Burlington's Committee of Adjustment: how minor variances and severances are decided and how neighbours can comment

What the committee decides

The Committee of Adjustment is an independent body appointed by Burlington City Council. It has seven members, two of them alternates, and all must be Burlington residents. It decides applications that are too small or too specific to need an Official Plan or zoning amendment, which go to Council.

Minor variances and the four tests

A landowner, or someone they authorize in writing, can ask for a minor variance when a proposal does not meet the Zoning By-law. The committee measures every request against four tests set by the Planning Act. The request must be minor in nature, be an appropriate development or use of the land, maintain the general intent and purpose of the Zoning By-law, and maintain the general intent and purpose of the Official Plan.

Before applying, the City asks applicants to consult its Zoning and Planning staff about the proposal and the rules that apply. The application form includes a space to record which staff were consulted. The City also offers an eCheck tool for checking zoning and building rules before applying.

Consents and severances

A consent application covers a lease, easements, a lot addition or severing a property into one or two new lots. The City says creating more lots than that needs a plan of subdivision instead. Pre-consultation is mandatory before a consent application, through the City's online request form, and the City asks applicants to allow at least three weeks for comments. The fee for pre-consultation is credited to a consent application submitted within one year of the meeting.

Applicants must also complete the Region of Halton's protocol for contaminated or potentially contaminated sites, and must submit a separate minor variance application for each lot if the consent needs variances. The City's page does not give a review timeline for consents.

When and where it meets

How neighbours can comment or speak

• Written comments: email committeeofadjustment@burlington.ca with the subject line "Comments_Your Name_Application Number_Property Address", mail them to 426 Brant St., P.O. Box 5013, Burlington, ON L7R 3Z6, or use the drop box at the Locust Street entrance of City Hall.
• Deadline: comments must reach the committee by noon the day before the hearing, and must include your name, address, application number and property address.
• Speaking: register as a delegation by email or by phone at 905-335-7629 by noon the day before the hearing, and include a copy of your remarks. If you join online, test your audio and video in advance.
• To be told of the decision: contact the committee's Secretary-Treasurer at committeeofadjustment@burlington.ca.

Who can appeal

Since November 28, 2022, only the applicant, the Minister of Municipal Affairs and Housing, or a public body with an interest under the Planning Act can appeal a Committee of Adjustment decision to the Ontario Land Tribunal. That is narrower than for many Council decisions on Official Plan and zoning amendments, where the City's notices list more people who may appeal. The City's page does not give the appeal deadline or fee for committee decisions, so check the notice of decision or the Tribunal.

Where things stand and who to contact

As of October 25, 2026, the City's page describes the arrangements above and lists its 2026 hearing dates, with the first of 2027 on January 27 at 1:00 p.m. Meeting dates, times and fees can change, so the City's meeting calendar is the authority.

• Committee of Adjustment: 905-335-7629 or committeeofadjustment@burlington.ca.
• Zoning and planning questions: 905-335-7642 or planning@burlington.ca.
• General City line: 905-335-7777 or city@burlington.ca.
• Larger applications, such as Official Plan or zoning amendments, follow a different path described in our guide to development applications.