The Community Planning Permit System (CPPS) applies to residential properties in the Town of Innisfil with frontage on Lake Simcoe or in Alcona. A CPPS permit is required for: 

  • Building a new structure or adding onto a building, boathouse, or dock
  • Making changes to existing buildings
  • Site alterations like lot grading and fill, vegetation and tree removal, and shoreline work

View our Community Planning Permit System By-law

Community Planning Permit System (CPPS) Process

Our Community Planning Permit System (CPPS) allows zoning adjustments, minor variances, and detailed site plan applications to be processed as one application, instead of two or three separate processes. By combining all these approvals into one application, the CPPS helps property owners get planning approvals more quickly.

At a glance, the CPPS process has four steps:

  1. Step 1: Pre-consultation
  2. Step 2: Application submission
  3. Step 3: Application review
  4. Step 4: Decision

Review our full CPPS process for a detailed step-by-step.  

Pre-consultation meeting

We require that you submit a pre-consultation request through Cloudpermit, our online application tool, to go over your development proposal and documents required for a formal submission. It's this stage where the class of your permit will be determined with Town staff. 

Go to our Development Applications page to learn how to submit a pre-consultation request and review relevant guidelines.

Permit application

You can submit a CPPS permit application through Cloudpermit. Make sure your application package includes all the required materials listed on the application checklist or outlined in your pre-consultation meeting with staff. 

CPPS Classes

There are three classes of CPPS permits. 

Community Planning Permit Classes
Class of permitDescriptionApproval Authority

1

Application meets all development standards, and no variations are required. 

Town Staff

2

Application generally meets the intent, standards and provisions of the CPPS By-law but requires minor relief (a Class 2 - Staff Variation) from:

  1. One or more applicable development standards within the established 'Class 2' variation limits. 

The threshold limit for what variation from the development standard can be approved under a Class 2 variation is set out for individual provisions within the By-law. 

Town Staff

3

Application requires more substantial or complete relief (a Class 3 - Council Variation) from:

  1. One or more applicable development standards above the Class 2 Variation Limit; and
  2. Building height above the maximum Class 2 threshold.

Council may vary the standards, provisions and requirements of the Community Planning Permit By-law up to 100% of the stated standards.

Council or Planning Committee if approval is delegated 

CPPS Application Fees

Review current CPPS application fees. Fees include up to three submissions. 

CPPS Amendments 

A CPPS Amendment is required to:

  • change the precinct designation on the property
  • make site specific exceptions related to permitted uses
  • have variations to the regulations that surpass the threshold of a Class 3 Permit
LSRCA Application Forms

You will need to complete these application forms:

Application review and circulation

Once we have received your application, we will deem it complete or incomplete within five business days. If complete, we will review and circulate your application to approval authorities. We will not review incomplete applications until we receive all required items noted at the pre-consultation meeting.

There are different circulation requirements depending on what class applies to your permit.

  • Class 1: No formal public notice is required.
  • Class 2: Notice is posted on the property and municipal website. People have 15 days to provide comment. 
  • Class 3: Notice is posted on the property and municipal website. Property owners within 120 m of the subject lands are notified by mail. People have 15 days to provide comment. 

Decision

After reviewing a complete application, we will decide to approve or refuse the application. If approved, we may issue you a permit with conditions attached, or require you to meet certain conditions before issuing your permit. You may also need to apply for a building permit. 

You can appeal any decision or permit condition in writing to the Ontario Land Tribunal.

Future application of the Community Planning Permit System (CPPS)

Council approved the CPPS By-law in June 2025 for Priority Areas 1a (shoreline areas) and 1b (Alcona primary settlement area). Next, we will move forward with implementing the By-law in Priority Areas 2–5 (to be addressed simultaneously):

  • Priority Area 2: All other Urban Settlement Areas of the Town
  • Priority Area 3: Village and Hamlet Settlement Areas
  • Priority Area 4: Future settlement areas/expansion areas
  • Priority Area 5: Remaining Town

Stay informed

Visit our Get Involved Innisfil project page to learn more, access public meeting notices, and find links to materials.