Any person may appeal any of the following development decisions made by Council or an authorized Officer of Council:
Decisions of Council to adopt, approve, or proceed with a municipal plan, development scheme, development regulations, or amendments and revisions is final and not subject to appeal.
Appeals go to the St. John's Local Board of Appeal. You must file an appeal within 14 days from the date on which Council or an Officer of Council made the particular decision.
The Appeal Board has five persons appointed by the Council. Elected or appointed officials of the City of St. John's cannot serve on the Appeal Board. Council appoints the chairperson. The City Clerk or representative acts as the Secretary.
The Appeal Board hears all appeals on the Development Regulations. It has limited powers to overturn a decision. The Board cannot make a decision that is contrary to the Envision St. John's Municipal Plan or Development Regulations. When Council exercises its discretion in making a decision, the Appeal Board cannot substitute its discretion for that of Council.
If you are considering an appeal, be sure to review the regulations carefully and weigh the merits of the case.
Download and submit the appeal form. This form is also available in person from Access St. John's, first floor, City Hall (10 New Gower Street).
The cost to file an appeal is $115. The appeal fee is refunded when the appeal is successful. Please contact cityclerk@stjohns.ca for information on filing of appeals.
After you file your appeal, the Secretary will contact members to arrange the hearing. The regulations state that the Appeal Board must hear an appeal within 30 calendar days of filing.
Before the Board hears the appeal, the City advertises the appeal hearing for at least two weeks before the date. Notices go to property owners in the vicinity of the site which is subject of the appeal.
Anyone who feel they may be affected by the appeal may attend the appeal hearing.
The Secretary will contact the person who has filed the appeal (the appellant) to tell them the date, time and location of the appeal hearing. It is not mandatory to attend, but you have the right to do so. Before the appeal hearing, appellants get a copy of the City's written submission to the Appeal Board.
At the appeal hearing, staff represent the City of St. John's. Appellants get to tell the Appeal Board why they filed an appeal and argue their case. The Appeal Board ask questions of the appellant, City staff or other attending parties so they have a full understanding of all the issues
At the end of the hearing, the Appeal Board members meet privately to discuss the appeal and make a decision. The regulations require that the Appeal Board make a decision in writing to the City and the appellant within 14 calendar days. Their decision is binding on all parties.
If either you or the City are not satisfied with the outcome, you can appeal to the Trial Division of the Supreme Court of Newfoundland and Labrador within 10 days of the date of the decision.
Contact Us
Planning and Development Services
John Murphy Building (City Hall Annex), 4th floor
10 New Gower Street
P.O. Box 908
St. John's, NL A1C 5M2, Map this Location
Call: 709-576-8220, Send an Email