Consent application notices to the Ministry no longer need certified copies, and can now be sent via a government website

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

Three practical changes apply to consent applications under the Planning Act. First, notices and records sent to the Ministry's regional director no longer need to be "certified copies" — plain copies are now sufficient throughout the regulation, reducing the administrative burden on local municipalities and approval authorities. Second, notices to the Ministry's regional director (covering new applications, decisions, and changes to conditions of provisional consent) can now be delivered electronically through a Government of Ontario website, in addition to the existing options of personal service, mail, fax, or email. Third, references to the Ministry have been updated to consistently use "Ministry of Municipal Affairs and Housing" and "Municipal Services Office of the Ministry of Municipal Affairs and Housing." Local municipalities, planning boards, and approval authorities that submit consent-related documentation should update their internal processes to reflect the simplified copy requirements and the new electronic delivery option.

Who this affects: local municipalities · planning boards · approval authorities · land use applicants seeking consent