Building a House on Agricultural Land

Agricultural Zoned raw land in most Municipal by-laws will permit a single-family residence.  Really the only restrictions are on the distance between the dwelling and the “barn” and livestock.  MDF Manure Density Factor mostly protects wells and natural waterways. Remember Wairton? Conservation Authorities typically have the most impact n building. Without a designated building envelope, a landowner on of Agricultural land would have to produce an Environmental Impact Study.  Even with this study, there are no guarantees for a building permit to be approved or issued by the respective Municipality should the Conservation Authority disapprove. In the GTA there are five major conservation authorities out of 36 in Ontario of interest.  CVC Credit Valley Conservation, NEC Niagara Escarpment Commission, Oak Ridges Moraine, Conservation Halton and Toronto Region Conservation Authority. However, the restrictions are not based on Agricultural zoning but on wetland and environmentally protected lands. Basically, any lands having old growth forest, a river or a pond. However, if you want multiple dwellings on one land parcel, one will have to prove the accessory dwellings are used for seasonal workers and solely for Agricultural use of the property.  Applying and being granted a severance of Agricultural land is a complex story.

https://conservationontario.ca/conservation-authorities/find-a-conservation-authority

Denise Dilbey, Broker