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Zoning and Compliance Letter Requests

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HomeBusinessBuilding PermitsZoning and Compliance Letter Requests

More in this Section...

The City can assist in providing Zoning By-law information, permitted land use as well compliance use information. Please choose the nature of your inquiry and contact the city using the corresponding link, email address or telephone number.

Construction of a fence or privacy screen
Please contact our By-law and Licensing Enforcement Section at bylaw@richmondhill.ca, call 905-771-0198 or visit our Fence By-law page. 
Ontario Building Code and/or building permit applications
Information on the Ontario Building Code and/or permit related questions should be directed to the Building Permit Section, Building Division. For more information, please visit our Building Permits page, email building@richmondhill.ca or call 905-771-8810.

Lot grading and/or site alteration

Lot grading/site alteration is administered by our Development Engineering Division. For more information, please email planning@richmondhill.ca or call 905-771-8800.  
Sign installation

The Municipal Sign By-law is enforced by our By-law and Licensing Enforcement Section. For more information, please visit our Sign Permit page, email bylaw@richmondhill.ca or call 905-771-0198.

Pool enclosure permit requirements

Pool enclosure permits are administered by our Development Engineering Division. For more information, please visit our Pool Enclosure Permit page, email planning@richmondhill.ca or call 905-771-8800.  

Pool setback requirements

Please complete the Request for Zoning By-law Information form. 

Compliance letter for the purchase or financing of a property

Compliance Letters provide interested parties with information regarding the status of a property in respect to zoning information; orders and building permit activity.  They are typically requested as a result of a potential sale or the refinancing of a business or property.

Compliance Letters will provide information on:

  • The zoning of a property and the applicable Zoning By-law(s).
  • Active building permits on file
  • Status of occupancy certificates
  • Any outstanding orders as they relate to the Ontario Building code, Zoning By-law and/or Property Standards.
  • Active or approved Committee of Adjustment applications.
  • Compliance with the Zoning By-law set back requirements.  This is information only provided if an application includes an up-to-date plan of survey for the subject property.

A Compliance Letter does not verify the lawful or proposed use of a property.  A Permitted Use Letter is required to confirm this.

To request a Compliance Letter, please go to our Permit Portal at permits.richmondhill.ca.         

Steps to obtain your Compliance Letter

  1. Log into the portal or create an account
  2. Click on Search and Apply
  3. Click on the All tab, or on the Permits tab.
  4. Find Compliance Letter
  5. Click on Apply
  6. Complete the 7 steps

Note: A compliance letter is subject to a fee. 

Zoning standards or general uses allowed for a specific property within the City of Richmond Hill

Please complete the Request for Zoning By-law Information form.  

Formal, permitted use letter for a specific property

Permitted Use Letters confirm if a proposed or existing use complies with the zoning of the property.  Permitted Use Letters also include letters required for agency approvals, such as AGCO (Liquor license) or OMVIC approval letters.

Please note that this division does not confirm the status of legal non-conforming uses on a property.

To request a Permitted Use Letter, please go to our Permit Portal at permits.richmondhill.ca.

Steps to obtain your Permitted Use Letter

  1. Log into the portal or create an account
  2. Click on Search and Apply
  3. Click on the All tab, or on the Permits tab.
  4. Find Permitted Use Letter
  5. Click on Apply 
  6. Complete the 7 steps

 For general zoning inquiries, please complete the Request for Request for Zoning By-law Information form.  A fee is not required for a general inquiry.

 Note: A formal permitted use letter is subject to a fee. 

Service Charter

Learn more about our Service Charter.

Service Commitments
  • Request for compliance letters will be reviewed and you will hear from us within 10 business days.
  • Request for permitted use letters will be reviewed and you will hear from us within 10 business days.
  • Request for OMVIC letters will be reviewed and you will hear from us within 10 business days.
  • Request for liquor license letters will be reviewed and you will hear from us within 10 business days.

 

 

 

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Contact(s)

Richmond Hill Municipal Offices

225 East Beaver Creek Road,

Richmond Hill, ON L4B 3P4

905-771-8800

access@richmondhill.ca

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