Community Planning Permit System

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Aerial view of central Peterborough on east side of Otonabee River facing north including Quaker factory, park & bridge

A New Way to Regulate Development in the City of Peterborough

As the City of Peterborough continues to grow, the City must modernize how development is regulated to better align with the vision of the Official Plan and to integrate the community’s evolving priorities.

The City is developing a City-wide Community Planning Permit System (CPPS),Community Planning Permit By-law, and necessary enabling policies in the Official Plan. This project builds on discussions with the community held during Fall 2024 and Winter 2025 relating to the Planning for the Future of Our Strategic Growth Areas project, and the engagement approach will align with Rounds 4 to 7 of that project.

The CPPS will replace the City’s Zoning By-law and regulate how land is used, and create a framework for development and redevelopment approvals for all lands within the City. The CPPS is a land use planning tool which combines three current development approval processes (Zoning By-law Amendments, Minor Variances and Site Plan applications) into one single application and approval process. The resulting CPP By-law, will ultimately provide development regulations that align with the Official Plan’s vision for new development and redevelopment.

We are also advancing the development of a Secondary Plan/Official Plan Amendment for the City’s Strategic Growth Areas to support these priority areas of growth– learn more about that project on here.

Upcoming Events

Your input matters! Join us to assist in the development of a City-wide Community Planning Permit System (CPPS), CPPS By-law and enabling Official Plan policies. Your input will help shape community priorities that will guide development in the City of Peterborough, now and into the future.

This event provides an opportunity for the community to share input on priorities and concerns related to how growth occurs across the city. We will also be discussing the latest updates and policy recommendations for the Strategic Growth Areas.

There will be two options for this community meeting. Click on the corresponding links below to register for either the in-person or online sessions this June.

  • In-Person Meeting (Presentation & Discussion – Limited Capacity*):
    June 17, 2025 | 6:30 - 8:30 PM
    Miskin Law Community Complex
    Register on Eventbrite
    *Maximum of 120 participants

  • Online Meeting (Presentation and Discussion):
    June 24, 2025 | 7:00PM - 8:30 PM
    Online via Zoom Webinar (link will be shared upon registration)
    Register on Zoom Event Page

We look forward to conversations with you!

A New Way to Regulate Development in the City of Peterborough

As the City of Peterborough continues to grow, the City must modernize how development is regulated to better align with the vision of the Official Plan and to integrate the community’s evolving priorities.

The City is developing a City-wide Community Planning Permit System (CPPS),Community Planning Permit By-law, and necessary enabling policies in the Official Plan. This project builds on discussions with the community held during Fall 2024 and Winter 2025 relating to the Planning for the Future of Our Strategic Growth Areas project, and the engagement approach will align with Rounds 4 to 7 of that project.

The CPPS will replace the City’s Zoning By-law and regulate how land is used, and create a framework for development and redevelopment approvals for all lands within the City. The CPPS is a land use planning tool which combines three current development approval processes (Zoning By-law Amendments, Minor Variances and Site Plan applications) into one single application and approval process. The resulting CPP By-law, will ultimately provide development regulations that align with the Official Plan’s vision for new development and redevelopment.

We are also advancing the development of a Secondary Plan/Official Plan Amendment for the City’s Strategic Growth Areas to support these priority areas of growth– learn more about that project on here.

Upcoming Events

Your input matters! Join us to assist in the development of a City-wide Community Planning Permit System (CPPS), CPPS By-law and enabling Official Plan policies. Your input will help shape community priorities that will guide development in the City of Peterborough, now and into the future.

This event provides an opportunity for the community to share input on priorities and concerns related to how growth occurs across the city. We will also be discussing the latest updates and policy recommendations for the Strategic Growth Areas.

There will be two options for this community meeting. Click on the corresponding links below to register for either the in-person or online sessions this June.

  • In-Person Meeting (Presentation & Discussion – Limited Capacity*):
    June 17, 2025 | 6:30 - 8:30 PM
    Miskin Law Community Complex
    Register on Eventbrite
    *Maximum of 120 participants

  • Online Meeting (Presentation and Discussion):
    June 24, 2025 | 7:00PM - 8:30 PM
    Online via Zoom Webinar (link will be shared upon registration)
    Register on Zoom Event Page

We look forward to conversations with you!

  • What is a CPPS?

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    The City’s new Official Plan acknowledges the CPPS as a strategic planning tool to facilitate intensification and redevelopment. Key benefits of this tool in Peterborough would include:

    • A streamlined development approvals process;
    • Increased regulation flexibility and design standards;
    • Opportunity to apply a broader scope of development review;
    • Opportunity to implement the City’s new Urban Design Guidelines; and
    • Support for local objectives such as increased affordable housing supply, meeting density and intensification targets, promoting high quality design and preserving cultural heritage.

    The CPPS process is proposed to be administered through a new CPP By-law, in place of the City’s existing and outdated Zoning By-law. In Ontario, municipalities are required to implement the policies of a new or updated Official Plan within three years of a new or updated Official Plan coming into effect. The City-wide CPP By-law will replace the existing Zoning By-law with modernized development regulations and will ensure alignment with the City’s new Official Plan.

    Once a CPP By-law is in effect, the City can issue Community Planning Permits to allow development to occur if an application meets the standards set out in the CPP By-law.

    In developing a CPPS, Peterborough joins several other forward-thinking municipalities across Ontario to proactively update our approach to regulating development, increase housing supply, and foster sustainable, well-designed communities.

Page last updated: 27 May 2025, 01:50 PM