Planning Services

The City of St. Thomas Planning Department is responsible for providing a full range of land use planning functions and services on behalf of the City of St. Thomas and by agreement through the Central Elgin Planning Advisory Committee (CEPAC) to the Municipality of Central Elgin.

Planning Department Responsibilities

The Planning Department provides the day-to-day operations and long-term planning services in the following areas:

Development and maintenance of the Official Plan and Zoning By-law
Support to City Council on all matters related to land use planning
Preparation and review of all development applications (Site Plan Approvals, Plan of Subdivision/Condominiums, Holding Zone Removals, Severances/Consent, Minor Variances, Official Plan and Zoning Amendments, Part Lot Control and Zoning Reports)
Respond to daily enquiries
Prepare policies and processes to ensure City long-term growth and community development
Undertake research, special projects and studies
Consult with the public and stakeholders and offer advice on planning matters
Responsible for the City's base mapping system and Geographic Information System (GIS) data

Applicants are required by By-law No. 30-2015 to consult with the Planning Department prior to submitting one or more of the following planning applications:

These applications are also subject to policies and requirements of the City's Official Plan.

There is no fee charged for the consultation meeting.

In the event a consultation meeting does not take place prior to the filing of an application, a consultation meeting will be arranged as soon as possible thereafter. The application will not be formally received, nor will it be processed and the legislated timelines for processing a planning application will not begin until the requirements for a consultation meeting, and the submission of a complete application, have been fulfilled.

To request a consultation meeting with the Planning Department, please see: Consultation Request Form

The Community Improvement Plan provides policies to enable Council to offer financial incentives to private property owners in the City of St. Thomas. These incentives are intended to encourage property owners to improve the appearance of their lands and buildings in accordance with guidelines adopted by Council. The incentives help offset a portion of project costs related to redevelopment, reuse and rehabilitation of the built environment and brownfield remediation.

The Project Area has recently been expanded to include a 'City Wide Community Improvement Area,' 'Primary Community Improvement Area,' and 'Secondary Community Improvement Area.'

Please refer to the complete application package below for details about the nine financial incentive programs.

Please note that all CIP financial programs are subject to the availability of funds within the City's CIP budget and projects are processed on a first come, first served basis.

St. Thomas Community Improvement Plan

By-law 91-2021 -To Adopt a Community Improvement Plan
By-law 90-2021 - To designate a Community Improvement Project Area

Application Package

CIP Application Form