Find Lawyers in Ottawa, Ontario for Municipal Law

The practice of municipal law involves a varied and often highly complex set of activities which can broadly be described as centering on the interaction between the private sector, (most often companies interested in the development or use of land, or interested in the supply of goods and services to municipal organizations) and municipal entities ranging from small villages and towns, to urban metropolises and upper tier (Regional Government) entities. In today's environment, a full service law firm should be able to offer expertise in all of these areas, and will often have experience acting for either side in such interactions.

Municipal law includes the area of practice described as Land Use on this website, which more specifically can include:

• Advising on permitted uses of lands;
• Advising on restrictions such as special policy areas, holding provisions, and environmental limitations;
• Obtaining development approvals;
• Official plan amendments;
• Zoning amendments;
• Site plan approvals and agreements;
• Subdivision and condominium plans and agreements;
• Minor variances;
• Consents to severance, easements, or long-term leases;
• Providing advice and representation respecting Environmental Assessments, including Class Environmental Assessments;
• Representation Before the Ontario Municipal Board, Courts, and Tribunals.

In addition to development-related activities, Municipal Law also includes broader aspects of advice to clients, both public and private:

• Drafting and interpreting by-laws and agreements
• Advising on restructurings and amalgamations
• Initiating and opposing judicial review applications
• Advising on development charges and front-ending agreements
• Providing advice and representation respecting all aspects of the Elections Act
• Representing clients on assessment appeals before the Assessment Review Board, the Ontario Municipal Board (OMB), and the courts
• Providing expropriation advice to both land owners and expropriating authorities, representing clients before the Board of Negotiation, the OMB, and the Ontario Courts
• Restructuring, Governance, and Joint Services
• Privatization of Services
• Municipal Liability Claims and Litigation
• Utility Restructuring and Financing
• Municipal Finance, Contracts, and Administration
• Municipal Election Matters
• By-Law Enforcement
• Freedom of Information and Protection of Privacy Issues
• Property Tax collection
• Conflict of Interest Advice
• Procurement