Site plan security deposits and land dedications

Site plan security deposits

In the summary of comments on your formal site plan application, we may ask you to provide cost estimates and security deposits to ensure the work is completed according to approved plans and schedules. Payment or security amounts are based on the specific plans included in your application.

Site plan securities and payments are separate from the Development Charges you may encounter when you apply for a building permit.

On-site landscaping deposit

The City may require a security deposit covering all hard and soft landscaping costs including retaining walls, sidewalks, walkways, trees, shrubs, plantings etc.

Please contact Planning Services when the landscaping is completed. If the work is completed according to the plan, we will release 50 per cent of the security amount. If all landscaping survives and is maintained according to the plan for one full year, the remainder of the security amount is released.

If on-site landscaping is not completed within two years of issuing the occupancy permit, we will notify you of our plans to use the posted securities to pay for any outstanding landscaping costs.

Site inspection
519-837-5616
[email protected]

Public open space landscaping deposit

The City may require a separate security payment to cover the cost of any landscaping in public open spaces including all works required by an approved Environmental Impact Study (EIS) or Environmental Implementation Report (EIR).

When the work is complete, please contact the Parks Planning division. If the work is completed according to the plan, we will release 90 per cent of the posted security.

The City may hold the remaining 10 per cent of the security for up to two years to ensure plantings survive, and hard surfaces endure.

Near the end of the two-year period, your landscape architect should review the work so you can make any necessary corrections.

Then, please contact Parks Planning to review the site to verify that the work is completed according to the plan, and we will release the remaining 10 per cent of the posted securities.

If landscaping is not completed within two years of issuing the occupancy permit, we will notify you of our plans to use the posted securities to pay for any outstanding landscaping costs.

Public open space inspection
519-837-5626
[email protected]

Work in the right-of-way deposit

The City may require a deposit based on the total amount of the work in the right-of-way cost estimate in your site plan application.

Work in the City’s right-of-way typically includes but is not limited to:

  • municipal water and wastewater connections
  • curb cuts or fills, sidewalks, driveway accesses, boulevard restorations,
  • turning lanes, traffic signals, traffic signs,
  • ditches and culverts

The City will tender, manage and inspect the work. You will pay the full amount of the tendered costs before construction, and cover the cost of managing, implementing and inspecting the work when it is complete.

Payment methods

Please submit securities and/or deposits using:

  • A certified cheque payable to the City of Guelph
  • An irrevocable, renewable letter of credit from a financial institution and payable to the City of Guelph

Site plan land dedication

To develop the site, the City may require land or monies for parks, trails, environmental conservation, or other purposes.

Please ensure the property owner’s legal counsel reviews all relevant documents as soon as possible. A partial discharge from the property owner’s lender may be necessary.

All dedicated lands must be free of any liens and/or legal questions (clear title) before ownership is transferred to the City. The land will be transferred to the City prior to site plan approval.

Road-widening dedication

Guelph’s Official Plan sets out public highways and road allowances where site plans must dedicate lands for road widening.

In cases where road widening dedication is required, please submit a draft reference plan showing the lands to be dedicated in the context of the surrounding properties. When the City accepts the proposed land dedication, please deposit the reference plan at the local Ontario Land Registry Office and provide three copies to the City.

You must also register a consolidation of the dedicated lands and the abutting road allowance.

0.3 metre reserves

The City may own the land on either side of public roads. These reserved lands are typically 0.3 metres wide. If your site plan needs a new driveway access, part of the reserve must be lifted.

Please submit a draft reference plan showing where the reserve must be lifted in the context of the surrounding properties. When the City accepts the proposal, please deposit the reference plan at the local Ontario Land Registry Office and provide three copies to the City.

The City prepares a bylaw describing the land to be dedicated as part of the right-of-way. Once passed by City Council, the bylaw is registered on title. You will receive a copy of the bylaw and an invoice for registration disbursements.

Parkland dedication

The amount of parkland dedication associated with your application is based on the Ontario Planning Act, Guelph’s Official Plan and Parkland Dedication Bylaw.

Changes to legislation require municipalities in Ontario, including ours, to review our Parkland Dedication Bylaw in order to continue using the “alternative rate” from subsection 42(3) of the Planning Act. Learn more about this review at guelph.ca/parkplanning.

Cash-in-lieu of parkland dedication

In some cases, the City will accept cash instead of land, and use the funds to build public parks.

To determine the cash-in-lieu payment required, please have an Accredited Appraiser Canadian Institute-designated appraiser prepare a long form market value land appraisal for the property. The cash-in-lieu payment is calculated based on the appraised value, and building permits are issued after the City received payment.

The appraisal must be no more than six months old when your site plan is approved. Outdated appraisals can delay your building permit application.

The City reserves the right to have a third-party peer review of the appraisal, and you would cover the cost of the review.

Payments for cash-in-lieu of parkland must be paid by certified cheque or cash.