Welcome to our new website!

On Oct. 7, 2026, the Town of Milton launched an updated website. The redesigned website improves how content is organized, displayed, and accessed, to help residents, businesses, and visitors get to the information they need faster. 

Learn more

Freedom of Information and Privacy

The Town of Milton promotes open government and encourages the routine disclosure of information to the public without requiring a formal Freedom of Information (FOI) request under the Municipal Freedom of Information and Protection of Privacy Act (MFIPPA).

The Act:

  • Establishes a general right of access to records in the custody and control of a local government institution.
  • Ensures accountability and transparency by providing as much information as possible to the public while ensuring that personal privacy is protected.

Routine disclosure of records 

If you are looking for records held by the Town of Milton, please begin by contacting the department responsible for those records. Staff will advise you if a formal request under MFIPPA is required.

The Town is committed to making as much information as possible available to the public without the need for a formal request. However, if the records contain personal information or third-party information, you may be required to submit a formal MFIPPA request.

Types of Records Routinely Available:

Building and Property Records - Appendix A

Planning Records – Appendix B

Environmental Records – Appendix C

Fire Incident Reports – Appendix D

Make a formal Freedom of Information Request

Milton is subject to the Municipal Freedom of Information and Protection of Privacy Act (MFIPPA). The Act holds us accountable and ensures that information is publicly available. MFIPPA also allows you to submit a Freedom of Information request to access government information and requires us to protect personal information in our custody. 

Submit a Request for Information

Fees 

In addition to the $5 application fee, you may be charged additional processing fees:

  • $7.50 per 15 minutes of search time (doesn’t apply to requests for personal information)
  • $7.50 per 15 minutes to prepare the records for disclosure (doesn’t apply to requests for personal information)
  • $0.20 per page for photocopies and/or computer printouts
  • $15 per 15 minutes if we need to develop a computer program to retrieve information
  • $10 for disks
  • Shipping costs

We will not release the records until you pay all retrieval fees. If the retrieval costs less than $25, you won’t receive an estimate of fees. If the request costs between $25 and $100, you will be given an estimate of the fees prior to the release of the records. If the request costs more than $100, you may be required to provide a 50 per cent deposit before we process your request

Appeals

If you’re not satisfied with Milton’s response to your request for information or the fee estimate, you can make an appeal to the Information and Privacy Commissioner of Ontario. You must file the appeal within 30 business days of receiving the decision letter or fee estimate.

Frequently asked questions

We will respond to a request within 45 business days of receipt of the request and the $5 application fee, as per legislative requirements. For requests that involve a large number of records, an extensive search, or consultation with an external third party, the time may be extended. Requesters will be advised of a time extension.

No, there is no guarantee that a response will be provided prior to the standard 45 business day timeframe.

Yes. All cheques and money orders should be made payable to the "The Corporation of the Town of Milton."

A non-refundable $5 application fee is required when submitting an access request under the municipal freedom of information and protection of privacy act (mfippa).

Additional fees may apply in accordance with section 45 of mfippa. These fees can include costs for activities such as search time, record preparation, photocopying, and other applicable services.

The Municipal Freedom of Information and Protection of Privacy Act (MFIPPA) grants individuals several important rights:

  • Right of access
    Individuals have the right to access municipal government information. This includes most general records as well as records containing their own personal information, subject only to specific and limited exemptions.
  • Right to request correction
    Individuals can request corrections to their personal information if they believe it is inaccurate or incomplete. If a correction is not made, they may attach a statement of disagreement to their records.
  • Right to independent review
    Individuals have the right to request an independent review by the information and Privacy Commissioner of Ontario (IPC) if they disagree with a decision made under mfippa by the head of an institution.

 

 

Appendix A

Building and Property Records

  • Building Permits
  • Building Permit Applications
  • Building Plans
    • Floor Plans
    • Foundation Plans
    • Framing Plans
    • Roof Plans
    • Building Elevations
    • Structural Drawings
    • Architectural Drawings
    • Reflected Ceiling Plans
  • Any Building orders Issued under the Building Code Act section 12(5)

To make a request you have to be one of the following:

  • The current registered property owner 
  • Owner’s agent
  • Property manager
  • Other Authorized Requester

Although the Town keeps property surveys and building permit records, we cannot guarantee your property has the records you require. 

Depending on the age of the building, permit records may not be available and where surveys are available, they may not be the most up-to-date current version of the property survey. 

For a current up-to-date and legal survey, contact an Ontario Land Surveyor or organizations that have access rights to legal surveys, including but not limited to:

  • All routine disclosure applications are subject to an application fee to process the request.  Additional fees may apply.  The application fee must be received at time of application and is non-refundable.  If payment is not received at time of application, the application will be deemed incomplete, and a new submission is required. Fees include taxes where applicable.
  • For File Search requests fees refer to the User Fees By-Law
  • If you have submitted an Application for Routine Disclosure form without payment, the request is considered incomplete and will be cancelled.  A new application must be submitted.

  • When an application is submitted through the online application form, you will receive a confirmation email that also acts as the receipt for the application fee. 
  • Your request will be acknowledged by email, normally within 5 business days.
  • A decision on access and confirmation of findings following a complete records search will be issued in writing and sent by email, normally within 30 business days.
  • Due to a high number of applications for routine disclosure being received, a record search may take longer than 30 business days.  If records are available, you will receive a second response once we fully process your request. 

Appendix B

Planning Records

Under the Planning Act (R.S.O. 1990, c. P.13, s. 1.0.1), all information and materials required to be submitted to the Town of Milton in respect of planning applications are considered public and must be made available to the public.

As outlined in the Town’s Planning Application Forms:

  • The applicant grants the Town permission to reproduce, in whole or in part, any document submitted as part of a complete application. This includes use for internal purposes, inclusion in staff reports, and distribution to the public, whether online or through other means, for the purpose of application review.
  • The applicant also agrees to provide a reasonable number of copies of such documents, in paper and/or electronic format, to support the Town’s internal processes and public distribution requirements related to the review of the application.

Record Type

Description

Comments

Planning Application Forms

Forms that have been submitted in support of a planning application

Can be viewed, copied and released.

Drawings Prepared by Engineer or Architect

Drawings or surveys submitted to the Town in support of a planning application.

Drawings (with the exception of plans stamped “without prejudice” or where a security risk has been identified by the proponent) can be viewed, copied and released.

Requests for Comments Form (Circulation Form)

Form that is circulated with a planning application.

Can be viewed, copied and released.

Formal Comments from Divisions, Agencies, and Planning Staff

A formal comment can be a memo, letter, or email from a responding division or agency in response to a planning application.

Comments from Legal Services or other solicitors cannot be released.

Correspondence from Proponent

Correspondence from the proponent of a planning application.

All correspondence and documentation submitted by the applicant that is used in assessing the application and forming a planning opinion can be viewed, copied, and released.

Proponent Studies

Studies submitted to the City in support of a planning application.

Studies (with the exception of archaeological studies, or where a security risk has been identified by the proponent) can be viewed, copied, and released.

Staff Reports

  

Once published on an agenda, staff reports can be viewed, copied, and released.

Community Consultation Meeting Records (excluding sign-in sheets)

  

Community Consultation Meeting Records, excluding Meeting Sign-In Sheets, can be viewed, copied, and released to the public or may be published online on purpose-built websites to support individual projects.

Community Consultation Meeting Sign-In Sheets cannot be viewed, copied, or released.

Budget Reports

Reports submitted as part of City Planning’s annual operating and capital budget submissions.

Once published on an agenda, reports on the City’s annual budget process can be viewed, copied, and released.

Agreements of Purchase and Sale, Site Plan Control Agreements, Section 37 Agreements, etc.

Finalized agreements that are not yet registered on title are available for viewing only.

Draft agreements cannot be viewed, copied, or released.

Offers of Purchase and Sale cannot be viewed, copied, or released.

Through the District Planner assigned to the file.

Registered agreements are not available through routine disclosure.

Registered agreements are available to the public through the Provincial Land Registry System at the Land Registry Office.

Milton’s public hub for exploring and downloading open data.

Contact Planning through the contact form.

Phone: 905-878-7252 ext 2398

 

Appendix C

Environmental Records

Environmental records are in the custody and control of the Region of Halton.

For environmental information you should submit a request directly to one of a few Regional programs. You will need to submit a written request or completed application form as well as pay the program’s application fee. Contact one or all of the following programs for details on obtaining environmental information:

  • Health Protection, Health Department
  • Industrial Waste Services, Public Works Department
  • Planning Services, Legislative and Planning Services Department

Appendix D

Fire Incident Reports

Fire incident reports are released routinely and do not require a formal FOI request. You can request these records with the Milton Fire and Rescue Services.

In order to apply for access to these types of records, the applicant must be:

  • the current registered property owner
  • Property owner’s agent
  • Property manager
  • Other Authorized Requesters. 

If you are an agent you must have owner’s written consent to access the records.  

Fees:

For File Search requests fees refer to the User Fees By-Law