The Town of Collingwood's Development Engineering division is part of the Infrastructure department and is responsible for development review, traffic control, stormwater management and the coordination of master plans, such the Master Mobility and Transportation Plan and Master Servicing Plan.
Development Engineering also oversees the implementation and construction of development projects and provides technical review and support for the following land development processes:
- Reviewing engineering submissions
- Providing engineering conditions for development agreements
- Reviewing legal agreements
- Development standards
- Preparing financial security calculations
- Providing acceptance memos and assumption by-laws
- Overall project review, including construction site inspection and monitoring
- Lot grading inspections
- Fill permitting
Inquiries related to Development Engineering can be directed to:
Phone: 705-445-1030 ext. 4200
Email: developmentengineering@collingwood.ca
The Town of Collingwood Development Standards provide guidance for the design and construction of municipal infrastructure. Consultants utilizing the Town Development Standards will need to ensure that their designs or the construction of works are being completed in accordance with the most current details. The standards were last updated in 2007, with a minor amendment in 2022, and are nearly at the completion of a full review. The revised standards are expected to come into effect in the Spring of 2026.
The document below incorporates the amendments approved by Council in August 2022.
There are many developments varying in size and complexity that are proposed in the Town of Collingwood, over the next few decades. The Town retained R.J. Burnside & Associates Limited to estimate the total traffic volumes to be generated by the proposed developments and the corresponding impacts on the Town's road network over the medium-term (2031) and long-term (2041). A total of 20 primary intersections in Town were assessed. For more information please refer to the following document:
Please note that the Town is currently completing a Master Mobility Transportation Plan (MMTP which is expected to be completed in the Spring of 2026. More information on this project can be found through the link below to its Engage Collingwood page:
The Town of Collingwood collects traffic data on municipal roads. The most recent traffic counts were done in 2019 and are available by submitting a request to developmentengineering@collingwood.ca
Please note that updated information will be available upon the completion of the Master Mobility Transportation Plan that is currently in progress. To find out more about this plan, please visit its project page at Engage Collingwood.
To assess the capabilities of the existing stormwater infrastructure in the Town, Greenland International Consulting Ltd. was retained to complete an existing conditions Master Stormwater Management Model as Phase 1 of this project, consisting of the existing storm sewer drainage system and multiple watercourses that traverse the Town limits. For more information, please refer to the following documents:
The Town of Collingwood has nearly completed the second phase (Phase II) of the Stormwater Management Master Plan (SWMMP) which is a Town-wide planning and engineering study being completed in accordance with the Municipal Class Environmental Assessment (Class EA) process (Schedule B). The study builds on Phase 1 background work completed in January 2022 (referenced above), which developed a comprehensive stormwater and riverine system model to assess existing infrastructure capacity and identify flood damage centres throughout the Town of Collingwood. Phase 2 focuses on analysing Phase 1 results, updating modelling for future development conditions, and identifying preferred mitigation solutions to address existing and anticipated flooding over the next 25 years and beyond. The report is anticipated for completion in the Spring of 2026.
More information and updates on the SWMMP can be found by the following link to the project's Engage Collingwood page.
Stormwater Management Ponds (SWMPs) are facilities designed to collect runoff from the local storm sewer system following either a rainfall or snowmelt event. SWMPs are built to temporarily hold this water, provide treatment to remove the pollutants, and then slowly release it back to our waterways.
The Town carries out maintenance of these ponds once they have been assumed through the development process.
Routine maintenance includes removal of debris in and around the pond; removal of poisonous vegetation; and maintenance of structures (i.e. gates, locks, valves etc.). The vegetation planted around the pond is dense and appropriate for the area. Aggressive weed control operations, including the use of pesticides, are not required. Grass cutting is not recommended for the ponds in order to maintain a natural environment.
Non-routine maintenance includes bank stabilization, structure repairs, and removal of excess sediment. A clean-out of the SWMP will be required approximately once every 10 to 20 years to remove accumulated sediment to ensure the pond continues to function as intended. Drainage of the SWMP will be required to facilitate the clean-out. Part of this clean-out involves soil sampling and testing to ensure proper disposal of the sediment removed.
For more information please refer to the following document:
The Town of Collingwood's Official Plan establishes a long-term vision for sustainable growth and complete community development through to 2051. Achieving this vision requires coordinated water and wastewater infrastructure planning that aligns with population and employment forecasts, supports efficient land use, and ensures financially sustainable investment.
The existing Municipal Servicing Plan (MSP) no longer reflects current growth projections, servicing demands, climate considerations, or updated policy frameworks. As development pressures increase and the Town continues to implement its Servicing Capacity Allocation Policy (SCAP), an updated MSP is required to provide an accurate, defensible basis for evaluating infrastructure capacity and guiding future servicing decisions.
The updated MSP will integrate updated growth forecasts with advanced system modelling to assess future capacity, identify required infrastructure upgrades, and support compliance with the Municipal Class Environmental Assessment process. The plan will provide a coordinated, fiscally responsible, and environmentally sustainable framework for water and wastewater servicing to support growth through to 2051. This study is expected to be completed by Summer 2027.
The current study completed in 2019 is available as a pdf through the link below:
The Downtown Parking Study will assess parking supply, utilization, and demand within Collingwood’s downtown core, including weekday, weekend, and peak seasonal conditions. The study will forecast future parking needs over 5‑, 10‑, and 20‑year horizons, considering growth, tourism, and shifts toward active transportation, transit, and micromobility. Findings will inform a phased Parking Strategy and Implementation Plan, including policy, financial, infrastructure, and technology recommendations aligned with the Downtown Visioning Master Plan.
The study will develop infrastructure, policy, and technology options, including opportunities for new or expanded parking facilities, shared‑use arrangements, and enhanced digital and real‑time parking management tools. Engagement with Town staff, businesses, and the public will inform the development of a phased Parking Strategy and Implementation Plan aligned with the Downtown Visioning Master Plan. The study is anticipated to be completed by the Summer of 2026.
The removal or placement of fill within the Town of Collingwood is regulated by By-Law 2003-103. Outside of having an executed development agreement, the placement or removal of fill within the Town of Collingwood is prohibited unless the appropriate Fill Permit has been obtained.
Drawings required for permit application depend on the complexity of the project, but at a minimum shall include grading plans and erosion and sediment control plans. Reports required shall outline the quantity and quality of fill via a Fill Management Plan outlining the existing receiving site soil quality, the source site soil quality, trucking route, and entrance location. A "qualified person" determines if the fill is acceptable for the intended land use. If a Record of Site Condition (RSC) has been filed for the site, then the RSC dictates what fill is acceptable to the site.
Soil quality guidelines are outlined in the "Management of Excess Soil - A Guide for Best Management Practices", Ministry of the Environment, 2014.
If the subject site is within a Conservation Authority regulated area, a permit is required from both the Town and Conservation Authority.
Securities are to be provided for all items identified on the erosion and sediment control plan and items related to the placement of fill such as sediment ponds, rock check dams, silt fence, mud mat, etc. Securities must also be provided to restore the site in the event fill operations unexpectedly cease mid-way through. These amounts are typically the cost required to topsoil and seed all disturbed areas.
Fees for permits are as per the Fees and Service Charges By-Law (amended yearly).
Permits can be submitted:
- In Person: 545 Tenth Line, Collingwood, ON
- Mail: 97 Hurontario Street, PO Box 157, Collingwood ON L9Y 3Z5
- Email: developmentengineering@collingwood.ca
Costs:
- Requiring $5,000 security or less - $380.00
- Requiring more than $5,000 security - $4,320.00
- Payment can be made online through Paymentus, or by cash, debit or cheque at Town Hall, 97 Hurontario Street or by mail to 97 Hurontario Street, P.O. Box 157, Collingwood, ON L9Y 3Z5.
Renewal or Transfer Costs:
- $131.00
- Payment can be made online through Paymentus, or by cash, debit or cheque at Town Hall, 97 Hurontario Street or by mail to 97 Hurontario Street, P.O. Box 157, Collingwood, ON L9Y 3Z5.