Applications and Guidelines
Applications:
Application for Official Plan Amendment (pdf)
Application for Zoning By-law No. 85 of 2002 Amendment (pdf)
Application for a Site Plan Control Agreement (pdf)
Application for Minor Variance / Permission (pdf)
Application for Consent (pdf)
Application for Exemption from Part Lot Control (pdf)
Plan of Subdivision and/or Condominium Description Application for Approval (pdf)
Application for a Certificate of Occupancy for a Residential Home Occupation (pdf)
Application for a Certificate of Occupancy for an Agricultural Home Occupation (pdf)
Application for a Bed and Breakfast Permit (pdf)
Guidelines:
A Guide to Applicants for Approval of Draft Plans of Subdivision, Condominium, or Condominium Conversions (pdf)
This Guide is an information manual to the Plan of Subdivision / Condominium / Condominium Conversion approval processes in the City of Sarnia. It is intended to provide an overview of the process to allow applicants to gain some familiarity with the various steps required. It includes appendices which include a listing of the items of correspondence likely to be used throughout the course of the review process, and a flow chart to graphically describe the process.
Site Plan Approval Policy Guidelines and Standards (pdf)
All of the land in the City of Sarnia is designated as a "Site Plan Control Area" and most types of development within the City are subject to site plan review and approval by the municipality to ensure that development is attractive, compatible with surrounding land uses and meets certain minimum standards.
Protocol for the Development or Redevelopment of Telecommunication Towers (pdf)
The primary intent of the Sarnia Telecommunication Tower Protocol is to outline the approach which must be followed within the City of Sarnia by applicants proposing radio communication antenna structures. The process is intended to balance the local land use interests with that of bringing enhanced wireless telecommunications services to Sarnia.
Information Sheets:
Accessory Buildings and Uses Information Sheet (pdf)
This Information sheet outlines the relevant zoning provisions from Zoning By-law 85 of 2002, which regulate Accessory Buildings and Uses in the city.
Bed and Breakfast Information Sheet (pdf)
This Information sheet outlines the relevant definitions and zoning provisions from Zoning By-law 85 of 2002, which regulate Bed and Breakfast Establishments in the city.
Home Occupation (Residential) Information Sheet (pdf)
This Information sheet outlines the relevant definitions and zoning provisions from Zoning By-law 85 of 2002, which regulate Home Occupation uses in residential areas of the city.
Home Occupation (Agricultural) Information Sheet (pdf)
This Information sheet outlines the relevant definitions and zoning provisions from Zoning By-law 85 of 2002, which regulate Home Occupation uses in agricultural areas of the city.
Grant/Loan Programs:
Mitton Village Area Facade Improvement Loan Program Guidelines (with application form) (pdf)
Mitton Village Area Façade Improvement Loan Program provides assistance to registered property owners of commercial buildings within the Mitton Village Community Improvement Area to improve the facades. Registered owners of properties could be eligible for a low interest loan up to $10,000 per "storefront" to a maximum of $40,000 per property.
Northgate Facade Improvement Loan Program Guidelines (with application form) (pdf)
Northgate Façade Improvement Loan Program provides assistance to registered property owners of commercial buildings within the Northgate Community Improvement Area to improve the facades. Registered owners of properties could be eligible for a low interest loan up to $10,000 per "storefront" to a maximum of $40,000 per property.
Sarnia Downtown Rehabilitation Grant Program (with application form) (pdf)
Under the Downtown Rehabilitation Grant Program, property owners within the Downtown Community Improvement Area who are planning to do renovation/ rehabilitation work may apply for a grant which would be based on their tax increase for a period of up to twelve years following the work, if the work results in a re-assessment and corresponding tax increase. At the time of a building permit application, a property owner may make application to the City in order to be considered for participation in the grant program. The amount of municipal assessment and the actual taxes paid would be determined and, upon the completion of the work, a re-assessment would be done to determine any increase in taxes paid. The difference between the municipal taxes paid prior to the work being undertaken, and the taxes paid after the completion of the work shall be the amount of the grant under this program.
Sarnia Downtown Building and Facade Improvement Loan Program Guidelines (with application form) (pdf)
The Sarnia Downtown Building and Façade Improvement Loan Program provides assistance to registered property owners to rehabilitate and improve the facades, heating, air conditioning, wiring and hydro of buildings in the Downtown Community Improvement Area. Registered owners of properties could be eligible for a low interest loan up to $20,000 per "storefront" to a maximum of $60,000 per property.
Brownfields Community Improvement Plan (pdf)
Brownfields are former industrial or commercial properties that are vacant or underused and that may be contaminated. Most Ontario municipalities have brownfield sites, such as decommissioned petrochemical plant locations, dry cleaning establishments, gas stations, railway yards and factories.
The primary purpose of developing a Community Improvement Plan for existing and previous older industrial areas is to identify brownfield sites, assist the City to identify and implement a range of potential finance, liability and approvals tools which are available to support planning and redevelopment activities, help meet eligibility requirements for Federal and Provincial funding assistance programs and to highlight the benefits that can be achieved when brownfield sites are redeveloped.
1. Brownfields Building Rehabilitation Loan Program (with application form) (pdf)
The purpose of this program is to stimulate interest in rehabilitating obsolete, deteriorated and/or contaminated buildings in order that they may be reused. The registered owners of all properties located within the Brownfields Community Improvement Project Areas would be eligible to apply to the program. Each application received would be evaluated based on its own merit.
The Brownfields Building Rehabilitation Loan Program may be discontinued by City Council at any time.
2. Brownfields Planning, Development and Building Fees Grant Program (with application form) (pdf)
The purpose of this program is to stimulate investment on brownfields sites in the Project Areas through rebates from specific planning, development and building fees.
The rebate of such fees would demonstrate to the owners of brownfields sites that the City is attempting to assist in the rehabilitation of the older industrial districts of the City.
Under this proposal, Brownfield property owners would be required to submit planning, development and building applications and their associated fees to the City and comply with applicable municipal and provincial standards, regulations and policies. However, the cost of the application(s) would be rebated in the form of a grant.
The grant program would apply to all eligible buildings and sites located in the Brownfields Community Improvement Project Areas; provided that the total value of the grant approved under this program shall not exceed the cost of rehabilitating the lands and buildings.
The Brownfields Planning, Development and Building Fees Grant Program may be discontinued by City Council at any time.
3. Brownfields Tax Assistance Program (with application form) (pdf)
Property tax assistance for this Program is provided under the authority of Section 365.1 of the Municipal Act, 2001, which enables municipalities to cancel all or a portion of property tax levied on eligible brownfield properties. The legislation allows tax relief to be initiated during the period of time when clean-up is being done until such time as is specified in the municipal by-law or when the amount of tax relief equals the cost of remediation, for a period of up to 10 years. The intent of this program is to reduce or cover the remediation costs, including site assessments. A municipal by-law is required to be passed for a property for which an application is made for assistance. A single by-law can provide tax assistance for multiple properties if the by-law lists each property.
The Minister of Finance may approve matching education property tax assistance for an eligible property. The matching education property tax assistance may be provided on a different schedule from the assistance provided by the municipality and may be subject to additional conditions. Matching education property tax assistance will be considered by the Minister of Finance on a case-by-case basis under the Brownfields Financial Tax Incentive Program, typically for a maximum of three years as described in the Ministry program guide. However, applications with longer development periods may be approved by the Minister of Finance under the program if there are exceptional circumstances.
The Brownfields Tax Assistance Program may be discontinued by City Council at any time.
4. Brownfields Tax Increment Based Grant Program (with application form) (pdf)
The Tax Increment Based Grant Program will provide financial relief in the form of grants to property owners who undertake to rehabilitate properties within the Brownfields Community Improvement Project Areas that result in a re-assessment and a subsequent municipal tax increase on these properties. This program is designed to help mitigate a major financial impediment to brownfield rehabilitation efforts, namely the tax increase that results when a property is rehabilitated. This program is also designed to leverage public sector investment and helps to encourage rehabilitation that might otherwise not take place.
In order to minimize cost and financial risk to the City, the Tax Increment Based Grant program is structured as a “pay as you go” program. The property owner will initially pay for the entire cost of the rehabilitation project and pay all property taxes. The City will then reimburse a portion of the municipal taxes to the developer/property owner in the form of an annual grant, as the City receives the incremental property taxes.
Brownfields Financial Tax Incentive Program - Ontario Ministry of Municipal Affairs and Housing
