Rezoning Application

What is a rezoning application?

A rezoning application is a request to change the current Zoning By-law provisions as they apply to your property. It may be an application to change the land use, for example, from a home to a business, or from a farm to a golf driving range. It may also be an application to change the by-law requirements, such as setbacks, height, parking spaces, etc.

The following are criteria for determining what constitutes a major Zoning By-law Amendment application:

• Associated with an Official Plan Amendment;
• Associated with an application for proposed Plan of Subdivision
• Application involving multiple properties, except for commercial and industrial related applications; and/or
• Any application that requires the review of technical support documents or studies (e.g. environmental analyses, transportation studies, retail market studies), except for commercial and industrial-related applications.

Pre-consultation

Prior to submitting an application on Service Clarington, the owner/applicant is highly encouraged to arrange a pre-consultation meeting with municipal staff.

How do I apply?

Apply online through Service Clarington

As of October 2025, Clarington is accepting digital applications (and payments under $10,000) through Service Clarington. On the platform, you’ll find instructions for creating an account and links to apply for rezoning online.

This change aims to help streamline the development process, enhance efficiency and give applicants the ability to view their application within the Service Clarington portal. 

Previous application process (to be phased out)

Please note that digital applications through Service Clarington are the preferred method for submission, and the old application process will eventually be phased out as Clarington works to streamline the development review process.

Rezoning application forms are available online or from the Planning and Infrastructure Services Department. The completed application form must be accompanied by the proposed plans and/or drawings, the appropriate application fee and all other requirements included on the form and discussed during the pre-consultation meeting. The drawings should detail the changes applied for and possibly include: building locations or expansions, road widening, entrances, loading and parking areas, landscape areas, building setbacks and lot coverage.

What happens next?

A Planner will be assigned to your application and will circulate it to the public bodies required under the Planning Act.

You will be given information on how to post a sign on the property advertising the rezoning application and the date of the scheduled Public Meeting. A sign is required to inform the public of the proposed application on the subject land. The Planning and Infrastructure Services Department will advise the applicant of the Public Meeting date and prepare the necessary notice sign text to be erected by the applicant at the applicant’s expense.

The Municipality will mail notice of your proposal to all property owners within 120 metres (400 feet) of the property boundaries.

The Planning and Development Committee will hold a Public Meeting in the Council Chambers at the Municipal Administrative Centre at 40 Temperance Street in Bowmanville. This is the opportunity for anyone who wants to speak in support of, or in opposition of the application to voice an opinion.

A Public Meeting report will be prepared by staff detailing the application and will be available in the Planning and Infrastructure Services Department generally on the Tuesday afternoon before the public meeting.

Additional information about an application will be available by contacting the Planning and Infrastructure Services Department. Also, any comments on the application may be voiced or submitted in writing to the Planning and Infrastructure Services Department.

Following the Public Meeting, the Planning and Development Committee will generally refer the application back to staff for further review and to consider comments expressed at the Public Meeting. The applicant may also be asked to provide additional information or to provide revised drawings to reflect comments from agencies or staff.

Typically, Council will consider the Committee’s decision the following week at the Council meeting.

When all comments have been received and all concerns resolved, the Planning and Infrastructure Services Department will prepare a second report and make a recommendation to Committee/Council regarding the application. Again, this report is generally available the Tuesday afternoon before the Monday meeting.

The decision made at the Committee will be ratified or denied by Council the following Monday evening and is subject to a twenty-day appeal period, which begins the day the decision is mailed out by the Municipal Clerk. If no appeal is filed, the decision is final and binding, and the new amending by-law is then in effect.

What do I need to submit?

A sketch showing, in metric units:

1. Boundaries and dimensions of the subject land;
2. Location, size and type of all existing and proposed buildings and structures on the subject land, indicating their setbacks to all lot lines;
3. The approximate location of all natural and artificial features such as watercourses, wooded areas, ditches, buildings, railways, pipelines, utilities, etc. that,
   1. Are located on the subject land and on land that is adjacent to it, and
   2. In the applicant’s opinion, may affect the application;
4. The current uses of land that is adjacent to the subject land;
5. 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;
6. If access to the subject land will be by water only, the location of the parking and docking facilities to be used; and
7. The location and nature of any easement affecting the subject land.

What are the fees?

A non-refundable processing fee for the Municipality and applicable Agencies is required. See the Clarington Planning and Infrastructure Services Fee Schedule and Agency Review Fees Schedule for applicable fees or contact developmentapplicationscoordinators@clarington.net.

How long does it take?

The rezoning procedure described above applies to most applications and takes approximately six months. The timeframe may vary depending on the complexity of the application. The timeframe is also affected by Council’s schedule and the number of applications being processed at any given time.

Once the required information has been received, the submission will be reviewed to determine whether it constitutes a complete application. An application is considered complete only if all required plans, studies, and fees have been provided. If any of these elements are missing, the application will be deemed incomplete until the outstanding items are submitted.

Prior to rendering a final decision on this application, the Municipality shall require written confirmation that all Municipal taxes are current and up to date.

Can the decision be appealed?

If the Municipality fails to make a decision within a prescribed timeframe, or if an application is denied or conditionally approved, the applicant may appeal the decision of Council to the Ontario Land Tribunal (OLT). A landowner may also appeal an application if they have a valid reason for disagreeing with the decision of Council.

An appeal must include a completed OLT Appeal Form and be accompanied by a cheque made out the Minister of Finance (refer to Fee Schedule and form). All appeals and fees are submitted to the Municipal Clerk.

Are there other permits or approvals required?

Despite receiving rezoning approval, your application may be subject to other approvals or permits. Site plan approval, a building permit, Conservation Authority permit or Health Department permit may still be required before construction. The required permits and approvals will be discussed during the pre-consultation meeting.