Land Development Guide
Land development is a very broad term that generally refers to changing the use or any structures located on a parcel of land. So whether you want to subdivide, construct a building, convert an old house into suites or add a new bedroom to your house you will need to understand some or all of the land development process in your area. The process varies from town to town and province to province but many aspects are common no matter where you are.


Some of the first items that you need to consider are:
  • Is the land zoned for the land use you are considering?
  • Is the land in a Provincial Land Reserve (Agricultural or Forest)?
  • Is there a suitable building site for the intended land use?
  • Are there physical or legal constraints that will stop you from achieving your goal, such as:
    • Easements?
    • Covenants?
    • Rights of Way?
    • Building Schemes?
    • Protected Trees?
    • Geotechnical hazards?
    • Archeological sites?
  • Are there any environmental concerns about the site?
  • Are there sufficient utilities in place to service your development such as:
    • Sewage Disposal?
    • Potable Water?
    • Storm Drainage?
    • Hydro?
    • Telephone, Cable or Internet?
  • Is there public road access and can you access the site safely?
  • What agencies do I require approvals from?
  • Do I require any permits before I start work?
  • How long will all of this take?
Polaris Consulting Ltd. can provide you with the answers to these and more questions. For a general background or for those who want to do it yourself the following pages will provide you with the basic information that you might need to get started.

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