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The Township of Russell’s Citizen Recognition Program celebrates residents who have made meaningful contributions to the community or brought pride to the Township. Nominations are accepted year‑round.
To encourage the use of washable diapers, the Township of Russell offers up to 10 grants of $200 each year to eligible families.
Apply using the Washable Diapers Program Application Form
You must submit the following documents with your application:
To qualify for the Diaper Grant Program, you must:
Applications can be submitted:
The Infrastructure Department will review your application and contact you if you qualify.
Washable diapers are an environmentally friendly and cost‑effective option:
In an emergency, first responders need to be able to find your property quickly.
Having a clearly marked civic address at the entrance of your home, subdivision or farm field can help emergency services reach you without delay.
911 civic address signs are available for:
Cost: $185
Contact our Planning Department for the Farm 911 & Civic Addressing Application Form.
The Farm 911 Emily Project
The United Counties of Prescott and Russell (UCPR) and the Township of Russell are proud to support the Farm 911 Emily Project, which encourages agricultural landowners to have civic addresses assigned to vacant land entrances.
The Farm 911 Emily Project was created as the result of a tragic fatal farm accident, in which seven-year-old Emily Trudeau lost her life on a rural property in Tweed, Ontario. Emergency crews were called to the scene, but first responders were unable to locate the exact location, due to lack of address. Although they were eventually flagged down on the roadside, Emily unfortunately suffered traumatic injuries and later passed away in the hospital.
Putting up 911 civic address signs on farm laneways and entrances provides more accurate locations to our first responders in an emergency.
If your project does not meet all zoning requirements, you may be able to apply for a minor variance. A minor variance allows small exceptions to zoning rules and is reviewed by the Committee of Adjustment.
The Township of Russell’s Official Plan sets out how land can be used and developed across the Township. If you want to use or develop your property in a way that does not follow the policies of the Township’s Official Plan, you will need an Official Plan Amendment.
In some cases, land use decisions are also governed by the United Counties of Prescott and Russell (UCPR) Official Plan. Depending on the type of development or land use, an amendment to the UCPR Official Plan may also be required.
Sometimes, a proposed development may not comply with both the Official Plan and the Zoning By‑law. In these cases, you may be required to apply for:
The Planning Department may also determine that an Official Plan Amendment is required after reviewing a development proposal.
Before submitting an application, you must first confirm whether an Official Plan Amendment is required.
Contact the Planning Department to arrange a pre‑consultation with a Planner. Pre‑consultation is strongly recommended and allows staff to:
The Planner will also provide you with the current Official Plan Amendment application form and advise whether the proposal may be supported. The Township’s Planning Department is committed to working with applicants throughout the process.
While Township staff review and make recommendations on Official Plan Amendment applications, final approval authority rests with the United Counties of Prescott and Russell, even though the application is submitted to the Township.
Did you receive a notice about an Official Plan Amendment application or public meeting?
Notices are mailed to property owners within 120 metres of a property where an Official Plan Amendment has been applied for, as required by legislation.
These notices provide information about the proposed amendment and explain how residents can provide comments or participate in the public meeting. For more information or to submit comments, contact the Planning Department.
For frequently asked questions on Official Plan Amendments, please visit our Frequently Asked Questions page or contact our Planning Department or at 613-443-3066.
A Work Approval Application is required for:
Contact our Infrastructure Department or 613-443-1747 for questions relating to your Work Approval Application.
Download Work Approval Application Form
For locates, please contact Ontario One Call.
A consent, also called a severance, is an application to divide a piece of land to create a new lot or parcel. A severance is required by law and helps ensure land development follows the Official Plan and the Zoning By‑law.
Common types of consent include:
Severance applications are approved by the United Counties of Prescott and Russell (UCPR), which is the Consent Approval Authority. Even though UCPR makes the final decision, applicants are strongly encouraged to contact the Township of Russell’s Planning Department first for guidance.
Before submitting a severance application, you are strongly encouraged to meet with planning staff.
A pre‑consultation helps you:
The Planning Departments of both the Township of Russell and the United Counties of Prescott and Russell work together and encourage early consultation.
Every property is different, and consent requirements can vary depending on location and land use.
For answers to common questions about severance applications, required conditions and the review process, visit our Frequently Asked Questions page or contact our Planning Department or 613-443-3066.
A Review Team meeting is a free virtual consultation for development projects that require Site Plan Control.
These meetings allow you to:
The Review Team includes staff from several Township departments who are involved in reviewing Site Plan Control applications.
Meetings are held every two weeks and help identify requirements, policies and potential issues early. Attending a Review Team meeting can help you prepare a more complete application and avoid delays later in the approval process.
While optional, attending a Review Team meeting is strongly recommended. Applications that have not been discussed by the Review Team may require revisions or additional information after submission.
Site Plan Control is a planning approval required by the Township under Section 41 of the Planning Act.
It ensures that development:
Active Site Plan Control applications under review are listed on the Local Development Application webpage. Where required, a sign is also posted on the property to notify the public.
If you are planning a development project, contact the Planning Department to:
For answers to common questions, visit our Frequently Asked Questions page or contact our Planning Department or 613-443-3066.
Applications for a Plan of Subdivision in the Township of Russell are reviewed and approved by the United Counties of Prescott and Russell (UCPR) under the Planning Act.
Subdivision applications must be submitted directly to UCPR and must include all required studies, plans and fees, as set out in UCPR’s submission guidelines.
Before submitting an application, applicants are strongly encouraged to schedule a pre‑consultation meeting with both UCPR and Township of Russell planning staff.
Pre‑consultation helps:
Applicants should contact both UCPR Planning and the Township of Russell Planning Department to confirm:
The Township of Russell Zoning By‑law sets rules for how properties can be used and developed. These rules include permitted uses, lot size, building height, setbacks and other requirements based on zoning.
When you submit a building permit or planning application, your project is reviewed against the Zoning By‑law. If your proposal does not meet the rules, you may need to apply for a Zoning By‑law Amendment.
A Zoning By‑law Amendment changes the zoning rules for a specific piece of land. Because it changes the by‑law itself, it is not considered a minor change and is different from a Minor Variance.
If your proposal requires changes that are not minor, a Zoning By‑law Amendment may be required.
In some cases, the Planning Department may review another planning application and advise you that a Zoning By‑law Amendment is needed before the application can proceed.
The process is the same whether a Zoning By‑law Amendment is required for your project directly or identified through another application.
Council’s decision is final, subject to appeal.
Before submitting an application, you are strongly encouraged to meet with Planning Department staff.
A pre‑consultation meeting can help you:
To request a pre‑consultation, contact the Planning Department.
Did you receive a notice about a Zoning By-law Amendment application or public meeting?
Notices are mailed to property owners within 120 metres of a property where a Zoning By-law Amendment has been requested, as required by legislation.
These notices provide information about the proposed amendment and explain how residents can provide comments or participate in the public meeting. For more information or to submit comments, contact the Planning Department.
For frequently asked questions, please visit our Frequently Asked Questions page or contact our Planning Department or 613-443-3066.
717 Notre-Dame St, Embrun ON K0A 1W1
Call: 613-443-3066
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