Municipal Planning

Planning approvals determine project feasibility, timing and value. Land use controls, environmental constraints and public decision-making processes introduce uncertainty that can delay or reshape projects.

We align planning strategy with transaction terms, financing requirements and project economics from the outset to reduce uncertainty, manage critical path issues and support timely execution. This approach informs all aspects of our practice, including application submissions, appeals, implementing agreements, and long-term operational success of an asset.

Our team works alongside real estate, litigation, environmental, Indigenous, and tax lawyers to address approvals, disputes and structuring issues in a coordinated way. When required, litigators are involved early to build the administrative record and position matters for appeal, judicial review or compensation where required, including in expropriation and other contested planning matters.

McCarthy Tétrault’s real estate platform, including its municipal planning capability, is consistently recognized for delivering practical, business-focused advice. We are ranked for Real Estate: Zoning/Land Use – Ontario by Chambers and Partners. We are also ranked Tier 1 for Real Estate by The Legal 500 Canada and recognized as a Leading Firm in Real Estate for both Property Development and Commercial Leasing by the Canadian Legal Lexpert Directory.

Legal advice rooted in real practice

Planning advice is delivered alongside real estate litigation and real estate tax expertise, allowing approvals, disputes and structuring issues to be addressed together rather than sequentially. Tax considerations are integrated where approvals, valuation and development conditions affect structuring, compensation and long-term asset performance. This approach aligns entitlement strategy with dispute readiness and project economics, improving certainty across the life of a project.

Key capabilities

• Approval strategy covering zoning, site plan and development processes
• Structuring and negotiation of planning and servicing agreements
• Advice on municipal governance and regulatory authority
• Integration of environmental and redevelopment considerations
• Representation in expropriation, appeals and related disputes
• Property tax assessments and valuation
• Indigenous rights considerations including duty to consult Environmental, contaminated lands and redevelopment risk