New rules set out what owners must submit when proposing parkland conveyance, and how municipalities must refuse one

Plain-language summary · AI-assisted · not legal advice

When a landowner proposes a specific parcel to satisfy a parkland dedication requirement, they must now provide a licensed survey, disclose easements and below-grade infrastructure, and confirm whether the land meets prescribed quality criteria. Municipalities that choose not to accept the proposed parcel must deliver a formal refusal notice within 20 days by personal service, mail, fax or email, explaining the reason and advising the owner of their right to appeal to the Ontario Land Tribunal within a further 20 days. If an appeal is filed, the municipality must compile a record that includes the owner's submission materials, the refusal notice and any council reports on the land. The quality criteria the proposed land must meet cover contamination, hazardous conditions, natural heritage impacts, soil depth, encumbrances, public accessibility and visibility, suitable size and shape, and Greenbelt plan conformity. These provisions come into force on a future date tied to a separate statutory amendment.

Who this affects: landowners proposing parkland conveyances · land developers and subdividers · municipal planning and parks staff · Ontario Land Tribunal appellants