The City of Kitchener is updating its development standards and procedures to keep them current, clear, and practical to use. These technical standards are set out in the Development Manual, which guides how development is designed and built in the city. It includes requirements for things like roads, servicing, infrastructure, and construction. These standards help ensure development is safe, consistent, and aligned with City expectations.

Regular updates are important to reflect changes in legislation, policy, engineering practices, and local experience. This update focuses on improving clarity, addressing known issues, and making the standards easier to apply in day-to-day work. Given the more substantial review completed in 2021, this update will not consider any major policy changes or overhauling sections of the manual.

The Development Manual update is expected to be complete by the end of 2026.

We are looking for input from people who use these standards in their work, including developers, engineering consultants, industry associations, and municipal partners. Interested residents are also welcome to review the information and share feedback.

All comments shared with City staff will be reviewed and considered in drafting updates. Your feedback will help identify what is working well and where improvements are needed.

By sharing your experience, you can help:

  • clarify requirements
  • reduce inconsistencies and interpretation issues
  • improve how the standards are applied in practice

Your input will help ensure the updated standards are clear, consistent, and effective for everyone who uses them.

Share your input

Click on a section below to open its survey in a new tab. Return to this page to comment on other sections. Please note we are not requesting comments on Appendices D, E or F. Submit comments until July 31, 2026.