What's Changed?
On November 28, 2022, Bill 23, the More Homes Built Faster Act, received Royal Assent. One of the changes under Bill 23 is that Site Plan Approval is no longer applicable for residential developments of less than 11 units. The Town of Oakville’s Development Engineering Site Plan (DESP) was previously required and reviewed under this authority.
This change means the review of the site grading plan will be tied to the Building Code 9.14.6.1.(1) administered by Building Services and supported by Development Engineering with reliance on the professional seal of the designer (Professional Engineer or Ontario Land Surveyor).
Beginning April 3, 2023, the new process for managing grading reviews within the building permit application for up to 10 units is as follows:
- Development Engineering Site Plan approval is no longer required prior to issuance of a building permit.
- When applicable to the proposed work, grading plans form part of the building permit application.
- Grading plans are certified by a Professional Engineer or an Ontario Land Surveyor and indicate the design is in accordance with Ontario Building Code 9.14.6.1.(1), and the site grading is designed to not adversely affect adjacent properties.
- Building Services administers the permit and assigns the grading review to Transportation and Engineering staff. Building Services manages the permit communication with the applicant.
- Timely communication between Building staff and Engineering and Forestry will ensure concerns outside the authority of an examiner or inspector are flagged to the authority having jurisdiction.
