Community Planning Permit System
Downtown Community Planning Permit System
We’ve completed the Community Planning Permit System for Stone Road/Edinburgh Road area! And we’re moving the CPPS into Downtown! The draft CPPS By-law and Official Plan Amendment for Downtown are ready for feedback.
Let us know your thoughts on the proposed affordable housing requirements for development Downtown!
The Downtown CPPS By-law provides flexibility in the development standards and requires affordable housing as a condition of most development. There are no current plans to further increase building heights in the Downtown as part of this project.
About the project
The City of Guelph is developing a Community Planning Permit System, also called a CPPS, for two areas of the city: the Downtown and Stone Road / Edinburgh Road. The Stone Road/Edinburgh Road portion of the CPPS is currently in effect. The CPPS is a land use planning tool that combines Zoning By-law Amendments, Minor Variances, and Site Plan applications into a single application and approval process. Watch this video to understand what a Community Planning Permit System is and how we are considering using it in Guelph.
This tool helps make the application and approval process more efficient, allowing housing to reach the market more quickly, and delivers other important elements to build thriving communities such as affordable housing and diverse housing types, public facilities, parks and open spaces as well as infrastructure improvements to support the growth.
The CPPS will be designed to create a streamlined development process and a more flexible set of development standards. The permit system is one of eight initiatives outlined in the Housing Accelerator Fund Action Plan.
How can I participate right now?
Review the final CPP by-law, and attend the Council Planning Meeting on April 15, 2026. See Phase 13 below for instructions on how to delegate or submit comments to the meeting.
Please note: This project began in an older version of our website. Some of the tools and information may appear different than originally designed.
Who's Listening
Will Gregory, Project Manager, City of Guelph
Phases
Downtown CPPS virtual open house
We’re continuing the Community Planning Permit System (CPPS) work in Downtown. The first CPPS in Guelph was approved by Council in April for the Stone Road/Edinburgh area.
Thank you to those who joined us for an open house on June 18 between 1:00 - 2:30 p.m. to let us know what’s important to you in Downtown. We’ll provide more information about a CPPS and it’s benefits to the community. We’d also like to hear from you about your preferred community benefits.
When: Wednesday, June 18, 1:00 to 2:30 p.m.
Where: Thank you for joining virtually via zoom. This open house is now closed.
Put a pin in the map to identify:
- Opportunity Spot: Identify areas where you see potential for new opportunities and change.
- Potential Improvement Spot: Highlight spots that could be improved or use an upgrade.
- Bright Idea Spot: Identify areas where you have innovative ideas.
- Something I love: Identify something you love about the area.
- Something I don’t want to change: Identify something you want to stay the same as it is now.
Upcoming and ongoing events
Past events
Event date: January 8th, 2026 from 4:30 PM to 6:30 PM.
1 Carden Street
4 registrants
Event date: June 12th, 2025 from 4:00 PM to 6:00 PM.
Guelph City Hall
3 registrants
Event date: January 14th, 2025 from 5:00 PM to 7:00 PM.
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