Go to Applications

Committee of Adjustment

The Committee of Adjustment is a quasi-judicial body that hears applications for minor zoning variances and land severances. The committee is a local board of the City established under the Planning Act. The committee conducts itself in accordance with the Statutory Powers Procedure Act, and is also governed by Toronto Municipal Code, Chapter 4, Adjustment, Committee of.

Committee responsibilities

To make informed decisions, each panel member is expected to:

• review materials filed with each application
• conduct individual site inspections of the subject property to assess the impacts the proposal may have on the surrounding area
• attend and participate at all public hearings scheduled for their respective panels, including a briefing session prior to the actual hearing

Panel chairs are responsible for:

• ensuring fair and timely public hearings
• addressing matters concerning the operation and conduct of their panel membership
• participating as a member of the panel chair group to discuss issues affecting the city-wide committee membership

Appointed members must attend an intensive orientation and training program.

Term of office

The term of office for public members of the board is four years.

Composition

As of April 2019, the Committee of Adjustment consists of 35 members of the public organized into four panels corresponding to the Community Council boundaries. There are:

• 8 members on the Etobicoke York panel
• 10 members on the North York Panel
• 5 members on the Scarborough panel
• 12 members on the Toronto and East York Panel

Qualifications

In addition to the general eligibility requirements set out in the Public Appointments Policy, members should collectively bring the following skills and expertise to the committee:

• a strong interest in the complexities and challenges of city building
• an understanding of the diverse neighbourhoods and communities across the city
• have knowledge in one or more areas of: law, planning, architecture, government, economic development, community development, land development, urban forestry and environmental planning, or citizen advocacy
• demonstrate decision-making, communication, and mediation skills to facilitate an open and fair hearing process
• each panel should have at least 2 members with adjudication experience and administrative public speaking and organizational skills to be able to chair public hearings and maintain order in conflict situations

Members cannot act as agents for applicants before the Committee of Adjustment.

Former Council members who served in the immediately preceding term of Council are ineligible for appointment as public members.

Meetings

Panel members are expected to prepare for and attend all public hearings for which they are scheduled. The committee operates in an electronic environment where panel members use computers to review documents and conduct hearings, therefore a high level of computer competence is an asset.

Public hearings are generally scheduled every 2 to 3 weeks depending on the application volume in each district, but are sometimes scheduled more often when volumes are high. They are held on weekdays starting in the morning and often run into the evening.

In addition to hearings, members will also need to spend time preparing for hearings, including reviewing materials filed with each application and conducting site visits as necessary. This preparation takes on average 8 to 9 hours. Panel members also must attend a briefing session prior to each hearing.

Meetings will be a hybrid of in person and virtual attendance. Members are required to attend in person at the physical meeting location (Etobicoke Civic Centre, North York Civic Centre, Scarborough Civic Centre, City Hall) and members of the public and applicants can attend the meetings either in person or virtually via an on-line platform, Webex. Members use computers during the meetings to access hearing materials and to connect to Webex. The meetings will also be streamed on YouTube.

Panel chairs are responsible for:

ensuring fair and timely public hearings

addressing matters concerning the operation and conduct of their panel membership

participating as a member of the panel chair group to discuss issues affecting the city-wide committee membership

Appointed members must attend an intensive orientation and training program.

Remuneration

• Panel chairs: $2,500 annually, plus full-day per diem of $460 and half-day remuneration (3.5 hours or less) of $275 for hearings, business meetings or training sessions.
• Members: $1,500 annually, plus full-day per diem of $460 and half-day remuneration (3.5 hours or less) of $275 for hearings, business meetings or training sessions.

Related links

• Committee of Adjustment website
• Council Report on Committee of Adjustment Panel Size and Structure