Whether you have dreams of finding the perfect lot steps away from the city or a sprawling country acreage, the search for the perfect property is exciting and full of potential. The beauty of Southern Ontario is that you can find properties on either end of the spectrum – urban or country – all within a one-hour radius.
Choosing the right land is one of the first important steps to building a house in Ontario.
Look at the zoning classification and the land use bylaws in your jurisdiction to understand the rules of residential construction.
You should also pay attention to:
1. ENVIRONMENTAL REGULATING BODIES
If your preferred lot is further north, you’re likely to encounter an environmental conservation authority. These conservation authorities place regulations on buildable land in order to protect, conserve, and restore natural resources. The most common regulating body in Southern Ontario is the Toronto and Region Conservation Authority (TRCA) and The Niagara Peninsula Conservation Authority (NPCA.) If you intend on building on a regulated lot, you will have to obtain a special permit in addition to your building permit. Additional review processes associated with environmental regulations can take 3-6 months.
In addition, properties environmentally regulated lots are often heavily wooded with mature trees – a definite perk if isolation and privacy are important to you. Simply be aware that you’re going to need to hire an arborist and obtain a tree protection or removal permit as construction is likely to impact the trees on the property. (Note that this applies to all properties with mature trees, regardless of whether the property is regulated by a conservation authority.)
2. SPECIAL MUNICIPAL APPLICATIONS
Special Municipal Applications (like Site Plan Approval or Committee of Adjustment) are processes that often get overlooked when determining project timelines. Site Plan Approval is a required review process implemented in some neighbourhoods to ensure that the proposed work satisfies the outlined criteria for design quality, site planning, landscaping etc. This typically applies to larger developments like subdivisions, but can impact custom homes within certain neighbourhoods.
3. GET FAMILIAR WITH BUILDING RULES AND REGULATIONS IN ONTARIO
As per the Building Code Act, all buildings constructed in Ontario must conform to the Ontario Building Code which outlines the technical and administrative minimum standard for the construction, renovation, demolition or change of use of any building. The Building Code outlines requirements for health and safety, fire protection, barrier-free design, structural sufficiency, energy and water conservation and environmental considerations. The municipalities are responsible to apply this standard to all the permits that each city issues.
4. UNDERSTANDING MUNICIPAL BY-LAWS
In addition to the Building Code compliance, each municipality further sets its own ground rules relating to how land is to be used on an area by area basis as outlined in Ontario’s Planning Act. Of the items controlled by the Planning Act (which include Official Plans, Land Division, Community Planning, etc.) the Zoning By-laws are most relevant to residential construction. These by-laws outline “rules” for what you can and cannot build. Each municipality has its own specific by-law, though most are fairly similar. The by-laws most applicable to residential design usually relate to lot coverage (how much of the lot you’re allowed to build on) building height (how tall the home can be), building setbacks (how far the house can be built from the street and neighbouring lots) etc. The zoning by-law will give you the basic physical shape you are allowed to build. You will rely on your architect to guide you and appropriately apply the by-laws to your build. Before jumping in to design, your architect will conduct preliminary zoning review as part of their pre-design services.
5. HERITAGE CONSERVATION AND ARCHITECTURAL CONTROLS
Each building site will present its own set of opportunities and restrictions. Many GTA neighbourhoods feature pockets of historically designated areas (ie. Mineola in Mississauga, Kleinberg in Vaughan, or Unionville in Markham) which are highly sought after for their generous lots, mature trees, and charming streets. Regardless of whether you intend on building new or simply restoring an older home, you are likely to encounter a local Heritage Conservation authority that has created guidelines that your project must comply with. These regulations are put in place to protect the historic integrity and character of a neighbourhood. A list of some of Ontario’s heritage conservation districts can be found here.