Development Engineering Review
York Region Development Engineering conducts reviews and issues approvals for the following applications as they relate to proposed developments:
- Engineering Approval
- Construction Access
- Sales Office Access
- Environmental Compliance Approval (ECA)
- Environmental Site Assessment (ESA)
- Encroachment Permit applications
Development Engineering also reviews and comments on the following applications submitted under the Planning Act:
- Official Plan Amendment (OPA)
- Zoning By-law Amendment (ZBA
- Site Plan
- Consent and Minor Variance
Please refer to the Development Planning Review page for detailed information and requirements about these applications.
York Region Development Application Status and Teams Dashboard
Active Development Applications currently being reviewed by York Region and assigned staff are displayed on the York Region - Development Applications Status and Teams Dashboard. It features an interactive map that can filter applications based on date received, municipality and/or the application type.
Getting Started
- Review our development application submission checklist for detailed requirements
- Learn about our review fees
- Contact the York Region development teams if you have questions
All submissions must be submitted digitally through @email.
Regional Development Charges
All new developments in York Region are required to pay Development Charges. For Zoning by-law amendment and Site Plan applications, the applicant is required to execute an Agreement with York Region stating the date at which Development Charge rates are frozen for the development proposal.
Payment Options for Fees and Securities
Payment of Fees
To make a payment, please use the following options:
- Send all cheques through mail or courier outlining the file number and applicant's name
- Drop-off cheques at 17250 Yonge Street — use Drop Box at the north facing entrance doors and e-mail @email noting drop-off
Use wire or electronic fund transfer — e-mail @email for details
Delivery of Security Deposit
Security Deposit may be in the form of a letter of credit or a certified cheque.
To deliver a letter of credit or a certified cheque, please use the following options:
- Send letter of credit or certified cheque through mail or courier outlining the file number and applicant's name
- Drop-off letter of credit or certified cheque 17250 Yonge Street — use Drop Box at the north facing entrance doors and e-mail @email noting drop-off
Engineering Approval Application
Engineering Approval may be required from York Region as part of subdivision applications, site applications, local municipal or other agencies infrastructure projects when works are being proposed within or near the Region's right-of-way or the Region’s infrastructure. The projects may involve:
- Road, intersection and traffic signals infrastructure
- Sewers and watermains servicing infrastructure
- Utilities and streetscape/landscape infrastructure
- Environmental matters
- Other Regional interests or initiatives such as transit and source water protection area
The Region reviews Engineering Approval applications to ensure compliance with requirements such as:
- Road and intersection design
- Transit requirements
- Travel demand management requirements
- Rapid Transit requirements
- Traffic requirements /management
- Access control
- Stormwater, sanitary, water supply, forcemain, and pumping stations servicing design
- Ministry of Environment Conservation and Parks (MECP) Environment Compliance Approval (ECA)
- Grading design
- Erosion and sediment control design
- Utilities design
- Traffic control signal design (Electrical design)
- Pavement marking and signage design (Electrical design)
- Illumination/Streetlighting design (Electrical design)
- Planning and legal considerations
- Land conveyance
- Property requirements
- Easements
- Noise requirements
- Environmental Site Assessment requirements
- Source water and wellhead protection
- Dewatering requirement
- Tree proctection requirements
- Street tree and horticultural design
- Streetscape requirements
Applicants may request a pre-submission consultation meeting and proceed to the detailed engineering submission stage, if appropriate.
All submissions must be certified by a Professional Engineer, a Certified Arborist, a Landscape Architect, and/or a qualified professional, as required.
Submission Requirements
Please consult Other Financial Requirements for insurance and security deposit requirements.
Site Plan Application
Site Plan applications are received, processed and circulated by the local municipality. Contact the appropriate local municipality regarding their application process:
Town of Aurora, Town of East Gwillimbury, Town of Georgina, Township of King, Town of Newmarket, City of Markham, City of Richmond Hill, City of Vaughan and Town of Whitchurch-Stouffville.
York Region reviews and approves Site Plan Applications for projects involving:
- Neighbouring Regional roadways and infrastructure
- Environmental matters
- Other Regional interests or initiatives such as transit and source water protection area
The Region reviews these Site Plan applications to ensure compliance with requirements such as:
- Road and intersection design
- Transit requirements
- Travel demand management requirements
- Rapid Transit requirements
- Traffic requirements /management
- Access control
- Stormwater, sanitary, water supply, forcemain, and pumping stations servicing design
- Ministry of Environment Conservation and Parks (MECP) Environment Compliance Approval (ECA)
- Grading design
- Erosion and sediment control design
- Utilities design
- Traffic control signal design (Electrical design)
- Pavement marking and signage design (Electrical design)
- Illumination/Streetlighting design (Electrical design)
- Planning and legal considerations
- Land conveyance
- Property requirements
- Easements
- Noise requirements
- Environmental Site Assessment requirements
- Source water and wellhead protection
- Dewatering requirement
- Tree protection requirements
- Street tree and horticultural design
- Streetscape requirements
Applicants may request a pre-submission consultation meeting and proceed to the detailed engineering submission stage, if appropriate.
All submissions must be certified by a Professional Engineer, a Certified Arborist, a Landscape Architect, and/or a qualified professional, as required.
Submission Requirements
Please consult Other Financial Requirements for insurance and security deposit requirements.
Development Engineering Design and Construction Guidelines and Standards
Development consultants and contractors undertaking work within the Regional Road allowance should consult the following resources:
- Refer to Road Construction Design Guidelines and Standards for Road Design Guidelines, CAD Standards, Standard Drawings (Civil, Electrical, Streetscape, Transit, Utility), Specifications and Development Charge Credits
- The Mid and High Rise Development Process and Implementation Guide provides guiding principles, standards and checklists for mid and high density development applications in the Region’s built-up areas, particularly in the Centres and Corridors, and also for Site Plan applications in general. Please note Section 23 has been updated
- Visit the Street Tree and Horticultural Design Guidelines and Standards section for Natural Heritage and Forestry resources
- Visit the Streetscape Program page for streetscape and landscape design requirements and standards
- Please request e-drawings from past or existing projects on Regional roads by emailing @email
To access the Ontario Provincial Standards for Roads and Public Works, please visit the Ontario Ministry of Transportation Ontario Provincial Standards Volume page.
Other Financial Requirements
Liability Insurance Coverage Requirements (Engineering Approval & Site Plan)
The Owner must submit to the Regional Development Engineering Section a certificate of insurance to show they have sufficient insurance coverage to meet the Region’s requirements. The following two forms must be completed to the satisfaction of the Region’s Manager of Risk Management:
- York Region Certificate of Insurance Form
- Certificate of Insurance Specific Information Requirements form
The certificate must name The Regional Municipality of York as an additional insured with respect to:
- the Commercial General Liability Insurance, for an amount not less than $5,000,000 per occurrence.
- the Non-Owned Automobile Liability Insurance, for limits of not less than $2,000,000 per occurrence for each insurance.
Please consult the Certificate of Insurance form and COI Specific Information Requirements form for details.
Security Deposit Requirements
- Security deposits are required as part of engineering and site plan approvals to ensure:
- Construction works proposed in the Region’s right-of-way are completed in accordance with the approved design
- Right-of-way is restored to the original conditions
- Right-of-way is kept in good repair and free of mud, debris and encumbrances
- Execution of required legal agreements
- Conveyance of lands
- Removal of accesses, wells, temporary encroachments and de-stressing of tie-backs
- Implementation of noise attenuation and travel demand management features are implemented on site, etc.
The security deposit must be made payable to the “The Regional Municipality of York” in the form of a certified cheque or Letter of Credit and must be provided by the Owner of the property. Letters of Credit must be provided using the Region's standard form.
A summary of security requirements for development projects is provided below.
Security Type | Requirement |
---|---|
Temporary Construction Access | $20,000 minimum per access |
Municipally Owned Works within Region's right-of-way | 100% of the cost of the works proposed in Region's right-of-way or 10% of the cost of the works proposed in the Region's right-of-way provided that the local municipality also fully secures the works |
Works within the Region's right-of-way for Subdivision Works within Region's right-of-way for Site Plan | 100% of the cost of the works in Region's right-of-way
|
Related Resources
- Development Teams Contact List
- Development Applications Submission Checklist
- 2024 Development Applications Fees
- Mid and High Rise Development Process and Implementation Guide
- Standard Development Construction Practices for Work on Regional Roads
- Security Reduction and Release Requirements
- Blank Statutory Declaration
- Compliance Documentation for Connecting New Watermains to Regional Infrastructure
- Track the Status of Development Application