Planning and Development

A minor variance is a small variation from the requirements of the zoning by-law. A minor variance approval is a certificate of permission, because it allows the property owner to obtain a building permit even though their property does not comply precisely with the zoning by-law. Under Section 45(1) of the Planning Act there are four tests a minor variance must meet:

1. Is the application minor?
2. Is the application desirable for the appropriate development of the lands in question?
3. Does the application conform to the general intent of the Zoning By-law?
4. Does the application conform to the general intent of the Official Plan? It is important to note that to consider any application a minor variance it must meet all four tests.

An application for minor variance is required when applying for specific relief from one or more of their municipal Zoning By-Law provisions e.g. yard setbacks, building height, parking etc. on a property.

Apply for a Minor Variance

In the Province of Ontario, the Planning Act authorizes municipalities to employ Site Plan Control as a land use tool to ensure the appropriate location of a development on a site and to ensure the safety, attractiveness and compatibility with the surrounding land.

Site Plan approval is required for all commercial, industrial, institutional, private recreational or multi-family (medium density) residential types of development in the following situations:

1. The construction, erection or placing of one or more buildings or structures on the land;or
2. An interior or exterior alteration to a building or structure on a property that has the effect of increasing the usability of the property; or
3. An addition or alteration to a building or structure on a property that has the effect ofincreasing the size of the building or structure in all zones; or
4. The making or construction of, or addition to, a commercial or industrial parking lot resulting in five or more parking spaces; or
5. An amendment to an existing site plan, elevation plan, landscape plan, and/or servicing plan or an amendment to an existing site plan agreement with the Township on property which has been designated as a site plan control area in the Site Plan Control By-law which has been adopted by the Township

If you are applying for a building permit and your property is subject to the Site Plan Control you may be required to enter into a Site Plan Control Agreement with the Township. Please read the Township's Site Plan Control By-law and Site Plan Control Guidelines for additional information.

For more information on the Site Plan process, please contact the Township Clerk or visit the MMAH Land Use Planning for more general information.

The Township of South-West Oxford Zoning By-Law (No. 25-98) controls the use of land by dividing the municipality into different land use zones with detailed maps, specifying the uses permitted in each zone, specifying where buildings and other structures can be located, stating the types of buildings that are permitted and how they may be used, as well as specifying lot sizes and dimensions, parking requirements, building heights and setbacks from the street.

To find the zoning for a property - open the "SWOX Zoning Map" below. On this Index Map click on the number that is in the area of the subject property. This will open up a "Key Map" where you can then determine what the property is zoned as.

To determine the permitted uses and provisions for the zoning - Open the "Permitted Uses & Provisions" link below.

- South - West Oxford Zoning Map
- Permitted Uses & Provisions

If you want to use or develop a property in a way that is not currently permitted by the Township's Zoning By-Law, a zone change, also known as a zoning by-law amendment or a rezoning, is typically required.

Apply for a Zone Change.

For more information on the zoning by-law amendment process please contact the Township Clerk or visit the MMAH Land Use Planning: Zoning-Bylaws for more general information.