The Planning Department is responsible for providing planning services and advice to decision-makers on all planning matters related to the local municipality.
Land use planning enables the Township to establish goals and objectives for growth and development, while considering social, economic and environmental factors. The Planning Department implements the community’s vision through the Township Official Plan. The Planning Department is also responsible for reviewing and providing a recommendation to local-decision makers regarding development applications. The Township encourages everyone to be involved in local planning!
The planning department:
- Reviews applications and makes recommendations on local planning decisions that will determine the future of the Township
- Prepares planning documents, such as:
- An official plan, which sets out the municipality’s general planning goals and policies that will guide future land use
- Zoning bylaw, which sets the rules and regulations that control development
- Ensures planning decisions and planning documents are consistent with the Provincial Policy Statement and conform to the County of Frontenac Official Plan.
For more information about local planning policies and regulations, to submit an application or an inquiry, please review the information below.
Planning Inquiry Request Form
For inquires related to planning or to schedule a pre-application meeting or phone call, please submit a planning inquiry request form. Early consultation on planning applications helps streamline the approval process, facilitate the exchange of information and provide feedback on development proposals before the formal applications process begins. Completing this form provides staff the information required to respond to your inquiry.
Upon submission of the form, you will receive an email confirming receipt and outlining an anticipated timeline to respond. Please be aware that during peak development season, it may take planning staff up to 10 days to return your inquiry. Thank you for your patience.
Before submitting an inquiry form and to assist you with filing an application please visit the resources below:
Frontenac Maps: Publicly accessible interactive online mapping tool maintained by the County of Frontenac. Please note that zoning information and conservation authority boundaries are available on Frontenac Maps.
Surveys & deeds are available through the Land Registry Office. Frontenac LRO 13 is located at 1201 Division Street, Kingston, Ontario Telephone: 613-548-6767. To search Ontario land property records, please visit The Ontario Land Registry Access Website.
Individuals wishing to develop or change the use of land in the Township may need to obtain approvals from the Township. For more information about local planning policies and regulations, to submit an application or an inquiry, please visit the links below.
Planning Documents
Learn more about the vision, policies and regulations in place in the Township by viewing the information below.
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Township Zoning By-law #15-2013 |
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In Ontario, the Planning Act permits the Township to enact a Zoning By-law to control the use of land in the Township. The Zoning By-law sets out where buildings and structures can be located, the types of buildings and structures permitted, how buildings can be used, lot sizes and dimensions, parking requirements, building heights and setbacks. The Zoning By-law also contains zoning maps that set out the zone for each property, for example residential, commercial or agricultural. If a property owner wishes to develop property in a way that is not permitted in the zoning by-law, they may apply for a change in zoning through a zoning by-law amendment or minor variance application. Frontenac Maps is an excellent resource for viewing the property and learning more. Frontenac Maps is a publicly accessible interactive online mapping tools maintained by the County of Frontenac. Please note that zoning information and conservation authority boundaries are available here. |
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| Frontenac Islands Official Plan, Consolidated 2024 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
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The Frontenac Island Official Plan is an expression of the community’s vision for land use and development at the local level containing the goals, objectives and policies which guide development twenty years into the future. The Plan is intended to assist Council, committees, municipal staff, developers, government agencies and the public in their efforts to maintain and strengthen the environment, economic, cultural and social assets of the Township. The Planning Act requires that municipalities in Ontario adopt an Official Plan that is consistent with the Provincial Planning Statement. An Official Plan contains policies on:
There are land use schedules with the Township Official Plan that set out the designation of each property.
Frontenac Maps is an excellent resource for viewing the property and learning more. Frontenac Maps is a publicly accessible interactive online mapping tools maintained by the County of Frontenac.
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| County of Frontenac Official Plan, 2016 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
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The County of Frontenac Official Plan is a framework for guiding development in the County through the management and protection of the natural environment and by providing direction and influence on growth patterns. It is focused on the six themes of economic sustainability, growth management, community building, housing and social services, heritage and culture, and environmental sustainability. The Plan is amended from time to time to reflect changes in provincial regulations and to ensure the document continues to reflect the needs of the region. Visit the County of Frontenac Planning Department webpage and learn more about the County Official Plan. |
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| Provincial Planning Statement, 2024 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
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The Provincial Please click here to read the PPS, |
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| Planning Act | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
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The Planning Act is provincial legislation that sets out the parameters of land us planning in Ontario. It describes how land uses may be controlled, and who may control them. Please click here to read the Planning Act. |
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| Township of Frontenac Islands 2016 Development Charges Background Study | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Growth Projection for Frontenac Island | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Growth Projection with 2034 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Permit Fees for Planning 2023 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
Per Frontenac Islands Bylaw # 15-2009, these fees are non-refundable and include the fees for processing the application. They do not include any additional costs incurred by the Municipality in processing the application plus any additional costs incurred by the Municipality in the event of an appeal from a decision. The Applicant must enter into an Indemnity Agreement to cover all external costs incurred by the Municipality in respect of the planning application.
The Municipality shall consult with Cataraqui Region Conservation Authority and the Township of South Frontenac to determine if they are required to comment. Where they are required to comment, the Municipality shall collect the required fees and circulate accordingly.
*In the case of any application made for an amendment to the Official Plan or application for amendment to the Zoning Bylaw the Municipality may request the applicant to enter into a Pre-Development Agreement which shall detail payments of fees to reimburse the Municipality for all legal, planning, engineering, administrative and other costs incurred by the Municipality relating to the application which shall include the payment of a Security Deposit to the municipality in an amount which shall be determined by the Council.
**Land Use-Septic Inspection Fees updated annually |
Planning Resources and FAQ
| How do I know what I can build on my property? |
| The Frontenac Islands Zoning By-law controls the use of land in the Township. The Zoning By-law sets out where buildings and structures can be located, the types of buildings and structures permitted, how buildings can be used, lot sizes and dimensions, parking requirements, building heights and setbacks. To look up the zoning on your property, please visit Frontenac Maps and turn on the zoning layer on the left panel. Once you know the zoning of the property, please find the relevant section in the Frontenac Islands Zoning By-law. |
| How can I do an addition to my house or cottage that is too close to the lake? |
| The standard setback from the high-water mark of a lake or a planning approval may be required to complete an addition, including adding a deck. We suggest that you review the information for a minor variance application, as this may be the planning approval required. Once you have reviewed the relevant information, please submit a planning inquiry request form and book a pre-application meeting. |
| Does the Township have mapping I can use? |
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Frontenac Maps is a publicly accessible interactive online mapping tool maintained by the County of Frontenac. Please note that official plan information, zoning information and conservation authority boundaries are available here. There are also measuring features and the ability to see aerial imagery. Frontenac maps is a great tool to be used to assist with the technical drawing in the application. |
| What is the role of the Planner? |
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Planning staff at the Township:
Council is the approval authority – even if supported by planning staff, the final decision is that of Council. |
| What is the Official Plan Designation of my property? |
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To find out a property’s official plan designation, check the Land Use Schedule for the Official Plan. It is a publicly accessible interactive online mapping tool maintained by the County of Frontenac. Then, using the legend provided, check the Official Plan for more information regarding your specific zoning designation. |
| How is the Conservation Authority involved in the planning process? |
| Unique to Ontario, Conservation Authorities are local watershed management agencies that deliver services and programs to protect and manage impacts on water and other natural resources in partnership with all levels of government, landowners and many other organizations. In the Township of Frontenac Islands, the Cataraqui Region Conservation Authority (CRCA) supports the planning process as a non-regulatory body. This means that the CRCA reviews planning policy and regulations and planning applications, but does not issue permits. To learn more, please check out What is a Conservation Authority? Following a pre-application meeting with the Township, you may be directed to the Conservation Authority for more information before submitting an application. |
| How is Public Health involved in the planning process? |
| Rural properties within the Frontenac area are serviced by a private onsite sewage treatment systems. Across Ontario, onsite sewage systems are regulated under the Ministry of Municipal Affairs and Housing’s Ontario Building Code. Within Frontenac, KFL&A Public Health has the principle authority for the approval and issuance of permits for onsite sewage systems. KFL&A Public Health reviews planning applications to ensure that the existing system is sufficient to service the project, that setbacks are maintained, and that new lots can be adequately serviced. To learn more, please check out the How is Public Health involved in the Planning Process? [broken link on current website] |
| What is Parkland Dedication? |
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Parkland dedication is a component of the consent process, outlined in the Planning Act, which is designed to help municipalities ensure parkland is available for the use of citizens. Municipalities can opt to accept cash-in-lieu or a combination of land and cash-in-lieu to put towards parkland at a later date. The rates and equations used to calculate the appropriate amount of parkland or cash-in-lieu is outlined in the Township's By-law #15-2013: Being a By-law to Adopt a Policy on the Dedication of Parkland or Alternatively, Cash-in-lieu of Parkland. If you weren’t able to find your question here on the list, or require more information, please submit a planning inquiry request form and someone from the planning department will be in touch. |
| What is Minimum Distance Separation (MDS)? |
| Minimum Distance Separation is formulae and guidelines developed by the Province, as amended from time to time, to separate uses so as to reduce incompatibility concerns about odour from livestock facilities. MDS I setbacks are required for the creation of a new lot, change in land use or issuance of a building permit when there are livestock facilities (vacant or used) or anaerobic digester within 1.5 kilometers of the subject property. MDS II setbacks are required prior to the issuance of a building permit for new or altered livestock facilities greater than 10 m2 or any aerobic digester and is measured from existing land uses.
For more information, see What is Minimum Distance Separation (MDS)? |
| When do you need a ZBA as opposed to a minor variance? |
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Minor variances are evaluated based on four tests under Section 45(1) of the Planning Act:
If a proposal does not pass all of these tests but is still related to requirements in the zoning by-law, it is likely requiring a zoning by-law amendment. To find out more, please refer to the following: What is a Minor Variance and What is a Zoning by-law Amendment? [no link on the current website] |
| When do you need a severance versus a subdivision? |
| A plan of subdivision or plan of condominium is required if a property owner would like to establish more than 3 severances, or there is a common element required, such as a private lane. Also, there may be additional circumstances that require a plan of subdivision. To learn more, refer to the following: What is a severance? |
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