Meaford Planning Services staff handles a variety of land use planning matters:

  • Review and processing of Land Use Planning Applications 
  • Develop and manage Land Use Policies, Zoning By-laws and Cultural Heritage matters
  • Monitor changing federal and provincial legislation, growth patterns and priorities
  • Provide Council with professional planning advice and recommendations  to help Council make informed decisions about land use and development in the Municipality. 

If you are wondering about what types of development are proposed in the Municipality or need an application form, this page is the place to start!
Do you have a Planning Related inquiry? Contact Us through our portal to ask questions about a property, proposal, zoning information or other land use matters

Public Notices

No current notices at this time. 

 
Building Permits
Meaford Building Permit information is available on our dedicated Building Permit page. 
 Planning Application Forms

If you are you thinking about severing a lot from your property or are looking Minor Variance information, the Consent and Minor Variances page is the place to start! You will find detailed information about the process, application forms and meeting dates. 

Other Planning Applications are more complex. Please confirm the scale (minor, major) and fees required prior to submitting. The Municipality collects fees for the County of Grey planning and ecology review, and for the Grey Sauble Conservation Authority review. 

Please note that the County of Grey is the approval authority for Subdivisions and Condominiums. A separate County application is required.

Before applying to one of these applications, staff recommend formal pre-consultation meeting with Meaford staff. To schedule a pre-consultation meeting, please complete the form Meaford Pre-consultation and Guide, fees and include a sketch and any studies to date. Once the form and payment is received, staff will circulate your proposal so comments can be received on your proposal from internal department staff and agencies. 


For more information about Planning fees, see our Planning Fees and Charges 2026 (Schedule B to Fees and Charges By-law 2026-09).
 Current Developments
Are you wondering what developments the Municipality is currently reviewing? See our Current Developments page and interactive map for details on proposals in the Municipality. 
 Zoning Information

Find zoning information from the Meaford's Zoning page. You can search your property address using the interactive zoning map through the Meaford GIS Portal on that page. The by-law text is also available for viewing or download. 

Do you have a Holding Symbol on your property? A holding symbol might look like -h or -H with or without a number attached (for example -h4). If you have one of these symbols on all or part of your property, it may limit the uses in the area with that symbol applied. Holding symbols are part of zoning and applied for a number of reasons. Below are just a few examples: 

  • the property is near or contains significant natural features - such as watercourses, wetlands, streams
  • the property was previously subject to a planning approval but construction cannot begin until a development agreement is entered into with the municipality. 
  • the property is not on a public road and an agreement with the municipality is required before building or adding onto the existing house
  • the property is adjacent to a landfill site (either open or closed) and further study is required before building a house or redeveloping the site
  • the property is adjacent to a sewage treatment plant and further study is required before building a house or redeveloping the site.

If you have a holding symbol on your property and wondering how to remove it, please visit the Holding Provisions page for more information. 
 Meaford's Official Plan
Meaford's Official Plan is a long-range planning document that outlines a municipality's policies and strategies for managing land use, development, and growth over the next 20 years. It serves as a guide for future decisions regarding where new buildings can be constructed, what types of services will be needed, and how the community will evolve. Essentially, it's a roadmap for the municipality's future, addressing social, economic, and environmental considerations. 

Meaford Official Plan mapping is not yet digitized, but you can view the maps and policies in downloadable PDF form. 
 Cultural Heritage and the Heritage Conservation District

From Meaford's Cultural Heritage page, you can read about how Meaford protects and preserves heritage, read the Heritage Conservation District Plan, view the Heritage Register, download the Heritage Permit application and more. 


You can also see the boundaries of the Heritage Conservation District from the online Meaford GIS Portal. 

 

 

Frequently Asked Questions

I’m looking for information on an old septic system on a lot. How can I get the information?
Septic records are considered confidential and can only be released to the property owner. If the owner wishes, they may choose to share this information with others. There is a $51.50 fee for this search, that may be paid by the owner, realtor, or potential buyer using cash, cheque, or debit. If you have any questions, please contact Building Services at building@meaford.ca. 
I’m a potential buyer of a property. How do I find out the zone, permitted uses, or zone standards of the lot I’m interested in?
Most planning-related information is available on the Municipality of Meaford’s website. To access zoning information, go to the main page of Meaford.ca, then navigate to Business and Development, Planning and Development, and then Zoning. On this page, you will find both the interactive map and an updated PDF of Zoning By-law text. First, use the Online Mapping tool to locate your lot by entering the address or roll number in the search bar. The legend on the left allows you to view the zones. Then, refer to the Zoning By-law Text to find the tables on Permitted Uses and Zone Standards for those zones.
Can the Municipality provide accurate dimensions or a survey of my lot?
You may view approximate lot dimensions using the Grey County Public GIS Map; however, this mapping is not considered fully accurate for legal or detailed design purposes. For precise information, you must obtain an official survey. You can request your property survey documents through the Ontario Land Registry Office at onland.ca, or you may hire a licensed Ontario land surveyor to prepare a new survey. OnLand is your online source for property-related information and documents from the Ontario Land Registration System. You can hire private surveyors to do a complete and precise survey for you. There is a list of licensed surveyors available on the aols website.
What if I checked the files but still need more help from municipal planners? 
You can call Planning Services at 519-538-10160 ext. 1127 or send an email to planning@meaford.ca to ask general questions about interpreting your zoning, checking feasibility of severance and other related matters. Before submitting major planning applications, staff also recommend scheduling a formal pre-consultation meeting. To do this, please complete the Meaford Pre-consultation and Guide form, and include the applicable fee, a sketch, and any studies completed to date. Once received, staff will circulate your proposal to internal departments and external agencies for comments.
I purchased a pre-construction unit in one of Meaford’s development projects. How can I learn more about the process and estimated completion time?
While the Municipality does not control construction schedules and cannot confirm completion timelines, we maintain the Current Developments page on our website, which provides an overview of major development projects in Meaford. Each project page includes the current status, anticipated next steps, and an option to subscribe for updates as new information becomes available. 

For detailed inquiries about construction timing, occupancy, or sales-related matters, please contact the developer or builder directly, as project timelines can change based on factors outside the Municipality’s approval process. 
I have a lot and want to know if I can sever it. How do I find out if it is eligible for severance?

To determine whether your property may be eligible for a severance, start by reviewing the Meaford Official Plan Map to confirm your land use designation. Then consult the Official Plan text for the applicable designation and development policies, particularly the section titled “Creation of New Lots.” This section outlines requirements such as minimum lot size, frontage, and the Rural Density Policy, which may limit the number of new lots permitted. 

 

After reviewing the Official Plan, refer to the Zoning By-law to confirm the Permitted Uses and the Zone Standards (such as minimum lot area, frontage, and setbacks) for the zoning that applies to your property. 
What are the terms and conditions of short-term accommodation such as Airbnb’s and cottage rentals?
The Municipality of Meaford is in the process of considering and adopting a short-term accommodations licensing by-law. This by-law will dictate the terms and conditions that short-term accommodation (such as Airbnb’s, cottage rentals, VRBO’s, etc.) must follow to operate within the Municipality. Please check the list of Q&A on the STA page here. Should you have any questions about this process, or wish to learn more, please contact sta@meaford.ca.
How do I request the issuance of a Consent Certificate?

To request a Consent Certificate, all conditions outlined in the Notice of Decision must be fully satisfied. Once the conditions are cleared, a fee of $930 is required for deed stamping. After completing these steps, please email planning@meaford.ca to initiate the certificate process. 

 

Please note that your lawyer should email the appropriate Form (as required under O. Reg. 197/96 of the Planning Act) directly to the Planning Department. The Secretary-Treasurer will review the submission, assign the official date, and sign the certificate. 

For reference, the prescribed forms can be found under Ontario Regulation 197/96 of the Planning Act. 
Can we live on a trailer while the construction is ongoing on our lot?
Based on section 4.24.1 a)  of the Zoning By-Law it depends on your zone, if you are in permitted zones on this section, and you have applied for a building permit that is already issued, you can have a trailer for maximum 2 years.
How can I check the details of an easement on my property?
We do not have access to property title records, so unfortunately, the Planning Department is not able to see or confirm easements directly. This information might be available through the Land Registry system or via a real estate lawyer conducting a title search. 

Easements are typically available through the Ontario Land Registry and can be accessed online via OnLand.ca. Easements are listed on the Parcel Register (PIN Abstract) and may include items such as: Hydro One utility easements, Bell Canada/telecommunication line easements, Right-of-way easements benefiting neighboring properties, Shoreline-related maintenance or protection easements, …  

 

How to Check Easements on OnLand.ca 

You can follow these steps: 

  1. Go to www.onland.ca 
  1. Select location (LRO16) → Property Search → By address 
  2. Buy and download the title search document 
  3. Check the Registration Numbers on the left column on the PDF (easements are listed in the Legal Description) 
  4. Go to the website again → Documents Tab → Type any of the Registration Numbers related to the easement / right of the way 
  5. Buy and download the PDF  

phone iconContact Us

Planning Services
21 Trowbridge Street, Meaford
Ontario, Canada N4L 1A1
T.: 519-538-1060 ext. 1119
planning@meaford.ca
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