Committee of Adjustment

Changes to appeal process

The Province of Ontario has introduced changes that limit who is permitted to appeal Committee of Adjustment decisions. The appeal process information has been updated accordingly below.

Watch Committee livestream

To watch a meeting while it’s in session, view the livestream.

Current agendas, comments and decisions

Access recent agendas, comments and decisions and watch videos of past Committee of Adjustment meetings in the Council and Committees calendar.

View agendas, minutes and videos


Agendas prior to May 2020

Comments prior to May 2020

Decisions prior to May 2020

What is the Committee of Adjustment?

If you plan to use, develop or make changes to your property such as enlarging a building so that it does not meet existing Zoning By-law requirements, you can apply to the Committee of Adjustment to make changes (referred to as minor variances) to the specific part of the Zoning By-law that applies to your situation.

You need permission (referred to as consent or severance) from the Committee to:

  • Create a new lot of land from an existing plot
  • Use or enter a private property (referred to as private easement or interest in land) through an agreement, mortgage or lease that’s for 21 years or more
  • Sell or mortgage a portion of your land
  • Validate land title and Power of Sale

The Committee is appointed by City Council and consists of seven citizen members.

Make an application to the Committee of Adjustment

Depending on the purpose of your application, complete either the Minor Variance Application or Consent Application. If you have questions, contact staff at committee.adjustment@mississauga.ca or 905-615-3200 ext. 2408.

You can submit your application in one of the following ways:

By email

Email your completed application form along with the relevant documents to cofa.applications@mississauga.ca.

You can pay your Committee of Adjustment application fee online.

Pay new application fee Pay deferral fee

In person

You can submit your application in person at the Committee of Adjustment office by booking an appointment online. Appointments are available on Tuesdays from 9 a.m. to 11:30 a.m. and 2 p.m. to 3:30 p.m. Payment can be made at this time by credit, debit or cheque.

Book an appointment

The counter is located on the second floor, 300 City Centre Drive, Mississauga, ON L5B 3C1. You may be able to make a walk-in reservation if times slots are available, by using the electronic kiosks located in the Great Hall.

Application review process

  • Once your application is received, it’s sent to the relevant City departments and agencies for their comments
  • A notice of your proposal is sent by mail to property owners within a 60-metre radius of your property and a notice sign is placed on the subject property
  • A public hearing before the Committee of Adjustment is scheduled for the first available agenda once the payment has been received. At the hearing, the Committee will consider your verbal and written evidence, comments from departments and agencies, and comments from people who have received notice of your application.
  • If your application is not approved, you can appeal to the Ontario Land Tribunal (OLT)

Bill 23, the More Homes Built Faster Act, 2022, limits who is allowed to appeal Committee of Adjustment decisions to the Ontario Land Tribunal (OLT). The OLT is an independent provincial tribunal that is responsible for resolving appeals and applications on a variety of contentious municipal and land use planning matters.

As a result of this legislation, only the applicant, the municipality, certain public bodies and the Minister can appeal a decision to the OLT. Individuals are no longer permitted to do so.

If a Committee of Adjustment decision is appealed to the OLT, you can request participant status and make written submission to the OLT for consideration as part of the decision-making process. The OLT Citizen Liaison can help you better understand the rules, practices and procedures of the OLT and can be reached at OLT.CLO@ontario.ca.

If you are eligible and disagree with a decision of the Committee of Adjustment, you can appeal to the OLT within the 20 day appeal period.

Submit all the required forms, information and materials to city.clerk@mississauga.ca.

You’ll also need to pay the $319.30 appeal fee to the City of Mississauga.

Pay appeal fee

An appeal fee is also payable to the OLT, as outlined in the OLT’s fee schedule. To make this payment, contact OLT.

The administrative office of the Committee of Adjustment processes applications received for consideration by the Committee. City staff don’t make decisions on applications.

You can contact the administrative staff for information about the application submission requirements or if you need details of the applications being processed.

If you want to make changes to your property and your proposed changes don’t exactly meet the zoning by-law, but follows the general purpose of the zoning standards, you can apply for a minor variance. Examples of minor variance applications include:

  • Requests for relief from the building setbacks
  • Building height
  • Driveway width
  • Porch enclosure or new deck
  • New accessory buildings such as garages and sheds
  • Parking spaces required for new or expanded businesses

The Committee of Adjustment determines that an application can be approved if the majority of the members agree that it meets the following four tests:

  1. The variance is minor
  2. The variance is desirable for the appropriate development or use of the property
  3. The general intent and purpose of the zoning by-law is maintained
  4. The general intent and purpose of the official plan is maintained

The Committee does not change the zoning of a property, it only adjusts regulations on a case by case basis.

If you want to know whether your development proposal requires a re-zoning, you can email eplans.devdes@mississauga.ca or visit the Customer Service Counter on the third floor of 300 City Centre Drive.

If you want to sell or mortgage a portion of your land, create a new lot of land from an existing lot, use or enter a private property (referred to as private easement or interest in land) through an agreement, mortgage or lease that extends for 21 years or more you must get permission (referred to as consent or severance) from the Committee of Adjustment is required.

In some cases, other land division approval processes such as a plan of subdivision or part lot control may be more appropriate or there might be other circumstances that require consent from the Committee of Adjustment. It is best to consult a lawyer to determine if consent is required.

Submit comments on an application

Your feedback helps ensure that the Committee of Adjustment is making its decisions in the public interest according to good planning principles.

If you would like to get involved in the decision-making process, you are welcome to make a submission to the Committee for consideration. Written comments on an application can be sent to committee.adjustment@mississauga.ca. Please include your name, address, and the file number or address of the property.

For Thursday hearings, comments must be received no later than 4:30 p.m. the Friday prior to the hearing in order for them to be considered by the Committee.

Register to participate in an electronic hearing

Advance registration is required to participate in an electronic hearing.

Requests to participate can be submitted to committee.adjustment@mississauga.ca. Any materials you wish to include in your presentation must be attached to the email. Links to cloud services will not be accepted.

For Thursday hearings, registrations must be received no later than 4:30 p.m. the Friday prior to the hearing.

We may not be able to accept registrations after the deadline.

Watch past Committee meetings

Watch previous meetings of the Committee of Adjustment.