Planning and Development

Planning and Development Services manages the growth and physical form of the Town through the land use planning process and by establishing goals and objectives for future growth and development.  The Planning and Development Department is responsible for the review, processing and approval of all planning applications under the Planning Act, R.S.O 1990, c.P. 19, as amended, and heritage applications under the Ontario Heritage Act, R.S.O 1990, c.O. 18, as amended.

The Department provides activities and support to residents, businesses, applicants and the Corporation through three (3) organizational groups:

• Long Range Policy & Strategic Planning
• Development Planning & Approvals
• Heritage Planning & Approvals

Planning staff are responsible for the following:

• Official Plan and Official Plan Amendments

• Zoning and Zoning By-law Amendments

• Plans of Subdivision

• Site Plan Control

• Consents and Minor Variances

• Urban & Landscape Design Guidelines

• Growth Plan for the Greater Golden Horseshoe - Ontario Ministry of Infrastructure

• Ontario Provincial Policy Statement

• Infill Guidelines

• Current Planning Notices, Active Site Plan Applications and Special Projects

• Compliance Letter Request Form

Questions about a property?

In order to assist us in answering your questions about a property or development, kindly download and fill in the Development Inquiry Form, and return via email to Planninginfo@cobourg.ca.

Inquiries will be assessed in the order in which they are received. We will endeavour to answer your questions in as timely a manner as possible.

Development Inquiry Form

Pre-Consultation Meeting

Before we can accept your development application, you'll need to book a pre-consultation meeting. Pre-consultation meetings are hosted by the Planning and Development Division and will allow you to present and discuss your proposal with relevant staff and agencies as part of the Development Review Team (DRT). Our staff will offer initial comments on the proposal and help clarify the application process.

Please complete the Pre-Consultation Request Form and submit it to planninginfo@cobourg.ca along with the other required documents. Once we receive a request, we will reach out to you to schedule a pre-consultation meeting. Please note the following applications require a pre-consultation meeting and have a $1500 pre-consultation application fee:

• Official Plan Amendment
• Zoning By-Law Amendment
• Draft Plan of Subdivision
• Draft Plan of Condominium
• Site-Plan Control

Heritage Conservation

The Planning & Development Department is also responsible for administering Guidelines and permit approvals for designated heritage properties and Cobourg's Heritage Conservation Districts.

Land Use Planning

Land use planning means managing our land and resources. It helps each community to set goals about how it will grow and develop and to work out ways of reaching those goals while keeping important social, economic and environmental concerns in mind. It balances the interests of individual property owners with the wider interest and objectives of the whole community.

A Citizen's Guide to land use planning is available on the Ministry of Municipal Affairs and Housing (MMAH) website to help you understand how the land use planning process works in Ontario. The Citizen's Guide is intended to give general information only and is not an interpretation of the Planning Act.  For more information, visit the MMAH website directly.

2021 Development Charges Background Study

This background study has been prepared pursuant to the requirements of the Development Charges Act 1997 (s.10), and accordingly, recommends new Development Charges (D.C.s) and policies for the Town of Cobourg (Town). The Town retained Watson & Associates Economists Ltd. (Watson) to undertake the D.C. study process. Watson worked with senior staff of the Town in preparing this D.C. analysis and the policy recommendations.

View the Report.   View the Draft Bylaw.