and artificial features (e.g., buildings, railways, roads, watercourses, drainage ditches, banks of rivers or streams, wetlands, wooded areas, trees, wells and septic tanks) that are on the subject property and land that is adjacent to it.
• the current uses of the land that is adjacent to the subject property (e.g. residential, commercial or agricultural).
• the location, width, and name of any roads within or abutting the subject land, indicating whether it is an unopened road allowance, a public travelled road, a private road or a right-of-way.
• the location and nature of any easement affecting the subject property.
• the location, size, and type (e.g., deck, single family dwelling etc.) of all existing or proposed buildings, structures or uses on the subject property, including setbacks measured from the front, rear and side lot lines.
• the information provided must be legible and drawn with good drafting techniques.

Consent On-Line Application 

Authorization of Owners Form

Committee of Adjustment Internal Stages of Application Processing.

Step 1 – Submission

After submitting your application through the on-line portal, together with payment you will receive an email confirming that your application has been received.

If you do not receive a confirmation email, please email committeeofadjustment@richmondhill.ca

Step 2 – Preliminary Review

A review of your application will be completed by Zoning, Parks, and Heritage.

This review is performed to confirm accuracy of the variances identified in your application. As a part of this review, you may be asked to provide additional information.

Step 3 - Development Planning & Engineering Review

Now that the zoning review is complete, your application is being circulated to all internal departments and outside agencies for review.

Development Planning and Engineering staff will be reviewing your submission to determine additional submission requirements. 

Planning and Engineering staff will also provide feedback on potential issues and may request changes to your application.

As part of this review, staff may recommend changes to your application. Our office will coordinate the information being sent between all parties to ensure your application is properly processed and kept up to date.

All changes to your application must be reviewed to ensure conformity with the Zoning By-law.

While this can be frustrating, staff are working to provide the applicant with a positive recommendation which may require additional time in some instances.

Step 4 – Tentative Hearing Date Assigned

At this stage, you are provided by email a tentative hearing date and a date to pick-up notice sign(s).

*Tentative hearing dates should not be considered final as they are subject to change*

Step 5 – Committee of Adjustment Staff Report

On the Friday prior to your scheduled hearing our office will send the staff report by email to the owner and/or agent. The reports will also be posted on our webpage. 

Step 6 – Committee of Adjustment Hearing

Hearings are held in-person commencing at 7 p.m. in Council Chambers, located on the first floor of the Municipal Offices located at 225 East Beaver Creek Road. 

The Committee requires the owner or agent to attend the meeting to respond to any questions or concerns they may have about the applications. The hearing of the application may be adjourned to another date if no one is present to represent it, or the Committee may make a decision in your absence and a re-scheduling fee may apply.

Step 7 – Committee of Adjustment Decision

Five days after the hearing you will be provided with a copy of the Committee’s formal decision.

There is a statutory 20-day appeal period for all applications.

Step 8 – Condition Clearance

If your approval is subject to conditions (refer to formal decision) you must satisfy these conditions before our office can issue a Certificate of Official.

You will work directly with the staff/agency contact(s) listed in your decision to satisfy the condition(s).

It is important to note for a consent application, the applicant must satisfy all conditions within 2 years from the date the decision was issued.

It is the applicant’s responsibility to ensure that all conditions of approval have been satisfied by the deadline. Some conditions may require 3-6 months to process so it is recommended that the applicant initiate steps to complete conditions as soon as possible.

The City cannot give any extensions to the 2-year deadline for completing conditions and no further follow up will be provided by our office.