CIP RPP Professional Exam key terms

A statutory municipal document adopted under provincial planning legislation that sets long-range goals and land use policies for a community and guides subsequent zoning and development decisions.

A local law that divides land into districts and specifies permitted uses, building height, density, setbacks and other standards, implementing the policies of an official plan.

A land use that lawfully existed before a zoning bylaw was adopted but no longer complies with current rules, and which is usually allowed to continue under prescribed conditions.

A small, limited relaxation of a zoning standard granted by a local committee of adjustment, typically where the change is minor and maintains the bylaw's general intent.

A municipal approval process that reviews detailed design elements such as landscaping, parking, drainage and building placement before development proceeds, secured through a registered agreement.

An authorization issued by a planning authority confirming that a proposed project complies with applicable plans, bylaws and standards before construction or site alteration may begin.

One-time fees levied on new development to recover a share of the capital cost of growth-related infrastructure and services, such as roads, water and parks.

An incentive allowing a developer to build more units or floor area than normally permitted in exchange for public benefits such as affordable housing, parks or heritage conservation.

A regulation requiring or encouraging a portion of new residential units in a development to be affordable to low- and moderate-income households, often in exchange for density or fee relief.

A municipal program that designates an area for revitalization and offers tools such as grants, loans or tax relief to encourage private investment and public improvements.

The compulsory taking of private property for a public purpose by a government body, subject to statutory authority, notice, and compensation to the owner.

A financing tool that uses the anticipated increase in property tax revenue from redevelopment to pay for public infrastructure and improvements within a defined district.

A planning theory describing an orderly process of defining goals, generating alternatives, evaluating them and selecting the best option, often criticized as idealized and impractical.

A theory, associated with Charles Lindblom, holding that decisions are made through small successive adjustments and mutual partisan adjustment rather than sweeping comprehensive analysis.

An approach, associated with Paul Davidoff, in which planners represent the interests of underrepresented groups and present alternative plans in a pluralistic political process.

A practice that deliberately prioritizes the needs of disadvantaged residents and seeks to redistribute resources and opportunities more fairly through planning decisions and policies.

A collaborative theory that treats planning as a process of dialogue and consensus-building among diverse stakeholders, emphasizing communication, trust and shared learning rather than technical expertise alone.

A design movement promoting walkable, mixed-use neighbourhoods with compact form, connected streets, a range of housing types and strong public spaces, often as an alternative to car-oriented sprawl.

Ebenezer Howard's late-nineteenth-century model of self-contained, green communities combining the advantages of town and country, with planned housing, industry and open space.

A set of land use principles directing growth toward existing settlements, mixing uses, preserving open space and providing transportation choices to reduce sprawl and infrastructure costs.

A mapped line separating urban development areas from rural or resource lands, used to contain sprawl, direct infrastructure investment and protect farmland and natural areas.

A provincial zone in British Columbia where agriculture is the priority use and non-farm development is restricted, protecting farmland from conversion to urban or industrial uses.

Compact, mixed-use development concentrated within walking distance of a transit station, designed to increase ridership, reduce car dependence and support vibrant station areas.

A place designed so residents can meet most daily needs locally, with a mix of housing, employment, services, and safe walking, cycling and transit options for all ages.

A land use regulation that emphasizes the physical form, scale and character of development rather than separating land uses, often illustrated with diagrams and building standards.

Conventional zoning that divides land into districts by use type and applies uniform standards within each district, named after a landmark United States court case.

A mapped district applied on top of existing zoning that adds extra requirements or incentives, such as floodplain rules, heritage protection or affordable housing provisions.

A regulatory approach that sets measurable outcomes, such as noise, traffic or emissions limits, instead of listing permitted uses, giving developers flexibility in how they meet standards.

Previously developed land that is vacant or underused and may be contaminated, requiring assessment and remediation before redevelopment, often prioritized to revitalize urban areas.

New construction on vacant or underused parcels within already built-up areas, using existing infrastructure and services rather than extending development onto undeveloped land at the fringe.

A structured process that predicts the environmental effects of a proposed project or plan, considers alternatives and mitigation, and informs approval decisions and public review.

Development that meets present needs without compromising the ability of future generations to meet theirs, balancing environmental, social and economic objectives in planning decisions.

A collaborative process of shaping public spaces to strengthen community identity and use, drawing on local input, design and programming rather than top-down physical planning alone.

An intensive, time-limited design workshop that brings stakeholders and professionals together to generate and refine options for a site, neighbourhood or plan.

A model of public decision-making in which reasoned discussion among informed participants, rather than simple aggregation of preferences, shapes policy and planning choices.

A formal, advertised meeting where the public may comment on a proposed plan, bylaw or development application before an appointed or elected body makes its decision.

The legal obligation of Canadian governments to consult Indigenous peoples in good faith and, where appropriate, accommodate concerns before decisions that may adversely affect established or asserted rights.

Aboriginal and treaty rights recognized and affirmed by section 35 of Canada's Constitution Act, 1982, which planning and resource decisions must respect and accommodate.

A policy document issued by a province, in Ontario for example, that sets direction on land use and development and must be considered or followed by municipal planning decisions.

The requirement that lower-level plans, bylaws and decisions be consistent with or not conflict with higher-level policy, such as provincial rules, regional plans or an official plan.