Planning questions in Durham often touch more than one organization. Start with the local municipality for the proposed land use and building work, then identify any separate Regional or agency involvement.
Start locally for planning applications
Durham Region states that local municipalities assumed most Planning Act approval responsibilities on January 1, 2025. Do not rely on an older guide that treats the Region as the approval authority for every planning application.
Check infrastructure separately
A proposal can still need Regional input concerning a Regional road, municipal water or sanitary sewer infrastructure. Rural properties may raise different servicing questions. Conservation authority review can also apply independently of a building permit.
A practical way to ask
Send a concise property description and proposal to the municipality. Ask which approvals it handles, whether Regional circulation is required, and which other agencies should be consulted. Keep each response with the project file; one organization’s acceptance does not replace another’s approval.
Continue your research
- Who handles what: municipality, Region or both
- Building permits guide
- Find a planning-related contact
Independent general information, reviewed October 1, 2026. Requirements vary by property and can change. Verify with the responsible municipality, Durham Region, or both.