Applications / Minor Variance

Minor Variance

A small, site-specific relaxation of a zoning standard, taken to the Committee of Adjustment. One fixed fee, reviewed and signed off by a Registered Professional Planner. From $5,000.

What a Minor Variance is

A Minor Variance is permission to depart from a specific zoning standard for your property, granted by the Committee of Adjustment under Section 45 of the Planning Act. It lets you miss a numeric requirement, a setback, a height, lot coverage, or a parking count, without rezoning the land or changing the permitted use.

To grant it, the Committee has to be satisfied on four tests: that the variance is minor, that it is desirable for the use of the land, and that it meets the general intent of both the zoning by-law and the Official Plan. The Planning Justification Report we prepare is built around those four tests.

When you need one

You need a Minor Variance when the use is already allowed but your design does not meet one or more zoning standards. Common triggers:

A setback that is smaller than the by-law requires
A building slightly taller than the zone permits
Lot coverage or floor area over the limit
Fewer parking spaces than the standard
A deck, addition, or garden suite that encroaches into a required yard

If the use itself is not permitted, or the relief you need is large, a variance will not carry it and you will need a Zoning By-law Amendment instead. We tell you which one your file needs before you spend anything.

What is included

Every Minor Variance file includes:

Review of the site against the zoning by-law and a compliance check
A clear list of every variance required and the degree of relief
A Planning Justification Report addressing the four tests under Section 45(1)
The full application package, prepared and submitted to the Committee of Adjustment
Preparation for and attendance at the Committee of Adjustment hearing
Responses to comments and re-submissions, as long as the project does not materially change
A licensed Registered Professional Planner directing and signing off on the file

Architectural drawings and any technical studies your file needs are retained directly by you. We tell you up front which ones apply.

How it works

Phase 1: Review and pre-application

We review the site against the zoning by-law, confirm exactly which variances are needed, and where useful check the approach with municipal staff.

Phase 2: Justification and application

We prepare the Planning Justification Report and the application package, then submit to the Committee of Adjustment.

Phase 3: Committee of Adjustment hearing

We prepare the supporting materials, respond to comments, and attend the hearing to present the planning case.

From $5,000

excl. HST · fixed fee, confirmed before work begins · re-submissions included

Get a Quote No initial fees or commitment

See how this compares across application types on the full pricing schedule.

FAQ

Minor Variance questions

Most Committees of Adjustment hear applications on a regular cycle, so a straightforward variance is usually decided within a couple of months of submission. Notice periods and the Committee's calendar drive the timing more than the work itself.

A variance is a small relaxation of a standard where the use is already permitted. A rezoning changes the by-law and can permit new uses or large changes in height and density. If you are only slightly off on a number, the variance is faster and cheaper.

The Committee has to be satisfied that the variance is minor, that it is desirable and appropriate for the use of the land, and that it keeps the general intent of both the zoning by-law and the Official Plan. The Planning Justification Report addresses each one.

Yes. A Committee of Adjustment decision can be appealed to the Ontario Land Tribunal within the statutory window, by the applicant or by others. We will flag early if your file is likely to be contested.

Ready?

Tell us your address and what you want to build. We will confirm whether a Minor Variance is the right route and what it will cost. No commitment, no hourly clock.

Get a Quote No initial fees or commitment