Complete Streets Design Manual
The Complete Streets Design Manual guides the decision-making process for street design as London grows and evolves.
Contact us
If you have any questions, please email cityengineer@london.ca
Design Specifications and Requirements Manual
This manual's design information is intended to provide guidance beyond legislative and standard design practices for use in the City of London (the City). There will be site-specific situations where the design will depart from these practices as it is not possible nor is it the intention of the City to anticipate every situation. The City also acknowledges that other references such as the Standard Contract Documents for Municipal Construction Projects are to be used in conjunction with this manual.
The City of London maintains its right to accept or refuse any design submissions and requires an acceptable design for any given circumstance.
Individual chapters of the City’s Design Specifications and Requirements Manual (latest version) can be downloaded here:
Contact us
If you have any questions, please contact Planning and Development Services by emailing plandev@london.ca.
Environmental Ecological Studies
Subject Lands Status Reports / Environmental Impact Studies
A Subject Lands Status Report (SLSR) is used to confirm and delineate features and functions of London’s Natural Heritage System and evaluate them for significance prior to assessing the potential impact of a proposed development or application. SLSRs may be completed as standalone reports or in conjunction with an EIS.
Environmental Impact Studies (EIS) are used to demonstrate that a proposed development will have no negative impacts on the natural features or ecological functions of the subject and surrounding (“adjacent”) lands. An EIS does not ensure that the appropriate department will approve the development proposals.
Their purpose is to inform the design and configuration of the development, avoid adverse impacts at the outset, and identify appropriate mitigation and/or compensation for unavoidable impacts.
When do you need an SLSR or EIS?
The need for an SLSR/EIS will be identified during the pre-consultation stage for development applications. The SLSR/EIS recommendations are used to develop development limits and conditions of Draft Plan Approval (Subdivision) or Site Plan Approval. These recommendations may include additional study requirements, restoration and monitoring.
Environmental Management Guidelines
The practice of environmental management requires a systematic approach that follows a predictable pattern. Using a consistent template provides clear expectations and will ensure that parties do not overlook relevant issues and exclude unnecessary items.
The document includes the standards, procedures and criteria to be applied in implementing London Plan Policy to evaluate natural heritage features and proposed impacts and includes direction on the establishment of buffers.
Environmental Management Guidelines 2021
Appendix B: Environmental Study Scoping Checklist
Appendix D: Woodland Evaluation
**Projects utilizing the previous 2007 Environmental Management Guidelines, please review the full 2007 guidelines here.
Georeferencing and survey control monuments
Location Sketches and Values
Monument and benchmark location sketches and their associated values are obtained from the interactive control monument map.
View the interactive control monument map
Monument and benchmark locations and labels will be displayed once you zoom into the area of interest. To view the location sketch and coordinate value associated with a particular monument simply click on the centre of the monument symbol, not the label. The location sketch will be generated in a separate window for viewing or printing. Note that It may be necessary to turn off popup blockers in your browser to view the location sketch.
Georeferencing
The City of London uses the NAD'83 (Original) datum, six degrees UTM projection (Zone 17, Central Meridian 81° West Longitude) as it's horizontal georeferencing system, and the Canadian Geodetic Vertical Datum 1928 (CGVD28) incorporating the 1978 Southern Ontario Adjustment as it's vertical georeferencing system. All legal surveys, engineering drawings and plans submitted for development approvals, including subdivisions and site plans, must be referenced to these datums. This enables the City to efficiently assess, review and integrate the information into its GIS datasets, and ensures information can be more easily exchanged with others. For more detailed information, please see the Plans and Submission Standards.
In support of this georeferencing requirement, the City has installed a network of approximately 400 horizontal control monuments and 600 benchmarks throughout the City.
Horizontal Control Monuments
There are several sources for horizontal control monuments in the City of London, including Natural Resources Canada (NRCan), Ministry of Natural Resources Ontario (MNR), Ministry of Transportation of Ontario (MTO), Transport Canada, and the City of London. Note that not all City of London monuments are registered in the Provincial COSINE database. Although the monument values from all sources are compatible, the City only provides sketches and values for its own "028" prefixed monuments.
All "028" horizontal control monuments in the City are second-order monuments. In simple terms, the relative horizontal accuracy between any two monuments is about 1-2 cm or 0.0005 arc-seconds of longitude or latitude.
Horizontal control monuments consist of either bronze caps on a 1.5m x 0.025m diameter iron bar buried 0.2 metres below the surface of the ground or a bronze cap cemented into a concrete sidewalk or curb. Each monument is stamped with a unique number for positive identification (e.g. 028944160). Monuments in grass areas may be marked by a 1.5 metre high orange and yellow triangular marker.
Please note the elevations shown on the horizontal control monument sketches are ellipsoid heights and cannot establish elevations.
Vertical Control Datum and Benchmarks
There are many benchmarks in the City from various sources including Natural Resources Canada, Ministry of Natural Resources (Ontario), Ministry of Transportation of Ontario, Transport Canada, and the City of London. Although most are well integrated with the City's vertical control network, Transport Canada Benchmarks near the London International Airport must not be used since their values are not compatible with the 1978 Southern Ontario Adjustment.
Wherever possible, the City's "BM" or "V-type" benchmarks should be used. "BM" series benchmarks are the first-order accuracy, and "V" series benchmarks are third order. The misclosure between BM series benchmarks should be less than 0.004m x SQRT(km) and less than 0.024m x SQRT(km) for all other benchmarks.
Benchmark monuments come in many forms. Some consist of bronze caps on 1.5m x 0.025m iron bars or bronze caps cemented vertically into concrete foundations. The City's V-type benchmarks usually consist of 1/4" x 2" "nail-in" concrete anchors drilled vertically on top of concrete structures such as bases for traffic lights. Precise "BM" benchmarks consist of collared stainless steel bolts cemented horizontally into the sides of concrete structures. For "BM" type benchmark's, the elevation should be taken from the hex bolt's top-most vertex.
Contact us
If you have any questions or want to report damaged or destroyed monuments, please contact Geomatics at geomatics@london.ca or call 519-661-4908.
GIS data request
Consultants working for the City can request special data needed for their contract by emailing geomatics@london.ca and providing the following information:
- the name of the project for which the information is required
- the City's project manager
- a detailed list of the information required, including both content and area
Special data is only available to Consultants working for the City and is provided under a restrictive licence agreement detailed in the request letter.
The data will be delivered by secure email (FTP) transfer.
Plans submission standards
All plans submitted to the City for approval must comply with content and technical requirements.
Contact us
Please reach out to the Geomatics Divison at geomatics@london.ca or by calling 519-661-4908 for more information.
Municipal Numbering and Street Renaming application
Individuals who wish to apply to have their building or lot renumbered can utilize the form below:
Street naming
The naming of new streets is most often done through the subdivision approval process and proposed by the developer. However, anyone can submit a suggestion for the naming of new streets.
Usually, this is done through the City's Streets of Honour program. Still, anybody can suggest a street name at any time by contacting Planning and Development at plandev@london.ca or by calling 519-930-3500.
All name submissions are checked against existing street names for duplication. We also analyze the spelling and sound of proposed streets to ensure clarity and ease of location for first responders.
Renaming
From time to time, there may be a desire to have an existing street renamed. Not just to honour an outstanding citizen or significant event, but for any number of other reasons.
In these instances, an application should be made to Planning and Development to request the street's renaming.
In all cases, proposals are circulated to the Municipal Addressing Advisory Group for input before a decision to add the name to the Official Street Index (or to rename the street) is made. Regulations about street naming and renaming are detailed in the City's Naming of Highways and Numbering of Buildings and Lots By-law B-1.
Municipal addressing advisory group
The Municipal Addressing Advisory Group (M.A.A.G.) reviews and recommends street names for new public and sanctioned private streets as well as applications for renaming, municipal numbering and unit numbering issues. This group comprises representatives from Development and Compliance Services, City Clerk's Office, Environment and Engineering Services and Emergency Service providers (Fire, Police and Ambulance), who meet on an ad-hoc basis.
Contact us
For more information or if you require any additional documents, please contact Planning and Development at plandev@london.ca or by calling 519-930-3500.
Road widening transfer process
Road widening transfers can only be completed by the owner's Solicitor with a Teraview® licence. Transfers are one-sided and do not involve the City Solicitor's department.
Contact us
Please direct all questions to the Geomatics Division at geomatics@london.ca or by calling 519-661-4908.
Subdivision Drawing Review 1st Submission Manifest
Standard contract documents for municipal construction
The Standard Contract documents can be downloaded at www.roadauthority.com/Standards. Use the button below to visit this webpage, and then double click on "City of London” from the "standard list" to review the multiple sections of the Standard Contract documents for municipal construction projects.
View the standard contract documents
Contact us
For more information, please contact the City Engineer at cityengineer@london.ca
Utilities Coordinating Committee and MCA's
The City’s Utility Coordinating Committee ensures the efficient and safe coordination of construction and maintenance within our roadways. UCC meetings consist of City officials and utility company representatives who get together regularly to discuss construction challenges, co-ordinate project-related matters and review and approve MCAs.
Email geomatics@london.ca to receive a copy of the following documents:
- the UCC's orientation manual which outlines the Committee's mandate, member's responsibilities and provides information on processes and procedures such as drawing requirements, consent applications, permits, fees and inspections.
- a current list of UCC utility contacts.
- a current listing of the new subdivision servicing contacts.
Municipal consents
Authorized utilities operating in the City and Consultants responsible for installing public infrastructure on roads or City property must obtain MCA approval for any planned work.
Access the City’s municipal consent application process
All users and applicants must first register to gain access.
To register and complete your application, please visit the City's Municipal Consent Application (MCA) login page using the link above and clicking on 'Register for Access'. Once your account has been approved, you will receive an email with your login information and a temporary password.
To obtain a copy of the MCA program manual, please email the Geomatics division (geomatics@london.ca).
Alternate locate agreements
The City supports Alternate Locate Agreements using vacuum excavation equipment. If you are a contractor that wishes to enter into an ALA with the City, please contact the Geomatics Division (geomatics@london.ca)
Frequently asked questions
Does it cost to make an MCA application?
There is no cost for this service.
How do I schedule a UCC presentation?
Please contact Geomatics by phone (519-661-4908) to reserve a time slot for a UCC presentation.
I’m having trouble with the MCA application
Please contact Geomatics by phone (519-661-4908) or email (geomatics@london.ca) if you’re having trouble with the MCA application.
Contact us
For more information, please contact the Geomatics Division at geomatics@london.ca or call 519-661-4908.
Vacant Land Inventory
The Vacant Land Inventory (VLI) tracks potential development land under two different main categories:
- Residential vacant land
- Industrial, Commercial, Institutional vacant land
The VLIs focus on lands within the urban growth boundary and are updated annually.
For more information or to obtain a copy of these documents, please contact Development Services at developmentservices@london.ca or by calling 519-930-3500.
Water alteration request forms
Product approval process
Manufacturers, suppliers and distributor’s looking to have their products approved and incorporated in the City of London’s Standard Contract Documents for Municipal Construction Projects are encouraged to review the product approval process and complete the product approval application form available below.
For assistance, please contact the Product Approval Committee at: pac@london.ca